Stories from Saturday, February 4, 2023

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a small fire Friday morning at 18 N. Sprigg St. in Cape Girardeau. Firefighters were able to extinguish the small blaze in the lower rear of the building -- that was being used for storage -- shortly after arriving on scene, a news release from the department said. No injuries were reported...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education isn't wasting any time seeking a candidate to fill the soon-to-be-open superintendent position after Neil Glass announced his retirement Monday, Jan. 23. Matt Welker, board president, said they hope to name a new superintendent by the end of February. The position was listed at capegirardeau.tedk12.com/hire on Wednesday, Feb. 1, and the deadline for receiving resumes is Feb. 13...

Three Southeast Missouri GOP state House members voted "yes" with the 108-50 majority Thursday, Feb. 2, to make it more difficult to amend the state constitution. In a party-line vote, Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed, the House raised the threshold from a simple majority to at least 60% to change the Missouri's charter, specifically referred to as "The Constitution of 1945"...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Recreational marijuana sales in Missouri officially began Friday after the state health department unexpectedly began approving dispensary permits early. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state since a ballot measure passed in 2018, but voters went a step further this November by approving a constitutional amendment legalizing the drug for anyone 21 or older. The new law made Missouri the 21st state to allow recreational use...

As the City of Cape Girardeau moves forward with efforts to demolish the historic -- and condemned -- former Broadway Theatre in downtown Cape Girardeau, one fundraiser said she has investors who can save it. The facility's board of directors have been working to fundraise to prevent the local landmark from being demolished in the aftermath of a fire at the building in March 2021. The blaze caused significant damage to the integrity, facade and roof of the structure...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Saturday downed a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America and became the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing...

WASHINGTON -- A huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailed across the U.S. on Friday, drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying despite China's firm denials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken abruptly canceled a high-stakes Beijing trip aimed at easing U..S.-China tensions...

Most people may not know the name Tom Seematter, but many have seen his dot drawing of The Three Soldiers -- the bronze statue that is part of Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. -- hanging in a courthouse or school. Seematter, 74, who served 15 months himself, has dedicated his life to welcoming home Vietnam veterans with Project Homecoming. ...

I would like to offer our citizens a reminder of the city's financial accomplishments of the last year, and to share a picture of the goals and plans for 2023. There has been so much going on, and we will see so much in the future -- this is definitely not a comprehensive list of all that is going on in the city government and its departments...

A new book examining the injustice that sent Josh Kezer to prison for the 1992 murder of Angela "Mischelle" Lawless will be published in May. Kezer, who was charged with Lawless' murder in March of 1993, was exonerated in 2009 with a rare "actual innocence" ruling...

Today is Saturday, Feb. 4, the 35th day of 2023. There are 330 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Feb. 4, 1783, Britain's King George III proclaimed a formal cessation of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War. On this date:...

Just after noon Tuesday, Division 3 Circuit Court clerk Earlene Sokolowski stood at the counter in Jones Drug Store buying Tylenol for a headache when she heard "a horrible noise"; as plate glass shattered and the floor rumbled, Sokolowski and others in and nearby the courthouse square store thought an earthquake had struck; actually, it was a Chrysler New Yorker driven by Paul Bollinger of Jackson; his foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal as he parked the car in one of the diagonal spaces in front of the drug store; the car jumped the high curb and plowed completely into the left side of the 127-year-old building.. ...

Several months ago, I came across a small box on a shelf -- not such an unusual occurrence, here at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, but what was inside, was. I found several title abstracts, or a document detailing a land parcel's ownership chain. Most of these dated back to the beginning of kept records, so, late 1700s, early 1800s, with typewritten transcriptions of wills and deeds, plat maps and other odd bits of information...

I was born in 1950, so there were still ranchers back then who still did their work the old way. They relied totally on horses to feed their cattle and to work the land. Dad still had a couple work horses, but they weren't his main way of feeding. Dad relied on some fairly new C International tractors and a Cub International as well. Dad didn't have a shed to store the tractors in so they sat outside all year long...

Monday: Chicken and rice casserole or beef patty melt, vegetable blend, buttered corn, whole-grain bread slice and autumn dessert or fresh-baked cookies Tuesday: Chili with beef and beans and 1/2 sandwich or roasted chicken thighs with veggies, baked potato, whole-grain crackers and chilled tropical fruit or lemon cake...

n The following students were named to the fall 2022 dean's list at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri: Advance, Missouri: Addie Lynn Nichols. Altenburg, Missouri: Dylan Anthony Holt. Cape Girardeau: Abigail P. Michael, Lucas David Moll, Tambria N. Wilson...

