Stories from Saturday, March 31, 2018

The former fire station at 1429 Kurre Lane in Cape Girardeau soon will house a branch of Sho-Me Technologies, a telecommunications firm that is part of the Missouri Electric Cooperative family. Rhonda Whitlock, account executive for Southeast Missouri, said Sho-Me Technologies originally started a fiber build in 1999 in the southwest Missouri area, near Springfield...

Southeast Missouri State University’s debate team was victorious for the third consecutive year at the national Education Debate Association’s National Debate Tournament on March 23 and 24 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. The team of Southeast junior Jasmine Jones of Florissant, Missouri, and freshman Sarah Mullinix of Wildwood, Missouri, won the novice division in public forum debate. ...

Chaffee, Missouri, School Board members Jamie Wessel Nix and John Swinford, and challenger Steve Milz are running for two seats on the board in Tuesday’s election. Nix has served on the school board for the past dozen years, the last eight as president...

Meadow Heights School District will have two new board members with voters choosing from among eight candidates, none of them incumbents, in Tuesday’s election. The candidates are Carol Ann Cagle, Wyatt Bollinger, Joseph Lee Jones, Jess Strong, Cynthia Mungle, Jerry W. Boyd, Candy L. Wilfong and Charlie Besher...

One Cape Girardeau City Council race and contests for Scott City council and school board are among contested races on the ballot Tuesday in municipal and school board elections in the area. Cape Girardeau Ward 2 Councilwoman Shelly Moore is challenged by pastor Scott Johnson in the only contested race in the city...

A public safety tax in Jackson and a parks/stormwater tax in Cape Girardeau headline several ballot issues that will be decided by voters in elections Tuesday. A proposed, half-cent sales tax is on the ballot in Jackson. If approved, it would allow the city to move ahead with construction of a $7 million police station, rehab the existing public-safety building for fire department use, as well as hire more patrol officers, another school resource officer and a fire department training officer...

A shooting that left two dead Wednesday in the 500 block of Cape Meadows Circle in Cape Girardeau has been resolved, according to the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad. The Cape Girardeau Police Department received a report of a person down at 10:28 a.m. Wednesday, near 507 Cape Meadows Circle, according to a news release from the major case squad...

Today is Saturday, March 31, the 90th day of 2018. There are 275 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On March 31, 1968, at the conclusion of a nationally broadcast address on Vietnam, President Lyndon B. Johnson stunned listeners by declaring, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President."...

Rain pours down outside, four beloved dogs create shadows through the puddles and the smell of leather wafts out into the garage while country music plays in the background. Walking into the home of Advance, Missouri, native John Hedge, one is greeted with a scene that speaks to the aura of Hedge himself. ...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary This sweet boy is Ash. He is a friendly 2-year-old male. He is available for adoption at Safe Harbor; call (573) 243-9823.

The wild plum tree in Southeast Missouri is a short fruit tree little more than a bush. It seldom grows taller than 15 feet tall. Wild plums are native to North America, Europe and Asia. Although wild plums will bloom profusely, they often do not set much fruit. When they do, animals such as raccoons, squirrels, possums, foxes and many kinds of birds will eat them...

Monday: Barbecued riblet or reuben casserole, baked potato, seasoned broccoli, whole-grain hot roll and pineapple tidbits or German chocolate brownies. Tuesday: Chicken strips or country-fried steak, mashed potatoes, California-blend vegetables, whole-grain hot roll and spiced peaches or lemon bars...

Scott City High School High Honor Roll 9th Grade: Breahnna Choate, Raegan Holder, Kimberly Lloyd, Misty Mason, Ada Rendleman. 10th Grade: Heather Conaway, Zoe Lee, Alexys Littlepage, Landon O'Brien, Cheyenne Peck, Jordanne Talley, Ashley Wilthong. 11th Grade: Matthew Bradford, Chloe Clayton, Paige Cummins, Kaileigh Dirden, Diamond Ham, David Posey, Shelby Seyer, Emma Wilhelm...

