Local News

Kindergarten is a milestone that marks the start of a child's educational journey. For many, it’s their first exposure to a formal learning environment. Children begin kindergarten at varying levels of readiness, but the foundation they start with has lasting implications...

The $1.6 million Spanish Street Improvement Project, begun in late March and paid for by the Riverfront Development Fund, remains on target for an estimated completion in late July, Cape Girardeau city officials said last week. There are nine work zones identified for the 15-week project, with three zones completed and the fourth, including work on underground storm-sewer connections and water mains, scheduled to be finished by Friday...

Members of a new club at Cape Girardeau Central Middle School have raised $900 for a charitable foundation started by another student at the school. Seven sixth-grade students who are part of the new All 4 Love Club had their first popcorn and candy sale to raise funds for Granting Grace, a not-for-profit foundation started by seventh-grade student Grant Skelton, 13...

The Missouri House on Thursday passed a bill unanimously, by a 151-0 vote, to cut bureaucratic red tape to ensure more skilled veterans can work and practice in the state. Every member of the local delegation -- Jamie Burger of Benton, Rick Francis of Perryville, Barry Hovis of Whitewater and Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau, all Republicans -- were among the unopposed bipartisan consensus for House Bill 476: ...

An 18-year-old Sikeston, Missouri, man was cited for disturbing the peace after allegedly pointing a fake firearm at motorists and structures in downtown Cape Girardeau. Authorities cited Hayden Carter and detained two juveniles in the incident, which occurred about 1 p.m. Thursday...

On the day before Thanksgiving, Charles Parsons was drinking coffee at his favorite Cape Girardeau cafe when he got a phone call that changed his life Parsons, 43, was informed the adoptive parents who had raised him since the age of 4, had just been killed in a traffic accident in Sikeston...

The loss of a mom is always painful, especially on the first Mother's Day following her passing. Jackson's Cori Wray is carrying an even heavier weight this holiday weekend. Wray lost both her mother and her paternal grandmother in less than a week's time in December, as both women succumbed to COVID-19...

DEXTER, Mo. -- When Charlie Parrish turned the lock at Parrish's Barber Shop last Thursday afternoon, it was not the end of his usual work week. After 51 years at 8 N. Locust St. in Dexter, Parrish retired April 29. "I came to Dexter in 1970," Parrish recalled, "and I've been in this same spot all that time. I even still have the same barber chair I bought used when I first opened."...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Two men were taken into custody Thursday by the Drug Enforcement Administration after being indicted on federal drug charges. Ronnie Moreland, 59, of Bertrand and Paul Hale, 52, of Benton were federally indicted Tuesday on four counts of distribution of, possession with Intent to Distribute, and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, according to Mississippi County Sheriff Britton Ferrell...

A Sikeston, Missouri, man has been convicted for assaulting three corrections officers in the Scott County Jail in 2015. A Pemiscot County jury found William Henry Applewhite III, guilty on three counts of an assault on a corrections officer and three counts of armed criminal action from an incident in the Scott County Jail on May 9, 2015...

A local Boy Scout from Troop 4016, Jacob Mahnke, 14, of Cape Girardeau is raising money to purchase and install three bike repair stations with air pumps on the Cape LaCroix Trail in Cape Girardeau as part of his Eagle Scout service project. His goal is to install them along the trail in Shawnee Park, Arena Park and the trail entrance by the Osage Centre...

Many have heard the expressions “there are plenty of fish in the sea,” which is true, but not all “fish” are quite like these. Kathi and her son, Jake, began building their Southeast Missouri real estate empire over a decade ago on a foundation of ethics, faith in God and helping people...

Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management Agency director Mark Winkler told the County Commission on Thursday about an increase in new active coronavirus cases from 16 to 39 in a week's time. "We're starting to see the virus being more prevalent among younger folks, those under the age of 22," said Winkler, who has been the county's EMA director since 2018...

At about 10 p.m. May 2, 2011, the night sky over a portion of Southeast Missouri lit up as explosions obliterated a levee holding back the bulging Mississippi River. The concussions rang through the region. A collective sigh of relief floated up from Cairo, Illinois. And those who lived and worked on the 130,000 acres making up Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway in Mississippi County, Missouri, watched as the floodwaters came...

Though a dozen fires in and around Cape Girardeau in the past six months have been labeled as "arsons" on the city police department's website, it's doubtful those cases will result in criminal convictions, according to the city's fire marshal. Greg Hecht of Cape Girardeau Fire Department said proving arson includes intent to do harm, and few suspicious fires lead investigators to discover evidence of harmful intent...

An audience member raises his hand during a song at Thursday's National Day of Prayer event at La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The event was a cooperative effort of La Croix, Cape First Church, Lighthouse United Church and Lynwood Baptist Church. The National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May each year.

