Local News

Christian Montgomery of Morley, Missouri, was arrested on more than a dozen warrants by the Scott County Sheriff's Office without incident, according to a social media post on Saturday. In the post, Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury thanked the Missouri State Highway Patrol, New Madrid County (Missouri) Sheriff's Office and Morehouse (Missouri) Police Department for their assistance throughout the investigation...

Madison Robinson was only 15 years old when she was killed in a shooting in August in Cape Girardeau. Saturday, her family and friends marched in a demonstration in Arena Park, approximately 50 people chanting in unison: "Justice for Maddy! Take our community back!"...

Collin Montgomery of Morley, Missouri, was arrested Saturday by Scott County Sheriff's Office without incident, according to a social media post. In the post, Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury thanked the Missouri State Highway Patrol, New Madrid County (Missouri) Sheriff's Office, Sikeston (Missouri) Department of Public Safety, Miner (Missouri) Police Department and Morehouse (Missouri) Police Department for their assistance throughout the investigation...

A new, online project aims to foster connections and empathy in Cape Girardeau. Darren Burgfeld, self-styled "chief human," manages the project, called Humans of Cape. At its core, HOC is collecting stories, Burgfeld said. He oversees a small team of people who go out into the greater Cape Girardeau area and talk with people, delving below the surface interaction to find a deeper understanding of that person's lived experience...

Charles A. "Drew" Juden III, former director of the state Department of Public Safety, announced Friday he will seek the Cape Girardeau County sheriff's office in 2020. He plans to run as a Republican, which means he would face incumbent Sheriff Ruth Ann Dickerson in a Republican primary election Aug. 4. Dickerson has not indicated to the Southeast Missourian whether she will seek reelection...

When TJ Jackson heard his raffle ticket called, he hollered as instructed. "Yahoo!" he said, speculating with the friends at his table what he might do with the body butter package he'd just won during the annual Seniors and Lawmen Together Christmas Party at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Cape Girardeau...

The Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau aims to raise $341,000 during the annual Tree of Lights Campaign, but has so far raised only $77,332, according to a news release. "The money raised during our Tree of Lights Campaign is how we operate our programs, keep the lights on and pay our employees," Lt. Matt DeGonia, Corps Officer at The Salvation Army, said in the release. "It is our biggest fundraising opportunity, and we need all the help we can get."...

"Take what you need. Leave what you can." So says the door of a blue blessing box, newly installed near the Juvenile Office in Cape Girardeau. The office's location at 2137 Rust Ave. in Cape Girardeau is historically interesting, said chief juvenile officer for the 32nd Judicial District Randy Rhodes...

Southeast Missouri State University president Carlos Vargas sent a message to the university community Friday addressing racist flyers found on the school's main campus and River Campus earlier in the week. The flyers, purportedly from Church of Creativity -- "White Racial Loyalty Without Compromise" -- espoused white supremacist views and claimed the group's "golden rule" is "What is good for the White Race is the highest virtue; What is bad for the White Race is the ultimate sin."...

The Scott City Council has named city clerk Mike Dudek to be the town’s new administrator, succeeding Mark O’Dell who left the position in May. And although Dudek’s title is new, his duties are not because he’s been the “unofficial” city administrator since O’Dell’s departure...

Hunter Platz of Coast to Coast Signs grinds a threaded rod before hanging the final pieces of polished aluminum lettering on the recently renamed Terry W. Kitchen Central Junior High School on Thursday in Cape Girardeau. ...

After a local principal’s social media account was compromised this week, he sent out an email to school staff warning them not to open any Facebook messages from his account. Carroll Williams, principal of Cape Christian Community School in Cape Girardeau, said his sister first alerted him to some unusual activity on his Facebook profile...

Saturday kicks off two cornerstone holiday performance events at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus: the Percussion Ensemble’s Family Holiday Concert, and the Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker.” ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — A former deputy clerk has settled her wrongful termination lawsuit filed against Stoddard County for nearly $95,000. Ginger McCoy had sued Stoddard County Clerk Cecil Weeks individually and in his official capacity, as well as Stoddard County, after she was fired April 8 for allegedly questioning irregularities in the April 2 municipal election...

The Missouri Gaming Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved transfer of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau’s gaming license from Eldorado Resorts of Reno, Nevada, to Century Casinos of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The license transfer clears the way for the casino’s sale, expected by the end of the month...

