Stories from Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Summertime fun and games will be the order of the day Wednesday at Cape Girardeau’s 19th annual Parks and Rec Day. The event, hosted by the city’s parks and recreation department, will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Osage Centre. Parks and Rec Day is free to attend and will include games and activities for all, and ice cream...

The Mississippi River stage at Cape Girardeau fell below 40 feet Monday, marking the first time since May 3 the river has been in the “30-something” range. On Monday afternoon, the Cape Girardeau gauge reading was 39.8 feet, still nearly 8 feet above flood stage of 32 feet, but just over 6 feet below the river’s crest of 46.29 feet measured June 12. That was the fifth-highest crest recorded at Cape Girardeau over the past 80 years, according to National Weather Service statistics...

An abundance of rain over the past two months has helped refill the lake in Cape County Park South, which was drained last summer as part of a cooperative project between Cape Girardeau County and the Missouri Department of Conservation. However, the rain has also delayed work on a planned concrete walking path on the east side of the lake...

Advisory committee members developing a list of projects that could be funded with Cape Girardeau’s transportation sales tax are not in agreement on whether to extend Veterans Memorial Drive, a north-south route bordering Interstate 55. The city committee, chaired by former Mayor Harry Rediger, began meeting last month to prepare a list of projects to be considered by the city council for the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) 6 tax initiative. ...

Today is Tuesday, July 9, the 190th day of 2019. There are 175 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On July 9, 1850, the 12th president of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after serving only 16 months of his term. (He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore.)...

SoutheastHEALTH has opened a new, patient-centered Heart and Vascular Pavilion at Southeast Hospital. The new unit, located on the hospital's fifth floor, has been under construction since July of 2018. Nurse manager Jennifer Kiplinger, BSN, RN, OaCN, says the unit has 14 spacious private rooms, each with upscale private baths that include walk-in showers with decorative tile accents. ...

Councilman Victor Gunn attended his last meeting on July 1, having to resign due to moving out of Ward 3. We thanked him for his dedication and service to the people of Cape Girardeau. Victor deferred that praise to our city's employees. He complimented many areas of the city staff from public works to public safety, to the administrative staff for their dedication and service. He really hit the nail on the head so to speak. Thank you, Victor!...

Local hospitals are working on plans to specifically address health needs determined by a recent joint study. Overall results of the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment were presented recently at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Cape program. Among the biggest concerns: mental health services, certain chronic diseases and forms of cancer, obesity and health care affordability...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Princess Daazhraii Johnson grew up eating dried salmon and moose-head soup -- foods labeled weird by other children who had no understanding of her culture and traditions. Now the Fairbanks woman and other Alaska Natives are presenting their world to a general audience with "Molly of Denali," the nation's first-ever children's series featuring indigenous leads...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran on Monday began enriching uranium to 4.5%, just breaking the limit set by its nuclear deal with world powers, while it is still seeking a way for Europe to help it bypass U.S. sanctions amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington...

ATHENS, Greece -- Conservative party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as Greece's new prime minister Monday, a day after his resounding win over left-wing Alexis Tsipras, who led the country through the tumultuous final years of its international bailouts...

LONDON -- President Donald Trump threatened Monday to cut off contact with Britain's ambassador to the United States after leaked diplomatic cables revealed the envoy called the Trump administration "dysfunctional" and "inept." The U.S. leader tweeted about Ambassador Kim Darroch a day after a British newspaper published the diplomat's unflattering assessments of the current administration in Washington...

WASHINGTON -- Lower than expected tax revenues now mean there is a "significant risk" the federal government will run out of borrowing authority in the early part of September, according to a new analysis by the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank and advocacy group...

NEW YORK -- In a startling reversal of fortune, billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein was charged Monday with sexually abusing dozens of underage girls in a case brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors to dispose of nearly identical allegations...

EDGEFIELD, S.C. -- Attorney General William Barr said Monday he sees a way to legally require 2020 census respondents to declare whether they are citizens, despite a Supreme Court ruling forbidding asking the question. In an interview with The Associated Press, Barr said the Trump administration will take action in the coming days he believes will allow the government to add the controversial census query. ...

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Eric Swalwell on Monday became the first candidate in the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential primary to exit the campaign, saying he would run for re-election to his California congressional seat next year. Swalwell, 38, announced his exit in his home district, describing his decision as "the beginning of an opportunity in Congress with a new perspective" influenced by his 3-month-long bid...

