Stories from Saturday, April 4, 2020

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Gov. Mike Parson issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Friday, meaning Missouri has joined about 40 other states already requiring residents to avoid going out except for essential purposes. The Republican governor's order came as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri reached 2,113, up 279, or 15%, from Thursday. ...

No new COVID-19 cases were reported in Cape Girardeau County on Friday, according to the county's Public Health Center. The number of positive cases remained at 15. Testing numbers continued to increase. Saint Francis Medical Center reported testing a total of 509 individuals, with seven positive results and 178 negative results...

The Show Me Center and Student Recreation Center on the Southeast Missouri State University campus are among about a dozen locations the Missouri National Guard is considering for use as "alternate care sites" for housing temporary medical facilities and patient care activities during the COVID-19 pandemic...

Jackson resident Christy Brey said it was a video on social media platform TikTok and a desire to engage in ministry outside the "four walls of church" that led her to organize two prayer events this week at local hospitals. Brey, a customer service representative at The Bank of Missouri, told me she saw a video from a Georgia hospital of people in their cars, lights flashing and prayers being lifted up for patients and health care workers...

Sports photojournalists must capture action and feats of athleticism, but sports feature images are the heart and soul of sports photography. There's a difference between action sports photography and the feature images that illustrate the center of a sports community...

Lexy and Scott Nees are celebrating this week. Their triplets -- daughters Payton and Kennedy and son Lawson -- were born Wednesday at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Her husband Scott was the only one allowed in the delivery room with her, Lexy Nees said. "He came with me Monday when we got here, and he wasn't able to leave the hospital at all," she said. "I was glad I could have him here."...

Traffic changes are slated to begin this coming week at Center Junction, weather permitting. Howard Hemmann, senior project manager and estimator with Penzel Construction, wrote in an email Thursday that, weather permitting, the traffic switch on Interstate 55 at exit 99 will begin at approximately 10 a.m. Tuesday...

To help residents understand the facts around COVID-19 in our area, I'm providing answers to common questions posed to the newspaper. Sources of information today include both local hospitals, as well as the Cape Girardeau County Department of Public Health. I also talked to some officials who shared information, not for attribution, but which I verified. Here are some questions and answers...

Today is Saturday, April 4, the 95th day of 2020. There are 271 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., 39, was shot and killed while standing on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee; his slaying was followed by a wave of rioting (Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Chicago were among cities particularly hard hit.) Suspected gunman James Earl Ray later pleaded guilty to assassinating King, then spent the rest of his life claiming he'd been the victim of a setup.. ...

Defending the Cape Girardeau School Board decision to extend superintendent Neyland Clark's contract for one year, board president Ed Thompson says it is "in the best interests of the school district"; Clark's recent troubles center around the operation of the school business office; but according to Thompson, the board has instituted new business practices and redefined the role of business manager...

Hollis and Jeanette Patterson of Jackson will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary Thursday. Patterson and the former Jeanette Lewis were married April 9, 1955, in Sardis, Mississippi.

Jeff and Cindy Crites of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Amber Crites, to Lane William Mueller, both of Jackson. He is the son of Matt and Tammy Mueller of Jackson. Rachel is a 2015 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 2019 from Southeast Missouri State University. She is a loan assistant at Alliance Bank...

Immaculate Conception School in Jackson recently announced several students honored at the Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair on March 10 in Cape Girardeau. 1st Place: Lily Huff, Lillie Jenkins, Erica DeBrock, 2nd Place: Hailey Henderson, Abbie Spooler, Audrey Deken, Skylar Craft, Karley McBride, Emmy Vandeven, Sylvia Kester...

Submitted by Annie Criddle Students from the Immaculate Conception MOBOTS 2.0 Lego Robotics Team visited the state Capitol. Pictured are Gabe Jones, Dylan Neumann, Blake DeBrock, Lily Coy and Gasya Berberian

Monday: Salisbury steak or Polish sausage, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, steamed broccoli, whole-grain bread and blushing pears or pineapple right-side-up cake. Tuesday: Pork chop or chicken and dumplings, sweet potatoes, seasoned cauliflower, whole-grain hot roll and sugar-free peach crisp or cookie and pudding...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary Mr. Magoo is a very sweet and friendly 2-year-old. Even though he is completely blind, he loves everyone and does great. If you are ready for a rewarding experience, come see us at Safe Harbor. Call (573) 243-9823...

Sunday morning, March 29, broke windy with bright sunshine. It was a perfect time for snakes to be out basking. While planting a new hedge, I heard a rattle in the leaves that sounded similar to the rattle of a rattlesnake. It was a native speckled king snake. His rounded nose, round eye pupil and black body with yellow speckles let me know instantly he was a king snake...

