Stories from Tuesday, September 11, 2018

CHARLESTON, Mo. — A Benton man has been arrested in Mississippi County and faces numerous charges after allegedly setting fire to a truck he was test driving and trying to shoot a corrections officer. According to a news release from Mississippi County Sheriff Brandon Caid, Dustin Robinson 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree arson, second-degree burglary, two counts of tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree, two counts of knowing burning, two counts of first-degree property damage, second-degree assault, disarming a corrections officer, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary. ...

The Arrow, the student newspaper at Southeast Missouri State University, has been named a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press’ (ACP) Pacemaker Award to be presented in October, according to a university news release. The Arrow is among 37 national finalists for the print product category for a special report about opioid use in the Southeast region titled “The Impact Zone.” The winners will be announced at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association (CMA) Fall National College Media Convention. ...

Cape Girardeau’s Aquatics Facilities Committee will hear from three consulting groups today and Wednesday as it seeks to settle on a consultant to guide the planning process for an indoor aquatic center. Parks and recreation director Julia Jones said six consulting groups submitted qualifications. The committee, comprised of representatives of the city and the Cape Girardeau School District, narrowed the list of consulting groups to three...

Updates on Jackson's new police station building project and the dispatch center set to combine the city's and Cape Girardeau County's emergency service dispatchers were on Monday night's board of aldermen regular meeting agenda, along with other action...

Cape Girardeau police will be “beyond stretched” Thursday when President Donald Trump comes to town, police chief Wes Blair said Monday. The entire 80-officer force will be on duty, Blair said. Officers will be involved in everything from motorcade security to security at the Show Me Center, Blair said...

Three weeks ago, Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Metheny saw what looked like progress in Iraq. “I walked down a street in Mosul where I threw 19 hand grenades 10 years ago,” he said. Now there are shops and cafés on that street. There’s a normalcy that looks to Metheny like a positive outcome...

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2018. There are 111 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Sept. 11, 2001, on America's single-worst day of terrorism, nearly 3,000 people were killed as 19 al-Qaida members hijacked four passenger jetliners, sending two of the planes smashing into New York's World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania...

Today we remember the horrific attack on Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorists who hijacked passenger jets and flew them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon jarred us, individually and collectively as a nation. We honor the passengers who prevented a fourth plane from hitting another landmark, instead crashing in a Pennsylvania field...

President Donald Trump will visit Cape Girardeau in just two days to rally for Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, who is running against Claire McCaskill for the U.S. Senate. No matter our political parties, I hope we can all agree having a sitting president grace our area is sort of a big deal...

Once again the City of Cape Girardeau is asking its tax payers to believe in a fairy tale: $26.5 million for another trip to the wonderful world Oz. The cast is the same. Playing the part of the Wizard of Oz is the Cape Girardeau City Council associated with Cape Girardeau city schools. ...

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Hours after a new Miss America was crowned, the Miss America Organization released a report Monday denying the outgoing one had been bullied by pageant leaders, including chairwoman Gretchen Carlson. The lawyer for former Miss America Cara Mund called the report, commissioned by the Miss America Organization, "dishonest" and "a complete whitewash."...

BEIJING -- China on Monday promised retaliation if President Donald Trump escalates their tariff battle, raising the risk Beijing might target operations of American companies as it runs out of imports for penalties. The threat came after Trump said Friday he was considering extending penalties to an additional $267 billion of Chinese products in their battle over Beijing's technology policy. ...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Taliban insurgents have launched separate attacks on Afghan security forces in the country's north, killing at least 37, provincial officials said Monday. Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, head of the provincial council in Kunduz province, said at least 13 security forces were killed in an attack on a checkpoint they were manning in Dashti Archi district, with another 15 security forces wounded there. The firefight began late Sunday and continued into Monday morning...

ZEEBRUGGE, Belgium -- With arms flailing and raised voices, a shipping manager and a customs chief in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge talk through all the things potentially going wrong if the Brexit talks fail. Trucks backed up for miles on the highway. Car manufacturing plants idled as deliveries are delayed. Mountains of paperwork paralyzing small companies unable to afford teams of lawyers...

