Stories from Saturday, April 25, 2020

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Friday that his plan to reopen the state from the coronavirus shutdown will include guidance for attending church services, sports and other activities and events. Parson said during a news conference that Missourians have “stepped up to do their part” in helping to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, allowing the state to move ahead with plans to allow businesses and other organizations to reopen starting May 4. ...

The B Magazine Progress Edition is included in today's print edition of the Southeast Missourian. Individual stories from the magazine will be published on semissourian.com in the coming days. You'll find profiles of area businesses, stories about how companies are responding to COVID-19, and other business news...

Citing the need to enact a state budget, members of the Missouri House and Senate will reconvene Monday in Jefferson City, even though Gov. Mike Parson's stay-at-home order does not expire until May 4. Rep. Barry Hovis (R-146th District/Cape Girardeau) says legislators, mindful of the pandemic, will observe best practices in gathering next week at the Capitol...

Cape public schools will receive additional support to provide meals this summer for students, to the tune of $23,000, thanks to a matching grant from the Community Foundation for the Ozarks and other donations. Amy McDonald, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools foundation, said Friday that she is thrilled to be part of supporting the school district's students and families in a time of great need...

Noah Branson almost missed his invitation to a NASA internship. The email inviting Noah to participate in a remote version of NASA's STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) summer high school intern program almost got lost because of an ambiguous subject line...

Several area counties reported a slight increase in COVID-19 cases Friday. Scott, Bollinger and Perry counties each recorded one additional case. Scott County's total is 60, while Bollinger County has four positive cases, and Perry County now has 39...

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many businesses to scale back or even close temporarily, one area that's flourishing is the commercial and residential cleaning industry. Local cleaning and restoration companies say they're seeing an increased demand for their services as offices, retailers, manufacturers and even homeowners are taking extra precautions to make sure their properties are as clean and "virus free" as possible...

Suicides have bumped up locally along with drug hospitalizations. Domestic abuse cases are rising, along with trauma cases. But, contrary to some concerns voiced in online commentary, a group of local officials are, in fact, meeting daily to chart a course for Cape Girardeau County, analyzing local numbers while listening to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, White House task force and Missouri governor. Here is information about these topics and more.

Emergency crews responded to an early morning structure fire Friday at The Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau at 298 North Westend Boulevard. The call was received at 4:52 a.m. Friday, said Cape Girardeau fire department chief Travis Hollis. No injuries were reported, but Hollis estimated 12 to 15 people were evacuated from the scene...

After more than 40 years, an identification has been made in a cold case involving burned, unidentified human remains recovered on a farm near Charleston, Missouri. The case dates to 1979, when the investigators were unable to make an identification of the remains. The unidentified remains were then turned over to anthropologists at Southeast Missouri State University where attempts to identify the remains were also unsuccessful...

A Cape Girardeau Marine earned his company’s “Iron Man” award in basic training — the top physical fitness honor for an individual Marine during basic training. Pvt. 1st Class Zach Morningstar, who graduated basic training with the Marine Corps on April 10, earned the company’s top honor, which encompasses all aspects of training, including physical and mental fitness. The Marine company included nearly 500 troops...

No new COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday in Cape Girardeau County or any surrounding county. According to Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, the number positive cases in the county remained at 43. Officials in Scott, Bollinger, Perry and Stoddard counties in Missouri and Union and Alexander counties in Illinois reported the same number of positive cases as they reported Friday...

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor recreation is an activity people can still enjoy while maintaining social distancing. With Earth Day on Wednesday and spring now in full swing in Southeast Missouri, one local spot to take in the beauty of nature is Pinecrest Azalea Gardens in Cape Girardeau County...

Today is Saturday, April 25, the 116th day of 2020. There are 250 days left in the year. Today's Highlights in History: On April 25, 1945, during World War II, U.S. and Soviet forces linked up on the Elbe River, a meeting that dramatized the collapse of Nazi Germany's defenses. Delegates from some 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to organize the United Nations...

Although the mortgage process can be overwhelming, Montgomery Bank is here to help you every step of the way. Together, Monica Waldon and Tina McRaven, mortgage originators at Montgomery Bank, have more than 40 years of experience in the mortgage industry and look forward to working with new customers to help make the dream of owning a new home come true...