Oran Elementary School 3rd grade: Lucas Albritton, Tyler Brashear, Brennan Cochran, Levi Eftink, Gabrielle Emmons, Linden Holmes, Luke Lewis, Dean Morgan, Kolie Morgan, Brayden Nussbaum, Konnor Streeter, Allison Thomas. 4th grade: Piper Bennett, Allison Burke, Alexander Burlison, Zaylie Deibold, Mari Fuemmeler, Colyn Goodale, Brandy Guzman, Ava Knotts, Aiden Lewis, Rylan Romas, Rylan White...

The hours for the Jackson Recycling Center, 508 Sawyer Lane, will be changing. Beginning April 7, the center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a Jackson Public Works Department news release. The expanded hours for the center will continue through Oct. 27. For more information, please contact the Jackson Sanitation Department at (573) 243-2333, the Public Works Department at (573) 243-2300 or visit online at jacksonmo.org or Facebook.com/JacksonMO...

The following students have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University beginning this fall. n Abagail Estes of Scott City has received the University Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award. Estes is the daughter of Clint and Christine Estes of Scott City and will be a 2018 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School...

It's been about a week ago that I had the impulse to do such and such. I listened and went right ahead and did it. I never thought about it much at all, it was strictly on impulse. But after an hour or two I began to have doubts. After half a day, I definitely had doubts. The next day I knew beyond shadow a doubt I'd pulled a bone-head stunt. But like most dumb stunts, there wasn't an easy way to go back. Times like this I wish I could push pause and delete but life isn't like this...

Happy birthday to Kenny Keller, Linda Beard, Donna Sadler, Judy Sanders, Ernie Duncan, Megan Steimle, Darlene Dumey, Ersell Robins, Sierra Miller, Candice Snider, Alissa Coomer, Tim Stone, Larry Meyr, Virginia Essner, Dora Avance, Allan Horrell, Terry Lynn, Dean Hemingway, Nelda Eichhorn, Brenda Wilson, Teresa Tipler, Clara Cable, Glenda Bullinger, Shelby (Rice) Evans, Brenda Held, Sherri Uhrhan, Lynn Lincoln, Adrienne Eichhorn, Debra Wolsey, Bill Simmons, Danny Dees and Cory Kirchdoerfer. ...

On March 17, the Lamplighter FCE Club met in the home of Jackie Kurre for their monthly meeting and a St. Patrick's Day supper. St. Patrick's Day fruit salad, colcannon, corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread, and green punch were just some of the dishes enjoyed by members and their guests...

Submitted photo Check presentation from Kristin Ham of the Evening Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau for their donation/presenting sponsorship of $2000 for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department Boys Youth Basketball League. Pictured from left: Tony Weatherby, recreation specialist, Kristin Ham and Scott Williams, recreation division manager.

Michael Goodson and Lisa Goodson, both of Jackson, announce the engagement of their daughter, Claire Elizabeth Goodson, to Benjamin John Dierkes, both of Columbia, Missouri. He is the son of Robert (Linda) Dierkes of Jefferson City, Missouri and the late Mary Dierkes...

When our forefathers planned this new nation back in 1775-1776, it was obvious that there were certain necessities for having a democratic form of government. Educating the population was one of those. In the United States public education is not limited to elementary/secondary education. It runs from kindergarten to graduate school and beyond. We use public tax money to support each level of education and that makes it "public."...

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The entire Christian faith hinges on the events of Easter. The bible itself goes so far to say that if the resurrection were not a reality, then faith would be pointless (1 Corinthians 15:14). Easter encompasses much. The following are three of the many benefits of Easter...

Does the thought of dying sound morbid to you? To many, or most perhaps, the fear of leaving this earth is terrifying. I must admit that I've fallen victim to that fear during my life. I later discovered that the more I accepted the reality -- and began to prepare for the state someday -- I felt freer. I could genuinely live knowing my new life would be joyful and wonderful. Rather than living in fear and dread, I could hand it all over to my higher power knowing I would never truly die...

One of my favorite writers is Flannery O'Connor. Her disturbing, Southern Gothic stories tend to include characters who offer pure, unfiltered, and often disturbing truth. In one of her stories, titled "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," O'Connor presents a character called the Misfit. ...

