Stories from Tuesday, March 19, 2019

SIKESTON, Mo. — A Sikeston woman has been arrested and charged for allegedly setting her own business on fire. Monica Mays, 50, is charged with first-degree arson through Scott County Court, according to Sikeston Department of Public Safety assistant chief Jim McMillen. ...

City officials heard concerns from residents of Indian Hills subdivision at Jackson's regular Board of Aldermen meeting Monday. In the study session, resident Janice Unger said she'd contacted the police and fire departments to express her concern emergency vehicles might not be able to navigate Highland Drive between Shawnee Boulevard and Nancy Drive when vehicles are parked on both sides of the street. ...

Filmmaker Steve Turner’s documentary “The Past is Never Dead” on the exoneration of David Robinson for the 2001 murder of Sheila Box will premiere on Amazon Prime on May 17, Turner announced Monday. Robinson was convicted in 2001 of the Sikeston, Missouri, murder of Box on the word of two jailhouse informants who later recanted...

Pedestrians who use the alleyway between C.P. McGinty Jewelers and Threadz on Main Street in Cape Girardeau have something new to look at along the walkway. The alleyway now features the artwork of local artist Malcolm McCrae as well as overhead lights to illuminate the path at night...

With cellphone-related crashes on the rise, a Cape Girardeau lawmaker wants to ban motorists from texting while driving in Missouri. State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, calls it a safety issue, citing data on traffic crashes. He has introduced legislation to impose such a ban and is optimistic it will pass when lawmakers get back to work after this week’s spring break...

Former Southeast Missouri Democratic congressman Bill Burlison died Sunday at his home in Wardell, Missouri, in Pemiscot County at the age of 88. A former Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, Burlison served six terms in the then-10th Congressional District of Southeast Missouri, from 1969 to 1981...

Today is Tuesday, March 19, the 78th day of 2019. There are 287 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On March 19, 1945, during World War II, 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan (the ship was saved). Adolf Hitler ordered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands in his so-called "Nero Decree," which was largely disregarded...

Jim Dufek, a longtime professor at Southeast Missouri State University was recently presented with the Silver Medal Award by the Cape Girardeau Chapter of the American Advertising Federation for his lifetime of work and commitment to marketing. Dufek has been with the university for 36 years, teaching and influencing thousands of students over that time, while also engaging in a number of public projects...

On Dec. 22, 2017 President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although it has only been in effect for a little over a year, it is now possible to ascertain the direction of its impact. One of the major provisions in this law was reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. ...

Tragedy rocked the world as dozens were killed and many wounded when a gunman attacked mosque attendees in New Zealand last week. These acts of violence are all too common, certainly not surprising anymore, but nonetheless jarring. This isn't a column about the sadness of this situation, although it obviously is. ...

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A New Jersey man said he has returned an overdue library book — 53 years after he first borrowed the book. Fair Lawn resident Harry Krame said he checked out “The Family Book Of Verse” by Lewis Gannet from his school library when he was 13 and Lyndon Johnson was president. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A coalition of Kansas City-area leaders is working to reduce the impact of climate change amid reports the region could be among the hardest hit in the nation. After an international group of scientists issued a climate report in October, Lindsey Constance, a councilwoman in the suburb of Shawnee, Kansas, teamed up with officials in Roeland Park, Kansas, for a December workshop, The Kansas City Star reported Monday. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hundreds of homes flooded in several Midwestern states after rivers breached at least a dozen levees following heavy rain and snowmelt in the region, authorities said Monday while warning the flooding is expected to linger. About 200 miles of levees were compromised -- either breached or overtopped -- in four states, the U.S. ...

FERGUSON, Mo. -- Two young men were found dead inside torched cars. Three others died of apparent suicides. Another collapsed on a bus, his death ruled an overdose. Six deaths, all involving men with connections to protests in Ferguson drew attention on social media and speculation in the activist community something sinister was at play...

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kansas' solicitor general Monday called on a federal appeals court to reinstate the state's law requiring people to provide proof of citizenship before they can register to vote, saying problems with how it was enforced during the three years it was in place are fixable...

Construction of the $5.7 million Jackson Middle School is underway again after being delayed for nearly a month by inclement weather earlier this year; Penzel Construction Co. resumed work on construction of the 93,570-square-foot building earlier this month...

Geraldine J. "Gerri" Weber, 79, of Jackson passed away Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 12, 1939, in Altenburg, Missouri, to Arnold and Esther Lohmann Schmidt. She and Oscar D. Weber were married June 8, 1963, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. Three daughters were born to their union, and they had been married nearly 28 years when Oscar passed away Feb. 1, 1991...

Susan Ann Teichman, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, March 17, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 1, 1940, in Cape Girardeau to Artie and Beatrice Hilderbrand Jackson. She and Franz Teichman were married Sept. 5, 1959, at Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Sept. 29, 2000...