The Missouri Bicentennial Quilt will be on display starting today at the Cape River Heritage Museum in Cape Girardeau. The quilt commemorates Missouri's 200th anniversary of becoming a state. The Heritage Museum will unveil the quilt at 5 p.m. Friday with a wine and cheese reception...

In observance of President Harry S. Truman's birthday Saturday, Cape Girardeau County offices and state courts will be closed Friday. Normal business hours will resume Monday. Truman was born May 8, 1884, and died Dec. 26, 1972, at age 88.

David Barklage, a political consultant and lobbyist whose clients have included several prominent Republicans in state government, has been indicted on a felony tax charge. The indictment handed up in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on April 28 and unsealed Thursday alleges Barklage of Cape Girardeau failed to report $443,633 in income from 2012 through 2014. As a result, according to the indictment, he failed to pay $151,843 in taxes. ...

A Fisk, Missouri, woman died Thursday morning in a crash on Route B east of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Amanda LeGrand, 54, was driving a 2004 Dodge Durango northbound when she pulled into the path of a westbound 2000 Freightliner driven by Kyle Oberkramer, 30, of Broseley, Missouri...

An Advance, Missouri, woman was arrested Thursday on several alleged violations. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Laina Morse, 43, was taken into custody about 2 a.m. on a Stoddard County, Missouri, warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. She was cited for alleged driving while intoxicated, felony possession of a controlled substance ...

Two people were injured in a Stoddard County, Missouri, crash Wednesday. A 2013 Dodge Avenger driven by Dustin Reed, 27, of Mesquite, Texas, was eastbound on Route U, 5 miles west of Bernie, Missouri, when it collided with a northbound 2019 Hyundai Sonata driven by Joshua Taylor, 29, of Kansas City, Kansas. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report stated Taylor’s vehicle failed to yield to Reed’s vehicle in an intersection at about 5:15 p.m. ...

A Tennessee man was taken into custody Tuesday in Cape Girardeau County for several alleged driving violations. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report stated Johnathan Harrington, 37, of Millington, Tennessee, was cited for felony first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated (alcohol and drugs), driving with no valid license, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and careless and imprudent driving...

A 35-year-old Sikeston, Missouri, man was injured in a one-vehicle crash in New Madrid County, Missouri. The crash occurred at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 80 in Matthews, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report. Marko Sawyer was eastbound when his 2008 Ford Fusion left the roadway and overturned...

A Poplar Bluff, Missouri, man was slightly injured Tuesday in Johnson County, Missouri, when he failed to negotiate a roundabout. A 1998 Kenworth driven by David Cole, 52, left the south side of Highway 13 and struck an embankment, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report...

A couple of days ago I switched my thermometer to “cooling,” set the temperature at 70 degrees, and proceeded to grab a chilled drink from the fridge and added a few ice cubes for good measure. On most days, I take each of those little things for granted. But on that day, I felt a much deeper sense of gratitude for these cold features in my life...

Noting the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, Gov. Mike Parson issued a directive Wednesday calling for all state workers to return to their offices for "in-person" work no later than May 17. The directive also called for all state buildings to be open and accessible to the public during normal business hours...

If you had to stay outside through 28 years of erratic Missouri weather, you wouldn't look too great either. The Bicentennial Mural has towered over Broadway and North Fountain Street in Cape Girardeau since 1993. Since then, it has cracked and faded, and is in great need of repair, according to Sarah LaVenture, Old Town Cape's assistant director...

Tyler Willer, 15, lifts off in the long jump competition during Special Olympics Missouri's Cape Spring Games on Monday at Cape Girardeau Central High School in Cape Girardeau. ...

The trash collection schedule in the City of Jackson has been adjusted becauseo of the upcoming Memorial Day observance later this month. Jackson's sanitation department will be closed Memorial Day, May 31. Residential trash normally collected Mondays will be picked up Tuesday, June 1, that week along with garbage normally collected Tuesdays...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. today 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minute n Minutes from April 29 meeting n Minutes from closed session meeting on April 26 Routine business n Purchase orders n Payroll change forms n Inventory forms Appointments and possible action items...

An 18-year-old Perryville, Missouri, woman sustained minor injuries when her vehicle hydroplaned off a Perry County, Missouri, roadway. Anna Buchheit was tranig on U.S. 61 north of Honey Suckle, Missouri, when her 2016 Chevrolet Malibu hydroplaned in standing water, left the roadway and struck a tree, according to a Highway Patrol report...

A 37-year-old Cape Girardeau man escaped serious injury in a one-vehicle crash on U.S. 60 near Mansfield on Friday. Jeremy Williams was driving a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup when the vehicle left the right side of the roadway, according to a Highway Patrol report. Williams overcorrected, and the vehicle left the left side of the roadway and struck a sign. The vehicle then crossed back across both westbound lanes and struck a rock wall...