Back when I was a kid, we didn't go to town all that often. Mom and Dad went to Arthur (a town of about 150 to 200) weekly to deliver eggs and cream. We maybe went to Ogallala (a town of maybe 5,000) every two weeks or so. Most of the time we spend out on Mom and Dad's ranch. Dad raised Hereford cattle and hand-milked from say 10 to 20 milk cows. Mom and Dad both were raised in the country so both of them were totally country. Dad loved to garden and Mom helped Dad. Mom loved to cook and can...

Louis Houck once wrote, "In the anxiety and struggle, excitement and enjoyment of the present we too often forget the men of the past. Soon all memory of their labor vanishes from the common recollection of men. Soon their very names become an unfamiliar sound...." So it is with three brothers, Nathaniel, John D. and Daniel P. Cook, who were instrumental in the early history of Southeast Missouri and Illinois. From humble beginnings, these men all achieved prominence in our region...

When things get difficult, people start looking to see who is to blame. Everyone knows that the epicenter of COVID-19 was Wuhan, China. Somewhere along the line, it became inappropriate to mention the origin of this global pandemic. Unfortunately, the visceral tendency to assign blame has shifted from the obvious, China, to a less convincing target -- the Evangelicals. Are evangelical Christians responsible for the spread of the virus?...

Are you happy? Happiness has been written about all through the ages. It is a state of well-being and contentment, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Often happiness and joyfulness are used interchangeably, but they aren't the same. Lifestyle mentor, Rachel Fearnley, describes the difference between joy and happiness as this: "Joy is more consistent and is cultivated internally. ...

Janet Ann Criddle, a teacher at Nell Holcomb School, is the American Legion Teacher of the year 2020. She received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Southeast Missouri State University and has taught at Nell Holcomb for 22 years. Nell Holcomb School principal Michael Wortmann said "She is an outstanding teacher that always demonstrats compassion and understanding to her students and extends students learning behond the classroom and looks for ways to apply skills from her classroom to real-life situations.". ...

O Lord, we praise you for you are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Amen.

Today Americans are facing one of the most dangerous crises in America's history due to the ravages of coronavirus pandemic. Crisis such as this will certainly test the wisdom and mettle of America's leaders. History teaches us that there are wise leaders and unwise leaders. ...

Though some deny it, many harbor a strong hostility toward Christians in our society, especially those who obediently wear their faith on their sleeves. You know what they find worse than an outspoken evangelical Christian? An outspoken evangelical Christian who's also an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump. Talk about a perfect storm of contemptibility!...

On Jan. 22, there was one COVID-19 case in the USA. Come March 1, there were 64 of them. As I write this letter on the morning of Monday, March 30 there are 142,000. I am angry. I am angry because this country had years of warnings that we needed to prepare for a pandemic. By 2016, this country had a set of contingency plans for this type of a situation, but no one bothered to look at them as we drifted into our present problem...

NEW YORK -- With coronavirus deaths surging in New York, the governor announced Friday he will use his authority to seize ventilators and protective gear from private hospitals and companies that aren't using them -- one of the most aggressive steps yet in the U.S. to relieve severe shortages of equipment needed to fight the scourge...

NEW YORK -- Tiffany Pinckney remembers the fear when COVID-19 stole her breath. So when she recovered, the New York City mother became one of the country's first survivors to donate her blood to help treat other seriously ill patients. "It is definitely overwhelming to know that in my blood, there may be answers," Pinckney said...

WASHINGTON -- A record-long streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs because of the viral outbreak that has all but shut down the U.S. economy. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%...

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that the next coronavirus aid bill should build on the bipartisan relief bills that Congress has passed so far rather than include broader Democratic agenda items such as infrastructure and rural broadband access...

WASHINGTON -- Democrats are zeroing in on health care as one of the few issues that might resonate among Americans who have largely shelved election year politics as they focus on protecting their families from the spreading coronavirus. Joe Biden, the prospective Democratic nominee, is criticizing President Donald Trump for refusing to reopen "Obamacare" enrollment to allow more Americans to sign up for medical insurance during the crisis. ...

Manufacturing giant 3M pushed back Friday against criticism from President Donald Trump over production of face masks that are badly needed by American health care workers. 3M said the administration asked it to stop exporting medical-grade masks to Canada and Latin America, which the company said raises "significant humanitarian implications" and will backfire by causing other countries to retaliate against the U.S...

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration Friday abruptly changed its description of the Strategic National Stockpile and put forward a narrower vision of the role the federal government's repository of life-saving medicines and equipment should play in supplying states' needs...

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of following that advice himself, saying, "I'm choosing not to do it."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Assaults n Assault was reported. n Assault was reported in the 700 block of Broadway. n Assault was reported in the 3000 block of Mimosa Drive. Thefts n Shoplifting was reported in the 2100 block of William Street...

Karen L. Borgfield Vogelsang, 65, of Houston, formerly of Jackson, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2020, at her home in Houston. She was born April 11, 1954, in Cape Girardeau, to Kenneth and Peggy Martin Borgfield. She was a graduate of Jackson High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University...

