Stories from Thursday, November 12, 2020

Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri was reelected unanimously Tuesday to serve as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Blunt thanked his colleagues. "I'm grateful to my colleagues for the opportunity to continue serving in Senate Republican leadership," he said in a statement "The American people made their voices heard in the election and there was clearly no mandate for a return to misguided policies that will hurt our economy. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Sikeston schools will transition to their alternative method of instruction beginning Friday because of the coronavirus, and the school buildings in the district will not reopen until Nov. 30. The decision was announced in a letter from Sikeston School District superintendent Tony Robinson to parents Sunday...

A Bloomfield, Missouri, man died Saturday after being struck while crossing Highway 25 north of Bloomfield. Billy Bell, 78, attempted to cross the roadway when a pickup driven by Ernest Collier, 65, of Jackson struck him, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report...

A Jackson man was injured last week when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report states Don Pugh, 74, was traveling eastbound on Perryville Road north of Cape Girardeau when his 2017 Hyndai Santa Fe ran off the right side of the roadway Nov. 5...

Not all area counties updated their virus counts Tuesday, though two deaths were reported, and none were updated Wednesday because of the Veterans Day holiday. Tuesday, Stoddard County, Missouri, officials reported the deaths, bringing the county’s total number of deaths attributed to the virus to 29. The county also reported 86 new virus cases (1,381 total cases, 1,094 recoveries, 258 active cases)...

Featuring performances from Southeast Missouri State University's Jazz Studio, along with Conservatory of Theatre and Dance performers, this event is just what the doctor ordered to start off the holiday season. The concerts will be 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the university's Academic Auditorium in Cape Girardeau...

It is quite possible that Thanksgiving may be a little different this year for many families. It may be that people do not feel comfortable gathering together in groups or maybe choose not to travel long distances. Whatever your plans are this year for Thanksgiving, I hope it includes a few nice appetizers and a delicious dessert or two...

For Cape Girardeau parks and recreation director Julia Jones, Tuesday’s ceremony marking the addition of a new roof on the old American Legion building at Fort D had a special meaning. “I’m proud my great-great-grandfather was Col. G.C. Thilenius who helped oversee the construction of the Civil War forts around the city,” she told a group of about 50 people who had gathered not only to celebrate the new roof, but also the recent addition of Fort D to the National Register of Historic Places...

By day, Jackson’s Scott Wensler is a mortgage originator with USA Mortgage. In his off-hours, in addition to his responsibilities as a husband and father of two small boys, he enjoys testing his physical limits. Saturday, Wensler competed in his first full Ironman contest on Florida’s Gulf Coast — a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle race and a 26.2 mile running marathon at Panama City Beach...

Jefferson Elementary School counselor Olivia Carter, one of five finalists for National Counselor of the Year, waves to students from a silver mustang during a parade Wednesday to celebrate her nomination in Cape Girardeau.

DeShonta Sterling of Central Academy in Cape Girardeau was one of 52 high schoolers recognized Tuesday at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Sterling, a senior at Central Academy, is part of the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program at the school, part of the Cape Girardeau School District...

What moves you? In a literal sense, how do you get from Point A to Point B? The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) wants to know about the forms of transportation you use to go to and from work, to go shopping or to travel anyplace else in the area...

What do winding country roads, smoky bars, beer, veterans, Harley Davidson motorcycles, a brassiere chandelier, Clint Eastwood and a couple of good old boys have in common? You can find them all at The East Perry Pub. That's what I found when I climbed into Big Red and let my GPS guide me down winding country roads and over a couple of one lane bridges Saturday night...

"Too much of a good thing is wonderful." So said American entertainer and sex symbol, the late Mae West. Were she around today as the annual pumpkin spice craze gets into full swing, she might reconsider. Take, for example, the turns the craze, which started innocently enough as a flavored coffee drink, has taken. ...

Veterans Day began and ended in Cape Girardeau County with outdoor community celebrations of veterans and their service. On Tuesday, Teen Challenge volunteers set up the more than 700 flags for the Avenue of Flags in Cape County Park North. Each flag represents and has the name of a deceased veteran from Cape Girardeau County. Every Veterans Day, flags are added to honor veterans who have recently died...

Some Southeast Missourian subscribers who normally receive the print newspaper at their front yard in the morning will again have the paper delivered to them by U.S. mail Saturday. “We’re scrambling a bit right now,” said Jon K. Rust, publisher of the newspaper. ...

Information about Jackson’s historic architectural survey will be available to the public during an open house from 5:30 until 7 p.m. today at the Jackson Civic Center. Attendees may come any time during the event, walk through exhibits explaining the survey process, and speak to representatives of the city and the consulting firm of RDG Planning and Design, which the city has engaged to perform the survey...