After charges against the former suspect in her murder investigation were dropped by prosecutors last month, family and friends of 15-year-old Madison Robinson now plan to march for justice Saturday in Cape Girardeau. The demonstration is scheduled for 2 p.m. in front of the new Cape Girardeau police station north of Arena Park, according to an event listing on Facebook titled “Justice March for Madison Kingston Robinson.”...

Two men stood on the stage. One would soon have his life forever changed. “And first runner-up ... Trevor Shannahan.” With those words, Michael Steinmeyer of Jackson had won this year’s Wings Over the Prairie Festival World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas...

Organizers are busy setting up in Benton, Missouri, for this weekend’s 20th annual Winter Wonderland of Treasures craft fair. About 50 vendors will be set up in the St. Denis Parish Center on U.S. 61 in Benton, and include several familiar offerings, with some new items...

Keith Woodfin of Cape Girardeau tends to a burn pile near his home Wednesday in Cape Girardeau. "We're doin' a few piles at a time," he said of the leaves in his yard.

Approval of minutes n Minutes for Dec. 2 Communications/reports n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on agenda Routine business n Purchase orders n Payroll change forms...

Construction is underway at the site of a new behavioral health hospital in Cape Girardeau, which, when it opens late next year, will offer the most extensive inpatient psychiatric services between St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee. “We’ve started clearing the land and are beginning the construction phase,” said Ron Escarda of Universal Health Services Inc., which is partnering with SoutheastHEALTH to build and operate the $33 million hospital. ...

Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy L. Metheny, an Army leader from Southeast Missouri, was among those visited by President Donald Trump last week in Afghanistan. ...

A special-use permit was approved Monday night by the Cape Girardeau City Council for construction of an electrical substation near the intersection of West Cape Rock Drive and Lexington Avenue. According to construction plans presented to council members, Ameren Missouri’s new electrical power distribution substation at 1400 West Cape Rock Drive would cover a 76-by-88-foot area and contain electrical power distribution equipment, enclosed by an 8-foot fence...

Southeast Missouri State University alumnus Jeff Earl will assume the role of legislative director for Gov. Mike Parson’s office, effective next Tuesday, according to a news release. Since 2017, Earl has served as deputy legislative director, the release stated. Previously, he served as legislative and constituent services director for Missouri Department of Corrections and as senior legislative adviser for Auditor Tom Schweich...

The Environmental Protection Agency says a Jackson company once cited for allegedly exposing employees to excessive levels of a hazardous chemical is now in complete compliance with state and federal environmental guidelines and is looking to find ways to further reduce potentially dangerous emissions. ...

Dave Pfanstiel of Cape Girardeau, left, and Wayne Shockley of Jackson haul a Christmas tree from Pollock Landscaping on Tuesday at a parking lot along South Kingshighway near Schnucks Market in Cape Girardeau.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help to locate Christian M. Montgomery, 23, a Caucasian male known to frequent the Morley, Missouri, area, according to a social media post Tuesday afternoon. Montgomery has two active warrants for his arrest and is also wanted on unspecified pending charges through the sheriff’s office. He is known to be armed and dangerous. He should not be approached...

An ordinance was unanimously approved by Cape Girardeau City Council members Monday night to include the question of renewing a one-half of 1% sales tax for the city’s transportation improvements on the April 7 ballot. The Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) was first approved by voters in 1995 with TTF 1, and voters have extended the sales tax every five years. ...

Dennis L. Vinson — founder, president and CEO of Signature Packaging and Paper in Jackson and a member of numerous civic, philanthropic and not-for-profit boards including the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents — died Sunday night at a St. Louis hospital...

Adoption is no longer on the table for Narwhal the Little Magical Furry Unicorn — Narwhal for short. Instead, Mac’s Mission founder Rochelle Steffen will house the beagle-mix puppy herself. “I had no intention initially of keeping him,” Steffen said. “I didn’t want a puppy.” And beagles weren’t at the top of her list, either...

As a U.S. Navy veteran, Dustin Johnson knows the struggles service members face on returning stateside. After a failed attempt on his own life earlier this year, Johnson of Benton, Missouri, decided to take positive action and work toward realizing a long-held dream...

There are only two things that could keep the Jackson Christmas Parade from happening on schedule Saturday night — bad weather and a Missouri Class 5 championship football game. Weather won’t be an issue. As of Monday afternoon, Jackson’s forecast for Saturday night was calling for mostly clear skies with only a 10% chance of rain...