Service. It's in our name, and it's what sets us apart from our competitors. Plaza Tire Service is built on a foundation of excellent service in a quick manner. We offer a "4 Tires, 1 Hour" guarantee, ensuring our customers can get back on the road as quickly as possible...

You can walk in or make same-day appointments to see our doctors. Because we want to help your family get better. Practicing medicine since 2014, Dr. Gast attended medical school at A.T. Still University's College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. During his residency, he was the chief resident of internal medicine...

We don't realize the amount of time we spend at our countertops, but they are an integral part of our days: they're where we prepare meals for the people we love, where get ready for each day and where we prepare for a night of sleep to refresh for whatever is next. So much of our time spent around this feature of our homes calls for countertops that are both beautiful and functional...

Protecting your home from all manners of bugs is the best method of staying pest-free, and protecting your home from termites just got a lot easier. Advanced Pest Control is celebrating 40 years in business and has a termite protection discount program of up to 50% off for existing customers. Can you say "Membership has its perks?"...

In 1989, Dan Todt and his wife Dianna started Southeast Fabricating Inc. with three other employees. The business now has 16 full-time employees. In May 2019, Southeast Fabricating celebrated its 30th anniversary. The company has established a reputation that is as strong as the steel in the products they sell. "We've never had an outside salesperson," Dan says. "Our business has grown on its own reputation."...

Spencer Fane LLP, a full-service law firm, expanded to Southeast Missouri in 2016. In addition to four experienced local attorneys, the Cape Girardeau presence provides Southeast Missourians with access to more than 300 lawyers in 21 practice groups. The firm's services range from complex civil litigation, corporate and health law, to complex environmental, agriculture, labor and employment matters, to estate planning, bankruptcy and restructuring...

For those in the public service sector looking to finance a new project, First State Community Bank's (FSCB) tax-exempt government lending options could be the solution you need to help provide for your community. First State Community Bank has completed more than 180 tax-exempt financings for their governmental clients. ...

Recently named "Best Assisted Living Facility" in Cape Girardeau by Senior Advisor, the Lutheran Home has a long history of serving those in need in the area as a not-for-profit facility. With one of the highest staff-to-patient ratios in the area and a five-star rating, residents receive personal care in a home-like environment...

Johannes Auto Sales has been serving you, our customers, since 1963 and now offers Tri-State U-Wrench & Save, the area's first Self-Service Salvage Yard. Our business is based on providing customers with clean, quality parts at reasonable prices while always being ready to adapt to your automotive needs. ...

At the beginning of 2020, no one could have imagined the situation we would be facing by the end of the first quarter. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) arrived as an invisible threat that has disrupted our lives as we knew them just a few short months ago. The only thing certain at this particular moment is uncertainty itself. From a financial standpoint, these are the moments for which a retirement plan is so important...

We believe in entrepreneurs. We believe in the value of local businesses, which create jobs and support the community. That's why we're proud to help business owners succeed. Whether a business is just starting out or is ready to scale, we work to find the right solutions...

Kasten has been focused on building family memories since 1895. From brick and stone for a new home, a fireplace or stove to keep your family warm over the winter, or creating a summer backyard getaway with a pool, hot tub and landscaping, Kasten can create something beautiful that will last for generations...

Honesty, integrity and family -- those related by blood and those not related by blood -- are the pillars of business at Roy's Tire & Auto in Jackson. The growth of the business speaks to the respect and trust the Southeast Missouri community places in owner Roy White and his employees: what began as a four-bay garage with five employees in 2003 has grown into a 10-bay garage with 15 full-time employees in 2020. ...

Downtown is the heart and soul of Cape Girardeau and home to hundreds of unique restaurants, boutiques, museums and more! Over the last several years, our rich history, historic buildings and heritage have been beautifully coupled with innovative technology and modern amenities allowing start-ups and mom-and-pop businesses the perfect environment to grow and thrive...

Ramsey Branch, the area's first 55+ active adult community, is expanding into the next phase. Currently, Phase 1 is 80% built, including several custom homes being constructed. Homes range in price from $175,000 to around $250,000, depending on features...

A single word defines Connection Point Church: authentic. Being real is a trait that personifies Pastor Chris Vaught and his staff as they lead with genuine care and love for people, community and, most importantly, Jesus. It's that love for Christ that drives them to reach into this region's various neighborhoods to help unconditionally. ...