AT&T and its contractor Nexius have been busy around Cape Girardeau installing small cells to create faster internet speeds, improved coverage and better voice quality, but where they are being placed is upsetting some residents. Small cells make use of low-power, short-range wireless transmission systems covering small geographical areas, such as neighborhoods...

America’s favorite whodunit board game comes alive on stage this weekend at Notre Dame Regional High School. Murder and a little mayhem thrown in is part of “Clue” and the Notre Dame production featuring Miss Scarlett, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum and Mr. Green in the madcap comedy. One of the guests is the murderer or maybe it’s the butler, maid or cook. ...

Today in History Today is Thursday, Nov. 12, the 317th day of 2020. There are 49 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 12, 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal...

Americans honored the men and women in uniform, both past and present, on Wednesday as the nation celebrated Veterans Day. The holiday was originally called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. But the day obviously goes beyond the first World War, encompassing veterans who served in all military conflicts and during times of peace...

With grateful hearts, we sing praises to you, O Lord Jesus, the King of Kings. Amen.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ruth Bertha Petzoldt, age 87, of Perryville passed away Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at Independence Care Center in Perryville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 6:30 to 8:15 a.m. Saturday at Ford and Young Funeral Home in Perryville. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. until time of service Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim...

Arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week: n When Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Swedish Parliament two years ago, it only took days for director Nathan Grossman to start trailing her in her mission to prod government leaders on the climate crisis. ...

BENTON, Mo. -- James Thomas Morgan, 66, of Benton died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at his home. He was born July 27, 1954, in Quilin, Missouri, to Buddy and Ethlene Hunt Morgan. He married Cynthia Leigh Taylor on Dec. 11, 1982. She preceded him in death July 29, 2020...

Annis Lee Heuring, 97, of Scott City died Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at the home of her daughter. Annis was born Feb. 25, 1923, in Friedheim to Jesse and Opal Crites Seabaugh Annis and William Raymond Heuring were married Aug. 29, 1942, and he preceded her in death Nov. 23, 2011...

John C. Hagans, 73, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, on his farm. He was born Jan. 6, 1947, in Cape Girardeau to J.E. and Kathryn Hagans. He married Melody Oberbeck on June 7, 1969, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. John graduated from Jackson High School in 1965 and the University of Missouri in 1969 with a bachelor of science in animal husbandry...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- James Dunn, son of the late Oliver and Mildred Pendell Dunn, was born Sept. 1, 1954, in Owosso, Michigan, and departed this life Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at his residence in Advance at the age of 66. James was a self-employed farmer and a member of the Delta First Baptist Church...

The Rev. Ronald L. Collier, 81, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, at home. The sixth of seven children, he was born Oct. 13, 1939, in Commerce, Missouri, to Christopher "Columbus" and Mary "Ethel" Mitchell Collier. He attended school in Commerce and Kelly, Missouri...

Susan A. Bielawski, 78, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Saint Louis, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Minette Kerner Moore. Susan and Donald L. Bielawski were united in marriage on Aug. 30, 1969. He preceded her in death Nov. 8, 2020...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Assaults n Assault was reported in the 1400 block of South West End Boulevard. n Assault was reported on South Plaza Way. n Assault was reported in the 2800 block of Whitener Street...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Nov. 9 n Medical assists were made at 12:19 a.m. on North Sprigg Street; 12:33 a.m. on South Pacific Street; 7:06 a.m. on Perryville Road. Nov. 10 n Medical assists were made at 11:09 a.m. ...

Daughter to Richard Tripp and Mallory Brooke Elliott of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 10:31 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Name, Landry Greer. Weight, 8 pounds. Second child, second daughter. Mrs. Elliott is the former Mallory Johnson, daughter of Ron and Vickie Johnson of Caddo Mills, Texas. She is a registered nurse at Saint Francis Medical Center. Elliott is the son of Richard and Kristie Elliott of Dallas, Texas. He is operations manager at CGB Enterprises...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Celebrations marking Veterans Day gave way to somber virtual gatherings Wednesday, with many of the nation's veterans homes barring visitors to protect their residents from the surging coronavirus that has killed thousands of former members of the U.S. military...

WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump spent 10 minutes in public Wednesday honoring America's war veterans -- a veneer of normalcy for a White House that's frozen by a defeated president mulling his options, mostly forgoing the mechanics of governing and blocking his inevitable successor...

It is cheaper to fill up your tank in St. Louis or Charleston, Missouri, than in Cape Girardeau; gasoline prices in the Cape Girardeau area on Friday were about 17 cents higher than in the St. Louis and Charleston areas; while gas is selling around 87.8 cents a gallon there, in Cape Girardeau, regular, unleaded gasoline is selling for $1.05.9 cents at most stations...