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration said Monday it will review the role of human rights in American foreign policy, appointing a commission expected to elevate concerns about religious freedom and abortion. Human rights groups accused the administration of politicizing foreign policy in a way undermining protections for marginalized populations, including the gay, lesbian and transgender community. ...

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia honored singer Patti LaBelle with her very own street last week. Unfortunately, the signs didn’t get her name right. The city’s Streets Department didn’t capitalize the “b” in the legendary soul singer’s last name on the signs put up before July 2’s ceremony on Broad Street. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An appellate court panel ruled Monday the American Civil Liberties Union can soon begin collecting signatures that would put a new Missouri law banning abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy to a public vote. A three-judge panel of the state's Court of Appeals found GOP Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was "without authority" to reject petitions on constitutional grounds. The 31-page ruling was issued just hours after the panel heard oral arguments in the case...

Aaron Paul Wolfe, 38, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, July 6, 2019, at Saint Louis University Hospital. He was born Feb. 21, 1981, in Cairo, Illinois, to Russell Wolfe and Pamela Dodd. He graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 2000. During high school, he played football and baseball...

Della Jean Stroder, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, July 7, 2019, at her home. Cremation rites will be accorded by Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Cape Girardeau.

Ronald James "Cooter" Schwent, 64, of Jackson passed away Saturday, July 6, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, surrounded by his family and friends. He was born to the late Welton T. and Frances "Billie" Link Schwent on Sept. 14, 1954, in Red Bud, Illinois. Ron married Marjorie A. Gosche on April 23, 1988, in New Hamburg, Missouri...

Dr. Gordon Marlow Nunnelly, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, July 6, 2019, at his home. A private family remembrance will be held at a later date. Cremation was accorded by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Albert Boettcher Jr., 91, of Altenburg died Sunday, July 7, 2019, at his home. He was born Aug. 1, 1927, in Janesville, Minnesota, to Albert and Rosa Schultz Boettcher. He and Heidi Schulz-Netzer were married May 18, 1963, in Altenburg. She preceded him in death Oct. 7, 2016...

In referencing the 2009 Strategic Plan for downtown Cape and the update of 2017, you find, and I quote, "a clear vision for civic leaders to guide the future of downtown Cape Girardeau, Missouri." Also quoting, "The many assets of downtown Cape Girardeau provide the foundation for achievable growth and sustained vitality, offering a bright future for the downtown and the broader Cape Girardeau community." In my opinion, it would be very beneficial to the registered voters of the city and school district to review both entities as to their goals and strategic plans for the next 10 years.. ...

Thank you, O Lord Jesus, for the peace that comes through your salvation. Amen.

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Christopher Davis, 32, of Cape girardeau was arrested on suspicion of trespassing in the 100 block of North Sprigg Street. n Courtney Bree, 44, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of trespassing in the 400 block of South Sprigg Street...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Sunday n Medical assists were made at 12:53 a.m. on North Middle Street, 10:11 a.m. on North Spanish Street, 10:40 a.m. on Bertling Street, 11:40 a.m. on William Street, 12:07 p.m. on Bellevue Street, 1:57 p.m. on South Middle Street, 3:14 p.m. on South Henderson Avenue, 4:05 p.m on William Street and 8:22 p.m. on North Middle Street...

Cape Girardeau Airport manager Randy Holdman says he will resign July 31 to take a position with Drury Southwest Inc. of Cape Girardeau, a commercial development company; Holdman, a native of Bonnet Terre, Missouri, and a graduate of the Air Force Academy, was appointed airport manager June 1, 1993...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Stella Marie Moll, 85, of Perryville died Saturday, July 6, 2019, at her home. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. today at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at the church, with the Rev. Rich Wehrmeyer officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery...

SEMO NORTH 10 year-olds baseball team won the Missouri State Championship title this past weekend July 5th-8th. The 9 tournament teams battling it out for the first place title in Scott City were Boonville, Cape Girardeau, Carthage, Kennett, Mineral Area (2 teams), Scott County, SEMO North and Sikeston. SEMO NORTH came away with first place medals and some great baseball...

The Fourth of July is supposed to be fun, isn't it? Fun and reflective. We get together with family and friends, barbecue, watch fireworks, listen to Lee Greenwood sing "Proud to Be an American." But something has changed. What I once observed as a unifying event where Americans actually did seem proud, I now see something disturbing...

Hearing aids are innovative devices, designed to improve your hearing. If you care for your hearing aids well, they should last for many years. These tips will help reduce the risk of damage and help keep your hearing aids in tiptop condition. 1. Store hearing aids in a dry place...