Phil Dillow of Cape Girardeau stands in front of a quilt titled “Ice Fantasia” while viewing a holiday-themed, traveling quilt exhibit Monday at the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society in Jackson. ...

Jackson needs to replace at least one of its bridges in the next five years, another by 2029, and initiate a regular maintenance program for the rest of them, according to a report being presented tonight to the Jackson Board of Aldermen. The aldermen will discuss the report, prepared as part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Bridge Engineering Assistance Program, during their study session. The study session will follow the board’s regular meeting at 6 p.m. today...

A swift-water rescue team responded to multiple incidents Saturday in Bollinger County, where flash floods swept two different vehicles off of roadways, leading to three deaths. The first incident occurred in the morning, when a vehicle traveling on County Road 356 was swept into Little Whitewater Creek with all four of its occupants entering the water at approximately 9:15 a.m., according to a boat/drowning incident report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

The day before Thanksgiving was crisp and cloudless. In other words, it was perfect weather for racing motorbikes across the hills between Jackson and Oak Ridge. So that’s what Joe Strauser and his kids, 12-year-old Matthew and 10-year-old Sophie, decided to do as they waited for out-of-town family to arrive. Or they did, until Sophie’s 50-cubic-centimeter machine suddenly gave out...

The holiday shopping season’s unofficial kickoff, Small Business Saturday, saw locally-owned businesses welcome shoppers in from a rainy November morning. Bob Schooley, owner of The Ground-A-Bout coffee shop at 107 E. Adams St. in uptown Jackson, said Saturday they’d been busy all morning...

Approval of minutes n Minutes of regular meeting of 11/18/19 Financial affairs n Monthly bills Action items Power, Light and Water Committee n Consider a motion accepting the proposal of Trident Rescue of Estero, Florida, in the amount of $21,600, and authorizing the purchase of two training classes under the NFPA 1006 Training Services Program...

Approval of minutes n Minutes for Nov. 25 Communications/reports n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on agenda Routine business n Purchase orders n Payroll change forms...

Study session Presentations n Cape Special Road District presentation Communications/reports Items for discussion n Appearances regarding items not listed on agenda n Agenda review...

Bob Blackwell is a dying man, but he'll be the first to tell you he's not dead yet. A seven-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, Blackwell, 49, plans to make the most of the time he has left, although he's not sure how long that may be. After selling many of his possessions -- including a privacy fence and pool equipment -- Blackwell purchased and licensed an RV. He plans to spend the next few months fixing up the vehicle before he will take it "coast to coast," seeing the country before he dies...

Heavy rain contributed to two water rescues and two resulting fatalities Saturday in Bollinger County. According to Sgt. Clark Parrott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at Bollinger County Road 356, a vehicle went into the water Saturday afternoon...

SIKESTON -- A child was injured after being struck by a vehicle while riding their bicycle Tuesday in Sikeston. At 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, officers with Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to South Main Street and Kathleen Streets in reference to a child bicyclist being struck by a vehicle, according to Capt. Austin Henley with Sikeston DPS...

Winning teams at the Nov. 23 competition are: Project Award n Tech Titans of Cape Girardeau n SEMO Kidbots of Cape Girardeau and Jackson Robot Design Award n Cryptic Coders of Cape Girardeau n Savage Bots of Jackson Robot Performance Award n Spare Parts of Cape Girardeau...

Construction work for the new roundabout at the intersection of East Main Street and Shawnee Boulevard in Jackson will force a water interruption Monday. The project includes relocating all utilities currently installed under the existing intersection to locations that will be outside of the new roundabout. To perform a portion of this work, an isolated temporary water service interruption is required, according to a release issued by city staff engineer Clint Brown...

A proposed Cape Girardeau downtown redevelopment project, which involved tax-increment financing (TIF), has been dropped for now. The City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on a measure to dissolve a special fund for the project so any future development in the TIF district would be able to recover costs for 23 years as allowed under state law...

Demand for medical marijuana usage permits in Missouri is outpacing initial estimates for the number of permit applications state officials expected. As of Monday, the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) had approved 21,739 medical cannabis patient and caregiver applications since enrollment began in late June. DHSS has nearly 2,000 applications in the review process and is issuing permits at a rate of almost 1,000 a week...