You might know Dr. Greg Pursley, DC, owner of PC Wellness Centers, as #TheSingingChiropractor. It's the moniker given to him by someone who heard him play a show at the casino, where he often plays acoustic guitar and sings. Since it brings together his two passions, he decided to claim it as his own...

The way young people absorb information and connect to curriculum and each other has been modified by technology. At the Foundation, we're constantly seeking ways to collaborate with educators to help facilitate real learning. Without compromising standards or core education principles, we are working to help bridge the gap between the traditional classroom and the realities of today's world. With your help, we're keeping our classrooms relevant and our students engaged...

Cape Kil was founded in 1949 by Dr. Charles E. Knote, a Purdue graduate and Board Certified entomologist who researched and developed Cape Kil's solution to local pest control problems. In 1963, Charles discovered a unique method to control brown recluse spiders and in 1983 invented the Mouse Maj-Ik-Box system that eliminates mice on structures' exteriors...

With a close eye on the needs of the Cape Girardeau Public School District, Foundation Director Amy McDonald works collaboratively with her executive board, district administration and community supporters to provide both extras and essentials to support district success...

Being the leader in commercial and industrial roofing takes experience. Riverside Roofing has been that leader in Southeast Missouri for sometime with 196 years of combined experience, providing high-quality, long-lasting systems throughout the region...

When the School Sisters of Notre Dame established St. Mary's High School in 1925, eight students attended. Nearly a century and a few name changes later, Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau has grown to an enrollment of more than 500. Since 2005, it has annually been ranked among the Catholic Education Honor Roll's "Top 5% of Catholic High Schools" in the nation...

In 1966, Rental Land began as an equipment rental company. They offered one punch bowl, two candelabras and a card table for rent. Today, the equipment side is gone, but Rental Land Special Events has grown exponentially, offering several hundred thousand items to rent for your wedding, anniversary, holiday party, birthday party or carnival...

"Our customers have come to rely on our consistency, next-day delivery and nationwide service," says Tyra Reppert Johnson, president. "Since my father, Jerry Reppert, founded this business in 1969, we have grown to more than ink pens and paper clips."...

With the member directory listed on the Cape Chamber's public website at capechamber.com, opportunities to be featured on the Chamber's social media accounts and the Chamber referring your business, we do the networking for you so you can focus on your business and what you do best...

The mission of Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET is to foster a strong economic environment resulting in the retention, expansion, creation and attraction of jobs and new investment in the area. MAGNET serves as the lead organization for area economic development efforts. The organization was established in 1992 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization...

McDonald Company, Inc. has been a staple of Cape Girardeau construction since 1946. The ready-mix company is a family business, locally owned and operated for four generations and renowned for their dependability as well as the quality of the concrete they deliver. From backyard DIYs to homes, streets and bridges, McDonald Concrete can accommodate all projects...

In 1972, beagle breeders and professionally-trained dog handlers Bill and Cecile Busch opened Busch's Kennel, one of the first boarding facilities in Cape Girardeau. In 2019, Stacy Busch-Heisserer and her husband, Chris Heisserer, took over the kennel from Busch-Heisserer's parents. They have added on, building a new office complete with luxury cat condominiums, the only ones like them in this area...

What if we told you: a local nonprofit foundation has raised $3.4 million in the last few years? What if we told you during that time, a group of local technology companies has attracted nearly $22 million in private equity investments and created more than 200 new jobs, and some of those jobs were filled by the 150 adult software programmers that received locally-developed, hands-on training? And what if we told you more than 1,000 fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the region have participated in a youth coding league teaching them coding and other analytical skills and is on its way to being a national program?. ...

The field of candidates for Cape Girardeau Board of Education widened to 31; four additional names were released Monday: Harry Rediger, Howard Tooke, Cleo Mabrey and Jim Limbaugh; the four had asked that their names not be made public prior to the selection; but County Commissioner Joe Gambill contacted each man, telling him to "get in or get out" of the selection process, and all four opted to stay in...

Kind of hard to believe it's May 1 already or almost May 1. Pretty close. We've been busy so the time has kind of flown by. I know when one is idle time seems to go by really slow. I was talking to Gary the other day, and he said he'd gone through the drawers and arranged them until he was tired of it. ...

I like forward motion. It feels nice to know I am progressing toward something desirable, that my time is not being wasted but that I am actively creating change in a way that moves my life in the direction I am hoping to go. Maybe it's because I am the product of a generation who has had the world at our fingertips since we were in elementary school; it is difficult for us to be still, to be content and to accept what is before us...