These buds and leaves were sticking out of a snow-covered bush the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 25. Heavy, wet snowfall during the night broke down some trees and tree limbs in the Southeast Missouri area. Thousands of people were left to deal with a few days of no electric power...

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Many years ago, while both of my in-laws were still alive, this writer was present for a Sunday school class in which Mom and Dad Ford actively participated...

Do you remember learning about the First Great Awakening? The sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," by Jonathan Edwards was considered an influence on the movement. Like most writings or sermons, it should be viewed in a historical context. The reader needs to understand the environment in which the sermon was delivered. Who could doubt the impact of this message on the congregation and how it went beyond the walls of the church to influence the culture?...

Are you a quitter, or someone that keeps on going regardless of the outcome? Perhaps you think that it's easier to drop everything and give up, and it often is. Sometimes what we're striving for has run its course, and it's time to let go, but we must first take the time to discern if it's advisable to stop whatever we're doing, or keep trying...

Jackson High School 1st Semester Scholastic Honor Roll 12th grade: Madelynn Adams, Erica Amelunke, Madalyn Auer, Ryan Berger, Sydney Beussink, Kelby Brandenburgh, Aubrey Brothers, Kyleigh Burgess, Eva Carrasquillo-Wilkinson, Natalee Chimienti, Eli Clubbs, Mariena Collins, Kyle Craigmiles, Seth Elliott, Natalie Essner, Alexandra Gilmore, Layne Gross, Catherine Harrison, Natalie Hawk, Cameron Hinkebein, Elijah Holm, Courtney Huckabee, Evan Kiefer, Anna Lacy, Preston Lafave, Samantha Large, Kaden Luker, Noah Lynch, Rebekah Mansfield, Kinsley Martin, Cade Mccadams, Drew Mcconnell, Mallorie Metzger, Sadie Middleton, Hannah Mitchell, Justi Nelson, Sara Nevils, Bailey O'neal, London Popp, Kasidis Saysanan Na Ayudhya, Emma Silliman, Nathaniel Steele, Mikaylyn Stephens, Preston Strothmann, Ethan Thomas, Kaitlyn Waller, Maci Wendel.. ...

Meridian Junior and Senior High School First semester High Honor Roll 6th grade: Xavier Green, Anna Temke. 7th grade: Da'Von Allen, Kevin Duncan, Addison Maupin. 8th grade: Ziah Bartlett, Minique Blake, Kamon Brown, Madyson Dover, LaTarus Johnson, Jayla Meeks, Leon Patterson III, Ahrielya Vasser, Kamora Wiggins...

Terry W. Kitchen Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School Terry W. Kitchen Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School A Honor Roll 7th grade: Zachary Aaro, Jayla Anderson, Rylee Anderson, Meesum Aqeel, Makenzie Britt, Katelyn Burton, Ethan Busch, Nicholas Busch, Anthony Cattaneo, Ryanne Cauble, Elijah Cheek, Kinley Couch, Connor Crosnoe, Terrance Dorsey, Nolan Evans, Zeyang Feng, Connor Glueck, Josiah Greenwood, Tayven Hale, Isla Hammond, Audriana Harris, Kellan Harris, Alexandra Hogan, Alaina Honza, Arjay Jennings, Niyah Johnson, Collin Kisat, Legend Lewis, Clayton Long, Madison Lowrey, Owen Mattes, Karsynne McAlister, Elizabeth McClanahan, Luke Merriman, Caroline Ogles, Aixtrid Olele, Omotekoro Osiohwo, Lilah Pattengill, Aubrey Roth, Hasan Roumany, Carlos Salas, Daniel Santos, Wyatt Segraves, Claire Smith, Rylan Smith, Kyle Spears, Dylan Voshage, Tobias Wade, Jamison Wagganer, Collin White, Ashton Williams, Mya Wilson, Owen Winters.. ...

From Page 8C High Honor Roll 5th grade: Ava Estes, Abbigail Higgison, Julianna Knight, Carson Martin, James Moss, Margaret Moss, Zoie Riordan, Ashtyn Schiwitz, Daeghan St John, Liria Velasco Cruz. 6th grade: Julia Ancell, Marissa Austin, William Backfisch, Katelyn Beckett, Alexandra Cohn, Ella Enderle, Clara Landis, Kinley Littlepage, Sarah Niles, Gabriella Pender, Colton Pind, Jase Rodriguez, David Schusler, Blayde Sparks, Faith Talley, Jocelyn Weber...