Blanchard Elementary School A Honor roll 4th grade: Eleanor Andrews, George Dean, Luna Risch, Kayleigh Milam, Sydney Miller, Kobe Taye, Safera Archie, Ava Austin, Reagan, Borders, Alexandrea Burgos, Sophie Haggerty. 3rd grade: Mason Easley, Pippa Felty, Asia McClard, Kaia Poole, Zoey Stiehl, Emilei Sterling, Kasyiah Neighbors, Kobly Cunningham, Alysica Baker, Layla Burgfeld, Alena Copeland, Fletcher Everett, Evan Hall, Gavin Garbett, Cameron Watson...

Kelso School A Honor Roll 2nd grade: Kamden Bollinger, Brody Butler, Kynli Duenne, , Kolin Heisserer, Jayden Hennecke, Ellie Marret, Nathan Phipps, Zahara Ressel, Dillon Young. 3rd grade: Jayden Akridge, Parker Burford, Marley Conklin, Jack Dirnberger, Connor Jaynes, Ava Kenkel, Weston Klipfel, Noah Vetter...

Scott City Elementary Principal Honor Roll 4th grade: Jackson Burger, Jordan Streiler. High Honor Roll 3rd Grade High Honor Roll 3rd grade: Bella Ancell, Abbigail Cowan, Jasmine Ellsworth, Taylor McMillan, Asher Spinks, Evalynn Wiley. 4th grade: Eli Aycock, Matilda Brown, Rylan Froggatt, Kaden Gaskamp, Carlee Kilby, Macy Schrum...

We are at the end of Lent and Holy Week and we anticipate the exciting climax to the week with Easter Sunday. As Christians, we recall writings of the events that led up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. In modern day times, we celebrate many different ways with our children and as family units. Dying Easter eggs and making Resurrection Cookies are among our many traditions...

Americans spend billions of dollars a year on furniture, but they're often not getting what they paid for. A big part of the problem is misleading labels, experts say. Terms like "genuine leather" and "real wood," which seem straightforward enough, can be industry code-words for composite materials...

I only have one thing to say to people upset over all this Cambridge Analytica "scandal." Anyone who believes that anything they say or do on the Internet is private is a complete and total fool! So one ten thousandth of a percent of the high school students in one of 50 states show up to protest at Paul Ryan's door and the media calls it a national movement. I guess they don't teach math in journalism school!...

This is an open letter to all those good people of the Scott City area who helped the students raise more than $6,000 in their recent St. Jude Mathathon. There are too many names to mention, but to our corporate sponsors, I would like to give a special thanks. ...

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Editor's note: The following is our annual Easter editorial. A miraculous event 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem changed the world. On this Easter morning, the story is presented again from the Holy Bible (the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Chapter 28):...

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- Richard Carroll Wilson, 83, of Kirkwood passed away Saturday, March 24, 2018, at home after a long illness, surrounded by family. He was born Jan. 31, 1935, in Cape Girardeau to the late Albert George and Gladys Alma Scherrer Wilson...

James B. "Jim" Schweer, 61, of St. Louis, formerly of Jackson, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Evelyn's House Hospice Facility in St. Louis. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, with Pastor Jeff Cloeter officiating...

Our beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather, James William "Bill" Lupo III, 65, passed away suddenly Monday, March, 26, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 23, 1952, in Rome, Georgia. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Paula Lupo of Jackson; his sister, Jacqueline Lupo; his brother, Thompson "Tommy" Hiles III and his wife, Tina; son, James W. ...

Deborah Fornkohl, 64, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Southeast Hospital. She was born Nov. 10, 1953, in Cape Girardeau to Paul Dean and Wanda Overbeck Lacy. She and Robin Fornkohl married June 12, 1970. Debbie was known to always put everyone's needs above her own. Her love for her family was great, especially the love she felt for her grandchildren...

Brenda Joyce Eakins, 73, of Delta passed away Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Saint Francis Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family, after a long and exhausting battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She was born July 23, 1944, in Allenville to the late Earl A. and Oma L. Bullinger Eakins...