A Sikeston, Missouri, man was injured in a Sunday crash on Highway H north of Miner. According to a Highway Patrol report, James Simmons, 58, sustained moderate injuries when his vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a guardrail...

A 67-year-old Benton, Missouri, woman was injured in a crash north of Sikeston, Missouri, on Tuesday. A Highway Patrol report said Sherry Hoernig was driving a vehicle behind a vehicle being driven by Wendi Limbaugh, 47, of Scott City on U.S. 61 when Limbaugh stopped in the roadway and Hoernig's vehicle collided with the rear of Limbaugh's...

Cape Girardeau Central High School AP (Advanced Placement) Government teacher Marty Vines introduced his class to various Cape Girardeau city officials during a virtual Youth in Government Day event in the high school library Tuesday. Masking is still required for Central's secondary students so the 14 students in Vines' class met with Mayor Bob Fox, city manager Scott Meyer and other leaders via Zoom...

The City of Cape Girardeau lifted its mask mandate effective April 26 for employees and visitors to city offices, while maintaining face coverings are "highly recommended," according to the city's public information manager Nicolette Brennan. Cape Girardeau Municipal Court, for now, is still enforcing a mask order until further notice...

Southeast Missouri State University and Republic Airways are taking off on a new partnership to help students find employment and fill the global pilot shortage. Representatives of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, the City of Cape Girardeau, Republic Airways and Southeast gathered in the Commander Hanger at the airport Tuesday to celebrate the newly announced employment partnership between Southeast's professional pilot program and Republic Airways, six months after announcing the program's start.. ...

Becca Sides hates surprises, but last month, she got one she said she will always cherish. Sides' husband, Brandon is a sergeant in the Army. He served 11 months in Kuwait, and decided to surprise her the day he came home April 23. Becca knew Brandon was supposed to return home to Jackson soon, but she had no idea it would be on the day a few of her close friends piled her into a car and took her to The Water's Edge in Cape Girardeau, where he waited for her. ...

Two employees with long service to the city were honored at Monday's Cape Girardeau City Council meeting. Moldenhauer retired May 1 with more than a quarter century of service in the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, beginning her career with the municipality as a firefighter and paramedic Sept. 25, 1995...

Before The Animal Emergency Center closed in 2017, Southeast Missouri pet owners had only one option for emergency pet care in the region. Now, the closest 24-hour emergency pet clinic is in the St. Louis area. When the Animal Emergency Center of Southeast Missouri in Scott City closed, several local animal hospitals rallied together for after-hours care...

This story is updated. Approximately 97% of Cape Girardeau's streets are either in good or fair condition, the City Council was told Monday. City engineer Kelly Green and assistant Public Works director Casey Brunke told municipal lawmakers there are 226 miles of city-owned and maintained streets in Cape Girardeau, an estimated 33 million square feet of pavement...

Networking events are a popular perk of Cape Chamber membership, but there are many other benefits for individuals and businesses. “Here at the Cape Chamber, we know one-size does not fit all. Each business is unique in their goals, the time they have available to share, and the budget they are able to invest,” said Cape Chamber president and CEO John Mehner. ...

The Jackson Board of Aldermen voted unanimously for improvements to two Jackson-area parks at Monday night's meeting. First, the board approved a $70,000 donation from SEMO pickleball club to improve and expand the pickleball courts at Litz Park...

Whether someone calls Southeast Missouri “home,” or is just passing through, the historic buildings and structures lining the streets catch the attention of many. Penzel Construction Company in Jackson has had a hand in building these iconic structures in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and other parts of the region since the company began in 1910 — a legacy the company carries on today...

More than 15 agencies and schools from 14 counties participated in the Cape Spring Games hosted by Special Olympics Missouri at Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau on Monday. Events included track and field competitions such as running, jumping and throwing...

A former Southeast Missouri State University student and employee will usher in the school's partnership with her current employer, Republic Airways, today. Lauren McNamara Gaudion, director of corporate communications and public relations for Indianapolis-based Republic, who earned two degrees at Southeast, will be at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for a 10:30 a.m. news conference inside Commander Hangar to sign an employment partnership agreement with airport officials and the university...

Remains thought to be human and found in southeast Cape Girardeau turned out to be those of a dog. According to a release from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, bones, tissue, hair and a skull were found by a resident Friday evening near the intersection of Giboney and Willow streets...

A 17-year-old Cape Girardeau girl died Saturday in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 55. Seven other Cape Girardeau residents were injured in the wreck, which occurred at about 6:20 p.m. near mile marker 113 in the northbound lanes. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Frederick Fleming, 33, left the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting all occupants...