Stories from Tuesday, January 9, 2018

A Cape Girardeau man has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man standing on a front porch with a child in 2016 after prosecutors amended the charge to second-degree murder, court records show. Tavious Tipler, 20, changed his plea to guilty in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court on Jan. 2...

In what city manager Jim Roach called a lateral move for two employees, Public Works is seeing some reorganization. Kent Peetz is now the director of public works, a title formerly held by Rodney Bollinger, now director of administrative services, Roach announced at Monday's board of aldermen regular meeting...

Cape Girardeau Central High School’s 2016 and 2017 boys swimming state championships will be celebrated on five city- and Cape Girardeau County-limit signs on four major roads leading to the city. City engineer Casey Brunke said the “accomplishment” plaques will be posted in five locations: along northbound and southbound Interstate 55, U.S. 61, Route K eastbound and Highway 74 westbound...

The influenza virus has seen a massive rise in occurrence this season with 2,818 cases reported in the Southeast Missouri region this year. That number dwarfs last year’s mark of 193 cases in the region at the same date. Laboratory-positive cases are up all over the state, according to the Missouri Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report, with 4,862 cases reported in Week 52 alone...

Cape Girardeau Police Department patrol officer David Weidenbenner works out at the Osage Centre during his day off from work Monday in Cape Girardeau. ...

A proposed ballot measure in Jackson would increase the sales tax by one-half of 1 cent, and would allow the city to hire more officers to the police force -- a move sorely needed, Mayor Dwain Hahs said. The ballot measure, which would add a permanent one-half cent sales tax, would improve police and fire services in Jackson, Hahs said...

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2018. There are 356 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 9, 1793, Frenchman Jean Pierre Blanchard, using a hot-air balloon, flew from Philadelphia to Woodbury, New Jersey. On this date:...

Self-awareness is the highest mental faculty, which enables a person to be fully conscious of the impact of his words and actions on people around him. It is obvious to all, except the most dullard among us, that President Trump totally lacks self-awareness...

People have heard me say for years that my dream job is to one day be a White House press secretary or a politician's speechwriter. Nix that! I am growing increasingly fed up with politics. Or maybe it's just the politics of politics -- the soap opera-ness of it all -- that has turned my head...

If you purchased and decorated a real Christmas tree this holiday season, the city of Cape Girardeau has a pick-up service available to you. For $5, the city's public works department will come pick up your tree. You can call 573-339-6351 to arrange for pickup. This service is available from Jan. 11 to Feb. 22...

NEW YORK -- Two major Apple investors have urged the iPhone maker to help curb smartphone addiction among children, highlighting growing concern about the effects of gadgets and social media on youngsters. New York-based Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers' Retirement System said in an open letter to Apple the company must offer more choices and tools to help children fight addiction to its devices. The two investors collectively control $2 billion worth of Apple shares...

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — Postal carriers say a rafter of aggressive wild turkeys have prevented them from delivering mail to more than two dozen homes in a Cleveland suburb. Cleveland.com reported residents on several streets in Rocky River have had to pick up their mail at the post office. ...

LAS VEGAS -- A judge in Las Vegas on Monday dismissed criminal charges against a Nevada rancher and his sons accused of leading an armed uprising against federal authorities in 2014. Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro signaled when she declared a mistrial last month she might dismiss the case outright against 71-year-old Cliven Bundy, sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and Montana militia leader Ryan Payne...

STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- Four New York City men were given jail sentences Monday in the death of a 19-year-old fraternity pledge during a 2013 hazing ritual in Pennsylvania, with a judge saying she believes they succumbed to "brainwashing" and "indoctrination" that is rampant at fraternities around the nation...

NEW YORK -- Frazzled travelers snoozed on floors, and dozens of suitcases sat unclaimed as a welter of wintry problems -- from a snowstorm to a burst water pipe -- extended flight delays at Kennedy Airport into a fourth day Monday. The agency running the airport vowed to investigate the fiasco...

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis urged concerted international efforts Monday to rebuild trust on the Korean peninsula and in Syria, using his annual foreign policy address to demand political leaders put the dignity of their people before war, profit or power. ...

SEOUL, South Korea -- Senior officials from the rival Koreas said earlier today they would try to achieve a breakthrough in their long-strained ties as they sat for rare talks at the border to discuss how to cooperate in next month's Winter Olympics in the South and other issues...

WASHINGTON — The United States would be “putting people intentionally in harm’s way” if it sent diplomats back to Cuba, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an Associated Press interview, even as a new FBI report casts doubt on the initial theory Americans there have been hit by “sonic attacks.” ...

WASHINGTON -- With three strong hurricanes, wildfires, hail, flooding, tornadoes and drought, the United States tallied a record-high bill last year for weather disasters: $306 billion. The U.S. had 16 disasters last year with damage exceeding a billion dollars, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday. That ties 2011 for the number of billion-dollar disasters, but the total cost blew past the previous record of $215 billion in 2005...