Esther G. Slaughter, 98, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2020, at her home. She was born Jan. 18, 1922, in Gordonville to Ben and Agusta Eggiman Willa. Esther attended the former Campus School and cosmetology school and graduated from cosmetology school. ...

Betty "Effie Mae" Rubel, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday morning, April 2, 2020, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 1, 1930, in Scott County, Missouri, the daughter of the late Viola Garrison and Roy Harvell. She married Virgil Chester Rubel Oct. 2, 1948. He preceded her in death May 18, 1980...

Karren Osborne, 76, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Monday, March 30, 2020, at her home, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born Nov. 29, 1943, in Advance, Missouri, the daughter of the late Leslie and Clarice Winchester Jones. Karren is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Randy Graviett; grandson, Gavin Richmond, and his wife, Laura, along with their twin sons, Reid and Rhett; stepgrandsons, Kevin and Jamie; and a very special friend, Paul McDowell...

ORAN, Mo. -- Clifford Joseph Metz, 93, of Oran passed away Friday, April 3, 2020, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. Clifford was born Aug. 9, 1926, in Oran to the late Frank Metz and Stella Vogelbacher. After graduating from Oran High School in 1944, he enlisted in the Army, where he obtained the rank of staff sergeant. He was honorably discharged in December 1946. On Nov. 20, 1965, Clifford married the love of his life, Betty Lou Heisserer. She preceded him in death Feb. 19, 2018...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Matthew Lynn Henson Sr. was born to Melvin and Lorene Switzer Henson Jan. 13, 1962, in Farmington, Missouri, and entered into Heaven's gates Wednesday, April 1, 2020. He was surrounded by family as the lyrics of "Where I Belong (Building 429)" played...

Scott City Public Works Department supervisor Dustin Whitworth issued a precautionary boil water advisory at 9:45 a.m. Friday. "Due to emergency repairs on the city's public water main, we are asking businesses and residences that receive city water off this water main to boil your water for 48 hours as a precautionary measure," Whitworth said in the announcement...

Cape Girardeau City Council 5 p.m. Monday City Hall 401 Independence St. Study session n No action will be taken during the study session Communications/reports n City Council staff Items for discussion n Agenda review Regular session Public hearings...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. Monday 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minutes n Minutes for April 2 meeting Communications/reports -- other elected officials n COVID-19 Update: In an effort to keep Cape Girardeau County residents safe and aware regarding the status of the virus, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director Mark Winkler will be issuing an update at County Commission meetings. ...

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Scott County residents and visitors are asked to remain at home "to the maximum extent feasible," according to a proposed joint order of the Scott County Commission, Scott County Health Officer, Scott County Health Department and Scott County municipalities...

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday parts of City of Jackson parks and playground areas at Jackson public schools will close to the public to protect against the spread of coronavirus, according to a Jackson City Park Facebook post Friday morning. Playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, the skate park and other gathering areas will be closed. Signage and temporary fencing were posted by city and school district crews Friday night to discourage use...

Cape Girardeau County Recorder Drew Blattner announced temporary office policy changes Thursday. n Office staff will work remotely and will continue daily eRecording and answering emails and phone calls during regular business hours. n Paper documents will be recorded only once a week, after hours. ...

A unified proclamation of state of emergency was made by the county health department, county commission, mayor of Jackson, and mayor of Cape Girardeau to follow the emergency guidelines as set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Missouri Department of Health (DHSS). ...

Jackson Board of Aldermen 6 p.m. Monday City Hall 101 Court St. n The Mayor and Board of Aldermen will meet in April for regular meetings and study sessions on Monday, April 6 and April 20, at 6:00 p.m. However, the Board will be moving their meetings to a virtual format beginning next Monday. Residents can watch and participate remotely from the safety of their homes on the City's YouTube page at www.jacksonmo.org/view...

It is surreal to drive the normally bustling streets of downtown Cape Girardeau on any given weekday. I seem to have the pavement essentially to myself. No struggling to parallel park. No circling the block hoping a space will open. Not exactly a ghost town, but I halfway expect tumbleweeds to start blowing across the road like in old movie westerns...

A current global myth alleges that America under the Trump administration is not leading the world fight against the coronavirus in its accustomed role as the postwar global leader. Yet the U.S. was the first major nation to issue a travel ban on flights from China, with Donald Trump making that announcement on Jan. 31. That was a bold act. It likely saved thousands endangered by Chinese perfidy and soon became a global model. None of the ban's loud critics are today demanding it be rescinded...

One additional COVID-19 case was reported in Cape Girardeau County on Saturday. The total number of county residents who have tested positive for the disease is 16. Saint Francis Medical Center has reported eight positive cases, 179 negative and 549 tests administered...

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County voters defeated three county-wide tax increase proposals yesterday; two quarter-cent sales tax increases only received 42% of the vote; one proposal would have provided additional law enforcement services while the second would have built a new county jail; a proposal for a 10-cent increase in the property tax to provide mental health services received only 34% of the vote...