KOBANI, Syria -- A roadside bomb in northern Syria killed two coalition personnel, an American and a Briton, and wounded five others in a rare attack since the U.S.-led coalition sent troops into the war-torn country, U.S. and British militaries and a U.S. defense official said Friday...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Thousands of Palestinians marched to Gaza's border with Israel on Friday in the largest such demonstration in recent memory, and 15 were killed by Israeli fire on the first day of what Hamas organizers said will be six weeks of daily protests against a stifling border blockade...

MOSCOW -- The crisis between Russia and the West over the poisoning of a former double agent in Britain heightened Friday as Russia ordered new cuts to the number of British envoys in the country. Russia also summoned 23 foreign ambassadors to inform them some of their diplomats would be expelled, a day after ordering 60 U.S. diplomats to leave and demanding Washington's consulate in St. Petersburg close on short notice...

The widow of the gunman who slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, was acquitted Friday of helping to plot the attack and lying to the FBI afterward. Noor Salman, 31, sobbed upon hearing the jury's verdict of not guilty of obstruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization, charges carrying a potential life sentence. Her family gasped each time the words "not guilty" were pronounced...

WASHINGTON -- Fifty years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., only 1 in 10 African-Americans think the United States has achieved all or most of the goals of the civil rights movement he led, according to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research...

NEW YORK -- A majority of young people believe President Donald Trump is racist, dishonest and "mentally unfit" for office, according to a new survey finding the nation's youngest potential voters are more concerned about the Republican's performance in the White House than older Americans...

DETROIT -- The Trump administration is expected to announce it will roll back automobile gas mileage and pollution standards, a pillar in the Obama administration's plans to combat climate change. It's not clear whether the announcement will include a specific number, but current regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency require the fleet of new vehicles to get 36 miles per gallon in real-world driving by 2025. That's about 10 mpg over the existing standard...

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A Louisiana police chief said Friday he has fired the white officer who fatally shot a black man during a struggle outside a convenience store nearly two years ago, a killing that set off widespread protests. Baton Rouge police chief Murphy Paul announced officer Blane Salamoni's firing less than a week after Louisiana's attorney general ruled out criminal charges in Alton Sterling's July 2016 shooting death...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento police shot Stephon Clark seven times from behind, according to autopsy results released Friday by a pathologist hired by Clark's family, a finding that calls into question the department's assertion the 22-year-old black man was facing officers and moving toward them when he was killed...

MENLO PARK, Calif. -- "We've made a bunch of mistakes." "Everyone needs complete control over who they share with at all times." "Not one day goes by when I don't think about what it means for us to be the stewards of this community and their trust."...

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's unscripted remark this week about pulling out of Syria "very soon," while at odds with his own policy, was not a one-off: For weeks, top advisers have been fretting about an overly hasty withdrawal as the president has increasingly told them privately he wants out, U.S. officials said...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Thursday n Medical assists were made at 12:34 a.m. on Bellevue Street; 4:43 a.m. on Georgia Street; 11:16 a.m. on South Silver Springs Road; 1:35 p.m. on Leroy Drive; 4:19 p.m. on Parker Drive; 5:16 p.m. on Village Drive; 6:28 p.m. on Independence Street; 6:58 p.m. on Harmony Street; and 11:49 p.m. on North Main Street...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Johnny Joyce Jr., 29, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license, failure to display plates and failure to have two headlamps...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- About 300 Missouri seniors and people with disabilities have lost in-home care services after a budget cut last year. Department of Health and Senior Services spokeswoman Sara O'Connor in a Friday email said 303 people have been cut from those services. She said another roughly 950 have either died, moved, moved to a nursing home or no longer need services...

The Bald Knob Cross of Peace is illuminated after sunset Friday in this drone view near Alto Pass, Illinois.

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents voted unanimously yesterday to hike incidental fees and raise rental charges for its off-campus apartments, effective this fall; university officials say the hike in incidental fees is based on a projected $52.6 million budget, which includes projected state funding of about $31 million...

This is Easter weekend, a time when Christians around the world pause and reflect on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's the ultimate story of love and redemption. How God sent His only Son to pay our debt on the cross. The redemption and forgiveness of our sins...

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents voted unanimously yesterday to hike incidental fees and raise rental charges for its off-campus apartments, effective this fall; university officials say the hike in incidental fees is based on a projected $52.6 million budget, which includes projected state funding of about $31 million...