Will COVID-19 kill our liberty? There are many people who want to control other people. I remember being in a men's restroom and seeing men leave, after using the toilet, without washing their hands. I wanted to chase them down and make them come back and wash. ...

The New Testament letter of 1 Peter is a letter of hope. Hope to people who are enduring hardships, difficulties and trials. Peter has written to people who because of their faith are being ostracized from their friends and business acquaintances. The people are being pressured to abandon their faith. ...

Haley Logan Wengert and Ethan John Browning were married Oct. 26 at Old St. Vincent's Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Rick Jones performed the ceremony. Lenny Kuper of Cape Girardeau was organist and Casie Mills of Cape Girardeau was soloist. The bride is the daughter of Alan and Kim Wengert of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Jim and Kathy Browning of Charleston, Missouri...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary This is Kevin. He is 2 years old and would love to have a quiet, loving home. If you are ready for a rewarding experience, come see us at Safe Harbor. Call (573) 243-9823.

Springtime is flower time, and there are many different kinds and colors. I took this photo March 31. The complementary colors caught my attention. The purple flowers are American violets. The yellow flowers are native dandelions. These two can be found blooming together in your yard, especially if you live in a country setting. Look for them before you mow your lawn for the first time in spring...

Marie Marguerite Oliver was born in Jackson on Dec. 18, 1890, the youngest child and only daughter of six children born to Robert Burett Oliver Sr. and Marie Watkins Oliver of Cape Girardeau. A bright child, she graduated from the State Teachers College in 1907 before continuing her studies at Randolph Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia, and National Park Seminary in Forest Glen, Maryland, where she graduated in 1910...

Jackson native Nicole Sotak has earned the fall 2019 dean's award with distinction from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. Pi Gamma Mu-McKendree University, Lebanon, Ilinois Jackson: Taylor Barnes Phi Kappa Phi-Southeast Missouri State University...

Monday: Ground beef stroganoff or chicken Parmesan, buttered noodles, Lima beans, seasoned cauliflower, whole-bread slice and blushing pears or chilled creamy fruit. Tuesday: Meatballs in gravy or sweet and sour chicken, long-grain rice, California-blend vegetables, cucumber salad, whole-grain hot roll and Mandarin oranges or angel food cake...

SALT LAKE CITY -- State and local governments across the United States have obtained 30 million doses of a malaria drug touted by President Trump to treat patients with the new coronavirus, despite warnings from doctors that more research is needed...

SAN FRANCISCO -- On a break from the front lines, nurse practitioner Gabe Westhemier tucked into a plate of duck confit, the work of one of the city's celebrity chefs. ("It was wonderful.") Meanwhile, at another San Francisco emergency room, nurse Liz Sanderson still savors a sea salt caramel bread pudding from another posh eatery. ("It was possibly the best thing I have ever eaten.")...

WASHINGTON -- Don't inject disinfectants, health officials leapt to warn Friday, reacting to President Donald Trump's comment disinfectants perhaps could be injected or ingested to fight COVID-19. His suggestion even prompted the maker of Lysol to warn its product should never be used internally...

MADISON, Wis. -- The latest demonstration by right-wing groups against measures to contain the coronavirus came to Wisconsin on Friday, with hundreds of people ignoring social distancing recommendations and crowding together on the steps of the state Capitol to protest the Democratic governor's stay-home order...

For members of the U.S. Army Field Band, it has never been merely about the music. Yes, they wanted to please the ear, but they played for the Army. For America. So earlier this month, when concert dates evaporated with the spread of COVID-19 and the band was ordered back to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, there was never any question: The band would not stand down. The music would not stop...

WASHINGTON -- A recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic and a government spending spree on testing, health care and aid to businesses and households will nearly quadruple the federal budget deficit to $3.7 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office said Friday...

Daughter to Ryan Michael and Michelle Ann Garnett of Scott City, Saint Francis Medical Center, 11:39 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2020. Name, Maya Rose. Weight, 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Fourth child, third daughter. Mrs. Garnett is the former Michelle Hulshof, daughter of Shirley and Greg Eftink and the late Gordon Hulshof. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. DWI n Driving under the influence was reported at North Kingshighway and Veterans Memorial Drive. Thefts n Theft was reported in the 600 block of Emerald Street. n Burglary was reported in the 800 block of South Kingshighway...

