Stories from Friday, May 18, 2018

Local "Paint for a Cause" organizers Aaron Horrell and Barb Bailey love hosting events to welcome and unite all ages, races and backgrounds. The artists' current "cause" painting, featuring a multi-colored dinosaur with flowers and volcanoes is on display at Painted Wren in Cape Girardeau. It will benefit the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History and is nearly finished, Horrell said...

Operating revenue for the city of Cape Girardeau is expected to total more than $72 million in fiscal 2019. Still, the city can't afford to give employees even a 1 percent raise, city officials said Thursday. At a special study session to review the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, city staff and council members expressed concern about flat sales tax revenue and how to pay for operations in the future...

A Cape Girardeau County school district is planning to improve security on its rural campus by potentially adding a full-time school resource officer, or SRO, an official said. An SRO performs many functions, including providing needed training and a police presence on campus in case of emergency...

Today in History Today is Friday, May 18, the 138th day of 2018. There are 227 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 18, 1953, Jacqueline Cochran, 47, became the first woman to break the sound barrier as she piloted a Canadair F-86 Sabre jet over Rogers Dry Lake, California...

Some of you, if you keep reading this column, are going to be mad at me. And some of you will want to give me a medal. This involves birds, so if you are wishy-washy about birds, you can skip right to the latest news about volcanic eruptions, and I'm not talking about the heated fissures of rhetoric in our nation's capital...

For those struggling with addiction and recovery issues, there are countless stories that offer hope. Ten graduates of the local Drug Court added their names to the list of people who have changed their lives and are working to overcome addiction. As reported by Marybeth Niederkorn, administrator Sheila Sauer said the 32nd Judicial District is fortunate to have the drug court program, which serves as an alternative to jail time for people charged with drug- or alcohol-related offenses...

WINDSOR, England -- Ending days of speculation, Meghan Markle said Thursday her father will not be able to attend her wedding to Prince Harry due to health problems. The news came as British military personnel rehearsed for a gala procession through Windsor to follow Saturday's ceremony, which will be televised live around the world...

ATLANTA -- As the midterm congressional primaries heat up amid fears of Russian hacking, roughly 1 in 5 Americans will be casting ballots on machines not producing a paper record of their votes. That worries voting and cybersecurity experts, who say lack of a hard copy makes it difficult to double-check results for signs of manipulation...

WASHINGTON -- After an upset election in Iraq, the U.S. is preparing to work hand in hand with the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his movement. That's despite the fact his militias fought and killed American troops who invaded Iraq 14 years ago. Like many Iraqis, Washington was caught off guard when a coalition organized by al-Sadr took the largest share of the recent parliamentary vote. ...

WASHINGTON -- Dramatic new drone video of the Niger ambush killing four American soldiers shows U.S. forces desperately trying to escape and fighting for their lives after friendly Nigerien forces mistook them for the enemy. It describes how the fleeing troops set up a quick defensive location on the edge of a swamp and, thinking they were soon to die, wrote messages home to their loved ones...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Two Syrian nationals were indicted Thursday in a computer hacking scheme targeting the White House, Harvard University, U.S. Marine Corps and news media outlets. A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment charging Ahmad 'Umar Agha and Firas Dardar with conspiracy and aggravated identity theft...

WASHINGTON -- Unlike the president, Robert Mueller hasn't uttered one word in public about his Russia investigation in the year since he was appointed special counsel. And that is rattling just about everyone involved. What's he up to? When will he bring the probe to an end?...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Veteran spy Gina Haspel will become the first female director of the CIA after six Democrats joined Republicans in a Senate confirmation vote overriding concerns about her role in the spy agency's harsh interrogation program after 9/11...

MILLSTADT, Ill. -- Judith Ann Phillips Beussink was born Sept. 12, 1957, in Belleville, Illinois. After a three-year battle with cancer, she passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at her home in Millstadt. Judy was dedicated and committed to the Department of Defense, working 34 years in positions with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Transportation Command. Her last assignment, with the U.S. Army Strategic Deployment and Distribution Command, was especially demanding, but very fulfilling...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau wants to take the "middle man" out of its operation; Robert Hoppmann, chairman of the CVB Advisory Committee, is recommending the city take over the CVB contract; the bureau is now operated under the auspices of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Dorarena J. Shelton, 53, of Marble Hill and formerly of Olive Branch, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at her home. Dorarena was born Dec. 13, 1964, in Altus, Oklahoma, daughter of the late George and Barbara McKee Storm...