A whole-hog sausage breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 5 at St. Ambrose Parish Center in Chaffee, Missouri. The menu includes whole-hog sausage, eggs and biscuits and gravy. Sponsored by the St. Ambrose Men's Club. For more information call (573) 318-0314...

Thank you Rebecca LaClair for the memories of restaurants past. I, too, miss Zoi's and the Russian restaurant that used to be on Broadway. I believe the sauce served on the schnitzel was made of lingonberry. Alas, we can now add Hamburger Express and its delectable barbecue sandwiches and meaty turkey drumsticks to memory lane. Again, thank you for writing, introducing us to new tastes, and special thanks to all chefs and restaurateurs who make life here tasty and adventurous...

Donald Trump hasn't been impressing anyone with his political acuity lately, but at least he is fully aware of one of his own vulnerabilities. His early attacks on the COVID-19 record of Ron DeSantis show that he knows the Florida governor has outflanked him on the populist right -- indeed, outflanked him in general -- regarding one of the most central issues of the last couple of years...

We are entering the 12th month of a "special military operation" that was supposed to be over in well under 12 days. The Kremlin even told Russian officers to pack dress uniforms and medals for the intended military parades in Kyiv a few days after the shooting started...

O Father God, thank you that through your son Jesus we can have eternal life. Amen.

KYIV, Ukraine -- The European Union will unveil its 10th package of sanctions against Russia on Feb. 24 to mark the anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a senior official from the bloc said in Kyiv on Friday, as Ukrainian forces gird for an expected Russian offensive in the coming weeks...

Son to Hunter Steven Rogers and Eliza Victoria Shirrell of Advance, Missouri, Saint Francis Medical Center, 8:24 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. Name, Malcolm Don. Weight, 7 pounds, 12 ounces. First child. Shirrell is the daughter of Heather Shirrell and Nathan Shirrell of Advance. Rogers is the son of Christina Fornkohl and Mark Rogers Jr. of Zalma, Missouri. Shirrell and Rogers are both employed by McDonald's...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to the following calls. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n A warrant arrest was reported on William Street. n A warrant arrest was reported. n A warrant arrest was reported on William Street...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. Feb. 1 n Medical assists were made at 6:31 a.m. on North Frederick Street; 7:28 a.m. on Pamela Drive; 10:02 a.m. on South Henderson Avenue; 3:57 p.m. on Clark Avenue; 8:40 p.m. on North Kingshighway; 10:14 p.m. on South Louisiana Avenue; and 11:02 p.m. on North Sprigg Street...

City of Jackson mayor and Board of Aldermen Regular meeting 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 Adoption of agenda n Motion adopting the Regular Meeting Agenda. Approval of minutes n Motion approving the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 17. Financial affairs...

Cape Girardeau City Council 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, City Hall Presentations Items for discussion Public Hearings Consent agenda n Approval of the January 23, 2023, City Council regular session minutes and the January 26, 2023, City Council closed session minutes...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minutes n Approval of minutes of Thursday, Jan. 26, meeting n Approval of closed session minutes from Thursday, Jan. 26 meeting n Approval of closed session minutes from Monday, Jan. 30...

ORAN, Mo. -- Ida Mae Glasscock Seyer of Oran passed away in her home Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Born Nov. 8, 1928, to Theodore Douglas and Irmina Catherine Glaus Glasscock, she was 94 years old. Growing up in Oran, Ida attended Guardian Angel Catholic School until eighth grade. ...

Michael Steven Hellman Sr., 67, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born May 2, 1955, in St. Louis to Herman Hellman Jr. and Pansy Crites. He and Terrie Masters Hellman were married Nov. 21, 1973, in Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Kaye Camp, 67, died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at her home in Chaffee. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel is assisting with arrangements.

Shirley May Buchheit, 87, of Friedheim died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Cape Girardeau. Shirley was born Sept. 8, 1935, in Friedheim, daughter of Edwin P. and Ethel B. Meyers Kurre. She and Leo Elmer Buchheit were married May 1, 1954, at St. Maurus Catholic Church in Biehle, Missouri. He preceded her in death July 27, 2020...

It's beginning to look a lot like spring even though the calendar says it's still deep winter; some trees are budding and some plants like creeping phlox and snow crocus are starting to bloom in the area; "Probably a lot of bulbs are up right now," says gardening expert Paul Schnare; Schnare, who owns Sunny Hill Gardens & Florist, says tulips and other spring plants shouldn't be hurt by any return of winter weather as long as they aren't blooming...