Given the coronavirus upending our way of life, Americans are depending on elected and appointed officials to safeguard our health and economy. However, we as citizens also have the responsibility to stand up for our American way of life. This means we have to be even more vigilant about protecting our freedoms and the rule of law...

At a coronavirus task force briefing at the beginning of April, White House adviser Jared Kushner explained the approach that would -- as events proved -- get the country through its ventilator crisis. He was relentlessly pilloried, mocked and distorted in the press for it...

O Lord Jesus, we praise you, for by your stripes we are healed. Amen.

ST. LOUIS -- Below normal rainfall over the past two months has significantly lessened the risk of flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters had warned earlier this year that with the ground saturated and significant snowpack to the north, there was a high risk of flooding on the two big rivers and their tributaries. ...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. Monday 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minutes n Minutes for April 23 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. ...

Dorothy M. Weber, 87, of Altenburg, Missouri, died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation and funeral service will be private for the family on Monday, April 27, 2020, with the Rev. Frank Lucas officiating...

Gerald "Jerry" Vanden Brook, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at his home. He was born July 2, 1938, in Detroit to Henry and Agnes Rita Opoka Vanden Brook. He and Brenda McCray were married Aug. 2, 1988, at Cape Girardeau. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ruby E. Schubert, 94, of Perryville died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. Visitation and funeral service will be private for the family Monday, with the Rev. Joseph Schlie officiating. Ford and Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Gilbert L. Regelsperger, 87, of Perryville, Missouri, died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral Service will be private. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Ford and Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Douglas Glenn Pender, 86, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 1, 1933, in Ruble, Missouri, to the late William N. and Edna M. Church Pender. He and June Albert were married Dec. 24, 1953...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dorothy Matthews Moore, 90, died peacefully Thursday, April 23, 2020. at Chateau Girardeau. Born Oct. 31, 1929, in Sikeston, Dottie was the daughter of Charles Davis III and Dorothy Lillard Matthews III. She attended Sikeston High School, where she was a Red Pepper and played the drums in the marching band. She was the first Miss Sikeston and the first Cotton Carnival Queen and was also named Missouri Maid of Cotton...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Carolyn Jo Monier, 65, of Perryville died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at her home. Services will be private for the family. Ford and Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ted Dean Loso, 67, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 19, 2020, at Fountainbleau Lodge. He was born March 20, 1953, in Sterling, Illinois, to David and Adela Alvarez Loso. He received his doctorate, Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. ...

Steven J. Kreidler, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Landmark Hospital. He was born Aug. 11, 1959, in Saint Louis to Jack and Mary Bahlinger Kreidler. He loved going to the movies, going out to eat, dancing and his frequent visits to the casino...

Maxine Ann Kalkofen, 69, of Jackson died Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City is in charge of arrangements.

BURTON, Mich. -- Stoy Holman, 55, of Burton, formerly of Kilgore, Texas, died Thursday, April 2, 2020, at St. Alexius Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 15, 1964, in Rock Island, Illinois, the son of the late Cecil and Ruth Goehman Holman Sr. Stoy is survived by his children, Matthew Holman of Tennessee, Stevie Marie Holman of Michigan and Hunter Kincaid of Missouri; eight grandchildren; four brothers, Cecil "Skip" Holman Jr., Joe Holman and James Holman, all of Wappapello, Missouri, and Roger Holman of Arkansas; and many nieces and nephews.. ...

Constance Love Bunch Gray, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 20, 2020, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Gary Wayne Fee, 63, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, April 18, 2020. Service will be held at a later time. Smith Family Funeral and Cremation Services in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is in charge of arrangements.

For the second time during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kiwanis Club of Cape Girardeau provided lunch to the staff at Southeast Cancer and Infusion Center on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Kiwanis honors our local front-line workers.

Twenty-three of the 31 people who are interested in being a Cape Girardeau Board of Education member appeared before the Cape Girardeau County Commission yesterday to interview for the job; after more than five hours of talks, the commissioners decided their job had become much more difficult because of the high quality of people seeking the three posts...

Christi Porter, 60, of Cape Girardeau, and formerly of Wood River, Illinois, died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 3, 1959, in Alton, Illinois, to Ethelyn Wooldridge Gorham and the late Danny Porter...