Dr. Raymond A. Ritter Jr. died peacefully Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at home, with his loving wife and family at his side. He was born July 28, 1937, at Saint Francis Hospital to Dr. Raymond A. and Helen H. Ritter Sr. He graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1955, Washington University in 1958 pro meritis and Washington University School of Medicine cum laude in 1962 (Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha). ...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Carmelita J. "Rita" Lichtenegger, 71, of Altenburg died Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at her home. She was born April 23, 1947, in Wittenberg, Missouri, daughter of Leonard and Leona Riske Hoehne. She and Edward Lichtenegger were married May 29, 1965. He survives in Altenburg...

HOUSTON -- Rita Marie Gessert, born May 15, 1935, passed away Monday, April 23, 2018 in Houston, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Buck Grove, Iowa, and raised in Dennison, Iowa. She married her loving husband, Eugene "Gene" Gessert, July 21, 1956, and they raised their family in Cape Girardeau, where her love and dedication to her family was her greatest joy. Gene and Rita later moved to Houston to be closer to daughters and family...

James "Perry" Cravens, 79, of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, May 17, 2018, at Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Graveside service and burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, with the Rev. David Ross officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Missouri Honor Guard...

THEBES, Ill. -- Laverne "Pooch" Benefield, 81, of Thebes died Thursday, May 17, 2018, at Integrity Healthcare in Anna, Illinois. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Pastor Zack Strong officiating. Interment will follow at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Illinois...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Dollie Ward Mitchell Achenbach, born April 29, 1921, in Ullin, Illinois, died Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. She was 97. Dollie was the daughter of William S. Ward and Zora Catherine Smith. She had five brothers, Doyle Lee Ward, William Earl Ward, Lindle Albert Ward, Paul Levi Ward and LaVern Alfred "Bud" Ward, and two sisters, Edith May Ward Mowery and Flora Catherine Ward Kirkpatrick, all of whom are now deceased...

Some Cape Girardeau County offices will have a new home this summer after action at Thursday's regular meeting of the County Commission. The Cape Girardeau satellite offices for the county collector, clerk and assessor will move to 2311 Bloomfield, suite 102, said Commissioner Charlie Herbst by phone Thursday...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to cut the individual income tax rate from its current 5.9 percent to 5.5 percent for most residents, a big win for Republicans in the final hours of the 2018 annual session. The top income tax rate would drop .4 percent starting in January, if the measure is made law. Individuals would gradually see the rate drop to 5.1 percent over time, if the state meets revenue targets...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Republican-led Missouri Legislature agreed Thursday to move up a public vote on whether to ban mandatory union fees, a change that could impact Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill's re-election bid. The proposal, approved by the House 96-47, reschedules the vote on right-to-work from the November midterms to Aug. 7. The Senate previously passed the measure, which does not require the governor's approval...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- A man who spent 17 years incarcerated for a southwestern Missouri post office burglary has been awarded $600,000 in a malpractice lawsuit against his attorneys. The Joplin Globe reported jurors ruled in favor of 59-year-old Dwight D. Laughlin last week...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Drawing on his Navy SEAL training, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens asserted Thursday he will not quit or back down despite a criminal charge and potential impeachment proceedings involving various allegations of misconduct against him...

Authentic Voices and One City are coming together for a community-wide block party Saturday at Indian Park in Cape Girardeau in an effort to connect people from all walks of life. Raelenna Ferguson co-founder of One City alongside her husband Jeremy, said the goal for the The Community Block Party is "to celebrate the community and kick off the summer" and "bring the community together that maybe wouldn't necessarily be together."...

O Lord God, may we be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Amen.

Shame on what appeared to be a mother, father, and daughter from Chaffee for their disrespectful behavior at Capaha Park after a high school baseball game last week. After the game ended, the young lady threw something toward a trash can standing about 8 feet away. ...

MOUNT OLIVE, N.J. -- A school bus taking children on a field trip to a New Jersey historic site collided with a dump truck Thursday, ripping the bus apart and killing a teacher and student. The crash left the bus lying on its side on the guardrail of Interstate 80 in Mount Olive, its undercarriage and front end sheared off and its steering wheel exposed. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Tuesday n Medical assists were made at 6:55 a.m. on North Middle Street, 6:59 a.m. on South Benton Street, 1:34 p.m. on Morgan Oak Street, 2:39 p.m. on South Mount Auburn Road, 5:04 p.m. on North Mount Auburn Road, 10:26 p.m. on South Sprigg Street and 10:43 p.m. on Good Hope Street...

After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Miami's hottest bartender, while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor -- finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World's Best Lover.. ...

You're certainly in for quite an eclectic blend of events today and tomorrow. We have live music by Tennessee-based rapper nobigdyl. and local spoken word artist Jonathan the Wordsmith at Christ Church of the Heartland, 90s trivia night in Jackson at the Civic Center and even a patriotic event hosted by the Arts Council...

COMMERCE, Mo. -- Tommy Cox, 80, of Commerce died Thursday, May 17, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.