Stories from Thursday, April 9, 2020

Approval of minutes n Minutes for April 6 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. ...

With children home and out of school, I was thinking about fun foods to have on hand for them to snack on or even use as a light meal -- even better, ones they can assemble themselves if age allows. At about the same time, I was asked by a friend if there was a food group I had never written about or used in this column. After much thought it occurred to me I don't think I have ever really written about walking dinners or walking desserts...

The Arrow, Southeast Missouri State University's student newspaper, won 18 awards while hosting the 2020 Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) Awards Ceremony, according to a university news release. Originally scheduled for April 3 and 4 at Southeast, organizers and members of the MCMA executive committee shifted the two-day conference to a Facebook Live virtual awards ceremony Tuesday...

Two men have been charged with bringing contraband into the Scott County Jail, and two inmates currently being held were charged with orchestrating the delivery of the contraband, according to Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury. Gary Lutes, 39, of Sikeston, Missouri, and Zackary Moore, 23, of have both been charged with three Class D felony counts of delivery/possession of controlled substance at a County Jail...

Multiple crimes were committed in Cape Girardeau between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, including a reported arson and an arrest for a firearms violation. Shortly before 7 p.m., members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a report of a grass fire in the 1700 block of Randol Avenue near Bethany Baptist Church...

Southeast Missouri State University's Fault Line Film Festival is set to celebrate 10 years of showcasing student filmmaking during an entirely online version of the Fault Line Film Festival April 10 through 18, according to a university news release...

My plan for this week's column was to share a self-guided driving tour of interesting places in Southeast Missouri. I even asked my colleague over in rustmedia, James Baughn, for some help with it, and he was kind enough to oblige. That feels a touch irresponsible, though, in light of the governor's recommendations to stay home, so I'll save that for a future installment. ...

Abiding by stay-at-home order in Missouri and in accordance with health advisories to maintain social distancing, the Cape Girardeau City Council held its first April meeting Monday via Zoom video call with some council members appearing in video form and others appearing by audio only. ...

I'm ready for something fun and light, so it's time for a Spicy Chicken Showdown. And boy oh boy, do we have a bunch of chicken places in town. I made a loop of Cape and picked up a sandwich from fast food joints that make one (and I'm so sorry if I missed someone! I didn't mean to.)...

COVID-19’s intrusion into life in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area became more poignant Tuesday as officials with the county’s Public Health Center reported the first death because of the virus. The only detail released on Cape Girardeau County resident was the person was between 80 and 89 years old. No other information about the person was released because of medical privacy laws, officials said in a release...

With federal health authorities encouraging the wearing of masks in public, I made my first trip to the grocery store in one. It was from a batch of masks bought years ago from a hardware store for a home project. I'm not sure how much protection it actually has against the coronavirus, but it certainly provides a reminder not to touch eyes, nose or mouth. I matched the mask with disposable gloves from a box I originally bought for disinfecting doorknobs around the office...

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on Cape Girardeau County’s revenue. April sales tax receipts, which reflected several weeks of retail activity in March, were 6.15% lower than sales tax revenue in April 2019 and more than 10% below the amount generated by the county’s half-cent sales tax in April 2018...

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's condition has improved and he has been moved out of intensive care where he was treated for three days with COVID-19, his office said Thursday. In a statement, a spokesman at 10, Downing Street said Johnson “has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery.”...

It has been more than a month since Sikeston Department of Public Safety Capt. Andrew Cooper allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of East Salcedo Road and Columbine Street in Sikeston, Missouri, killing one person and seriously injuring four others...

Just as a number of other businesses did last month, Logan's Roadhouse in Cape Girardeau "temporarily" closed its doors in advance of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now it appears the steakhouse, known for its rustic decor and free buckets of peanuts, may never reopen...

Today is Thursday, April 9, the 100th day of 2020. There are 266 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On April 9, 1942, during World War II, some 75,000 Philippine and American defenders on Bataan surrendered to Japanese troops, who forced the prisoners into what became known as the Bataan Death March; thousands died or were killed en route...

Barbara Rose Rust is a Cape Girardeau native writing vignettes about her childhood for her children and grandchildren, considering her growing up was very different from theirs. This is the second in a three-part series in which she shares these anecdotes with TBY readers, too.(/em)...

I had to go to the Neighborhood Walmart today to buy Claritin tablets for allergy relief. When leaving my car after parking, a very kind lady approached me. I was wearing a silk scarf around my nose and mouth and leather gloves for COVID-19 protection. She asked if I would like to have one of her handmade masks for protection and removed one from a sealed plastic bag. I said, "How kind of you," and then asked if I might also have one for my husband. She most kindly gave me another one for him...