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s decision to end special protections for about 200,0000 Salvadoran immigrants filled many Salvadoran families with dread Monday, raising the possibility they will be forced to abandon their roots in the U.S. and return to a violent homeland they have not known for years, even decades. ...

Elvis Presley fans and stamp collectors flocked to the Cape Girardeau post office Friday, buying up more than 39,000 of the commemorative stamps celebrating the "King of Rock 'n' Roll"; the stamps feature a picture of a young, lean Elvis. BENTON, Mo. -- In one of his last acts as Missouri's governor, John Ashcroft on Friday appointed Democrat Cristy Baker-Neel of Sikeston, Missouri, as prosecuting attorney for Scott County; she was nominated by the Scott County Republican Committee...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Karen M. Wibbenmeyer, 65, of Perryville died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. ...

CINCINNATI — Mabel “Kay” Voges passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati at the age of 90. ...

KELSO, Mo. — Glenn Ray Stubenrauch, 68, of Kelso died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. ...

Wayne Stoffregen, 63, of Delta died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, at the family home. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Missouri. The funeral will be at noon Thursday at the chapel, with the Rev. Mike Hester officiating. There will be a private burial...

Betty Mae Sims, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Southeast Hospital. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. A memorial service will be at noon Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. — Lester Leo Shrum, 77, of Sedgewickville died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at his home. ...

Genevieve Pauline Schloss, 93, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at The Lutheran Home. ...

WESLACO, Texas -- Richard Irl Prevallet, aged 83 years, 10 months and 17 days, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2017, at Weslaco. He was born Jan. 13, 1934, at Perryville, Missouri, the son of Irl E. Prevallet and Nellie Propst Prevallet Porter. He was the stepson of Clarence "Red" Porter...

FROHNA, Mo. — Ruby Violet Meyr Koenig-Steffens, 81, of Frohna died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, in St. Louis. ...

The Scott City Fire Department responded to the following calls: Jan. 1 n At 9:01 a.m., emergency medical service in the 800 block of Angela Drive. n At 2:06 p.m., emergency medical service at South Lincoln Avenue and Main Street. n At 2:40 p.m., emergency medical service in the 400 block of North Lincoln Avenue...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Chad Moore II, 19, of Jackson was arrested on suspicion of first-degree property damage and unlawful use of a weapon. n Crystal Weibrecht, 32, of Perryville, Missouri, was arrested on a Jackson warrant for failure to appear on an original charge of stealing...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Saturday n Medical assists were made at 4:03 a.m. on Linden Street; 6:53 a.m. on North Kingshighway; 8:47 a.m. on Veterans Memorial Drive; 10:03 a.m. on Stoddard Street; 2:46 p.m. on Jefferson Avenue; 7:42 p.m. on North Frederick Street; and 11:07 p.m. on North Frederick Street...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Alexis K. Johnson, 21, 146 Tomahawk Lane, was arrested at Mason Street and Big Bend Road on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear for possession of a controlled substance...

ST. LOUIS -- Federal prosecutors in St. Louis have seized a plane, two multimillion dollar yachts and more than $1.8 million from two men connected to allegations of money laundering in Venezuela. Hjalmar Gibelli-Gomez and Fabrizio Della Polla De-Simone have consented to the seizure and admitted to the money laundering, according to a Dec. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s re-election campaign says she raised close to $2.9 million in the past few months. Spokeswoman Meira Bernstein on Monday said McCaskill spent about $941,000 in the same three-month period. ...

ST. LOUIS — Freezing rain and icy roads have led to several accidents throughout Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported dozens of accidents since Sunday, many blamed on “black ice” on roadways in all parts of the state. No fatal accidents have been reported in Missouri. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri delayed paying income tax refunds last year largely because it was short on cash, state Auditor Nicole Galloway said Monday. Galloway, a Democrat, released an audit of the state's management of taxpayer refunds despite what she called unprecedented attempts by the administration of Republican Gov. Eric Greitens to obstruct it. The governor's office called the audit a politically motivated "cheap ploy."...

O Lord God, we trust in you for you are the author of our faith. Amen.

Loretta Ann Schneider of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2017, at the age of 81. She died as a result of complications from heart surgery after a long and courageous struggle. ...

Rhonda Marie Pearman, 61, of Cape Girardeau passed away at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, at her home. ...

Son to Donte Artrel and Amber Nichole Ivy of Chaffee, Missouri, Southeast Hospital, 7:29 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. Name, Glacier Alexander. Weight, 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Ninth child, fifth son. Mrs. Ivy is the former Amber Rister, daughter of Steven Rister of Chaffee and Tammy Clayton of Las Vegas. She is a certified nursing assistant with Comfort Keepers. Ivy is the son of Lee Treadwell and Annie Ivy of Cape Girardeau...