Bonita Clara Robertson, 91, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Life Care Center. She was born April 10, 1927, in Harviell, Missouri, to the late Frank Naylor and Mitti Ceanna Armstrong Hudson. Bonita married Cecil C. Robertson in May 1950 in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death Sept. 16, 1994. She was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of Lord's Chapel Church...

June Dale Richardson, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, March 17, 2019, at Southeast Hospital. She was born Sept. 23, 1931, in Senath, Missouri, to James Earl and Lora Jane Cary Dale. She and Bill Richardson were married March 15, 1958, at Memphis, Tennessee. He preceded her in death April 3, 2014...

WASHINGTON, Mo. -- Emma Pinkston Rhodes, 92, of Washington passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Grandview Healthcare Center. Emma was born Jan. 30, 1927, in Fornfelt, now Scott City, to the late Lester James and Tessie May Nolan Pinkston and was united in marriage to Billy Ray Rhodes on Oct. 9, 1947, at the Methodist church in Fornfelt...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Iva M. Head, 88, of Perryville died Sunday, March 17, 2019, at Independence Care Center in Perryville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Pastor Ray White officiating. Burial will be in Whitewater Christian Cemetery...

UTICA, Mich. -- The Rev. Wilton H. Fluegge, 96, of Utica, formerly of Gordonville, died Sunday, March 10, 2019. A funeral service was Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Utica. William Sullivan and Son Funeral Home of Utica provided the arrangements...

WARDELL, Mo. -- Bill D. Burlison of Wardell died at his home Sunday, March 17, 2019. He was born March 15, 1931, in Wardell to the late J.I. and Lillie Marler Burlison. He and Barbara Humphreys were married Aug. 14, 1955, in Columbia, Missouri, and divorced in 1983. From that union were born three children, James David, Laura Ann and Andrew Jefferson. On June 11, 1995, in the U.S. Capitol Chapel, he was united in marriage to Michal Sue "Mickey" Prosser, and she survives of the home...

Ronald Gale Bollinger, 56, of Cape Girardeau passed away due to health issues Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ron was born Sept. 1, 1962, in Cape Girardeau. He worked at John Deere as sales manager for many years and Noranda Aluminum afterward...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Father Francis "Frank" Agnew, C.M., 85, died Sunday, March 17, 2019, at the Apostle of Charity Residence, on the campus of St. Mary of the Barrens, Perryville. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Church of the Assumption. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. at the church...

I would like to give the Saxony Lutheran High school girls basketball team a big shout out for making it to the state quarter finals and for winning their district for the seventh straight year. You have made your school and fans proud. Also, congratulations to coach Sam Sides for winning your 500th coached basketball game this past season. Go Crusaders!...

O Heavenly Father, we place our trust in you, and you alone. Amen.

LOS ANGELES -- Dick Dale, whose pounding, blaringly loud power-chord instrumentals on songs such as "Miserlou" and "Let's Go Trippin"' earned him the title King of the Surf Guitar, has died at age 81. His former bassist Sam Bolle said Dale passed away Saturday night. No other details were available...

SCOTT CITY The Scott City Fire Department responded to the following calls: March 9 n At 5:18 a.m., medical assist was made in the 400 block of North Lincoln Street. n At 11:52 a.m., motor vehicle collision on Interstate 55 at mile market 88 southbound was reported...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Sunday n Medical assists were made 12:41 a.m. on Broadway, 9:50 a.m. on Louis Street, 2:29 p.m. on Boxwood Drive and 6:42 p.m. on Camellia Drive. n At 9:32 a.m., a citizen assist was made on South West End Boulevard...

JACKSON The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Amber Andrews, 26, of Scott City was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Arrests n Blake Wyatt, 20, of Jackson was arrested on suspicion of possession of liquor by a minor and possession of marijuana under 10 grams...

On March 17, 2019 Excelsior Chapter held their installation of officers. Congratulations to Jacob McFarland, newly installed Master Councilor; Zane Lintner, newly installed Senior Councilor; and Isaiah Masterson, newly installed Junior Councilor for the Chapter. Good luck and best wishes on a successful and fulfilling term of office, to you and your entire corp of officers. The chapter also celebrated the 100th Anniversary of DeMolay International which was March 18, 2019...

Bob and Dee Kushner accepted a $1500 grant check from the Ronald McDonald House Charities for the Keds for Kids program. Presenting the check was Cheryl Farrow, McDonalds, Director of Operations, at left, and Kathy Snow, McDonalds, Area Supervisor. Keds for Kids is a program where the Piedmont Rotary Club provides shoes for deserving students in the Clearwater School District. The program is funded entirely by donations and grants...

Ronald McDonald House Charities donated $3000 to Boy Scout Troop 2 from Cape Girardeau, these funds will be used to purchase ten tents and an awning for their equipment trailer.