Though our nation is facing the unknown of COVID-19, that doesn't mean that nature takes a break. There is always the risk of further floods or disasters striking, even when it would be most inconvenient to us. While this pandemic may have hit pause on our national economy, recovery from the 2019 floods still continue...

I was planning to take a "listening" sabbatical during this season of Lent, and little did I know what my ears and senses would be hearing and experiencing. The months prior to COVID-19 had been wearing on me. Contention and antagonism everywhere has been a "virus" difficult to avoid, definitely contagious without protection. The reality that daily encouragement is essential has been a lesson to be relearned by all of us in the battle to ward off contagious "bad" spirit!...

Unless you are like me and grill year-round, the warmer weather signals the start of the grilling season. This spring, especially, as millions of us are told to stay home, a trip outside to the backyard or patio is a welcome change. If you have a new grill or have taken one out of winter hibernation, you'll need to clean and season it before you cook...

John Prine, the ingenious singer-songwriter who explored the heartbreaks, indignities and absurdities of everyday life in "Angel from Montgomery," "Sam Stone," "Hello in There" and scores of other indelible tunes, died Tuesday at the age of 73. His family announced his death from complications from the coronavirus...

NEW YORK -- Even as coronavirus deaths mount across Europe and New York, the U.S. and other countries are starting to contemplate an exit strategy and thinking about a staggered and carefully calibrated easing of the restrictions designed to curb the scourge...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Assaults n Assault was reported. n Assault was reported in the 1000 block of South Ellis Street. Thefts n Larceny was reported in the 1000 block of North Kingshighway...

Terry J. Slattery, 65, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Eleanor L. Nenninger, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

PATTON, Mo. -- William Fulton, 86, of Patton passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at Woodland Hills. He was born June 29, 1933, son of Hadley and Gleta Miinch Fulton. He and Lena Mae Hahn were united in marriage May 17, 1953, at Reagan's Chapel in Patton, and she preceded him in death April 26, 2014...

Donna Lee Dockins, 81, of Jackson met her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 25, 1938, in St. Louis. Donna's paternal grandmother resided in Jackson, so her father, James L. "Pat" Malone, often brought Donna to Jackson. She learned to love the community and at the age of 12 made Jackson her permanent home, residing with her father and "new mother," Linda Pensel Malone...

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Two men found shot to death inside a car along Interstate 64 in Illinois' Metro-East area, were identified Tuesday by the St. Clair County coroner's office. St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Day on Tuesday identified the victims as Alando P. Harris, 47, and Cedric R. Gibson, 28, both of Cahokia. Harris is believed to have been the driver of the vehicle. Authorities haven't released any information about a possible motive for the shooting...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- The top elected official in Missouri's largest county is seeking help from the Missouri National Guard in preparation for an expected surge in coronavirus-related hospitalizations. Democratic St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said in a statement Wednesday the National Guard "can play a critical role" in transporting patients and supplies, which would free up health care workers to focus on treating people...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri state lawmakers on Wednesday gave Republican Gov. Mike Parson sweeping authority to spend billions of dollars in federal stimulus money as the state tries to slow the spread of the coronavirus. House and Senate members, some wearing protective face masks, returned to a Capitol on lockdown since March 24 to pass the bill Wednesday. Parson said he'll sign the bill as soon as possible...

Heavenly Father, we rejoice as we praise your holy name today. Amen.

As Easter is fast approaching let's all remember who is in charge, and as a Christian I know if I would die tomorrow I know I will go to heaven. As we go into this horrible crisis, let us remember that God has all the answers to our problems. Although we may not understand or like the answers, we have to be patient. Things will get better. For the non believers, I suggest you should keep an open mind. We are all in this together, give God a chance...

Churches in Cape Girardeau celebrate Palm Sunday; at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, the theme for morning services is "Progression from Exultation to Servanthood." The Cape Girardeau City Council says it won't let voters create an ethics commission because it could lead to a witch hunt; the council, however, will allow voters to decide the fate of term limits; the city's Charter Review Committee had recommended 10 amendments to the city's governing document, including creation of an ethics commission and limiting council and mayoral terms; at its retreat at Black Forest this weekend, the council informally revised some of the recommendations and suggested it would place five of the items on a future ballot.. ...

Thursday April 9– Ronn Unterreiner and Michael Anders of the Kiwanis Club of Cape Girardeau donated 70 box lunches to the staff of Southeast Cancer and infusion center. Special thanks to DQ for their partnership.