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. — A New York man will be living large thanks to his decision to buy some Slim Jims for his dog. New York Lottery officials said Monday that 73-year-old Dale Farrand recently won the $10 million prize on a Cash Spectacular scratch-off ticket. The Fort Edward man said he bought a $30 ticket at a local Cumberland Farms convenience store while buying Slim Jims snacks for his dog Boots. ...

DALLAS -- The case against a white Dallas police officer who shot and killed a black neighbor will be presented to a grand jury, which could decide on more serious charges than manslaughter, the district attorney said Monday as an affidavit provided a fuller description of the officer's account...

SALEM, Ore. --The discovery of a black Lab named Lucy led to the unravelling of a criminal case Monday against an Oregon man who had begun serving a 50-year prison sentence. Joshua Horner, a plumber from the central Oregon town of Redmond, was convicted April 12, 2017, of sexual abuse of a minor...

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration ordered the closure of the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington on Monday and threatened sanctions against the International Criminal Court if it pursues investigations against the U.S., Israel or other allies. The moves are likely to harden Palestinian resistance to the U.S. role as a peace broker...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Florence exploded into a potentially catastrophic Category 4 hurricane Monday as it closed in on North and South Carolina, carrying winds up to 140 mph and water that could wreak havoc over a wide stretch of the eastern United States later this week...

State-of-the-art, computer-controlled railroad grade crossing signals and equipment are being installed this month at three railroad crossings in southwest Cape Girardeau County; one of the crossings is where a Cape Girardeau man was killed nearly four years ago, when his vehicle was struck by a freight train in Randles...

KELSO, Mo. -- Martha Agnes Weissmueller passed away at the beautiful young age of 88 on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. She was born at Oran, Missouri, to Ben and Christine Beel Elfrink on Nov. 24, 1929. She married John Henry Weissmueller on Jan. 17, 1948, and they began their family life together...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Gilbert R. Swoboda Jr., 98, affectionately known as "Rags" by his family and friends, of Cairo passed away Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Born June 1, 1920, Rags lived his entire life on 18th Street in Cairo. He was the son of Gilbert and Alice Swoboda, and was self-employed in his family business, Gilbert R. Swoboda and Co. Inc., until his retirement...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Jason E. "Country" Klein, 38, of Mounds passed away Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, on Illinois Route 3 from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. Jason was born Dec. 24, 1979, in Cape Girardeau to Kenneth E. "Kenny" and Julie A. Squires Klein...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Wayne Jackson, son of the late George Thomas and Mattie Posiey Jackson, was born Oct. 19, 1933, in New Madrid, Missouri, and departed this life Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at his home in Dexter at the age of 84. Wayne was a former auto-parts salesman. He was retired from the Division of Employment Security after 30 years of service...

RAYTOWN, Mo. -- Dorothy Hulsey, 69, of Raytown died peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, at her home, surrounded by her family. Dorothy was the daughter of Bertha and Percy Farrar. Dorothy was born, the youngest of seven children, on Nov. 18, 1948, in Cape Girardeau...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Erna Marie Henson of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at Cedargate Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. Erna was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Hornersville, Missouri, to Pete and Wilma Finch Branum. She was married Sept. 2, 1939, to Cleveland "Bud" Henson in Hornersville...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday for a special session on bills vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson, including ones on drug treatment courts and education in science, technology, engineering and math. Parson called the Republican-led Legislature back to consider fixing problematic language that led him to veto the two bills in July...

Lord Jesus, we pray for your hand of protection to remain on our country. Amen.

Guardian Angel School in Oran, MO celebrated the beginning of the school year on Sunday, September 9 with an all school Mass and ice cream social. Students in Pre-k to 4th grade had parts in the Mass, such as lectors, petition readers, banner carriers, and carrier of gifts in the offertory procession. ...

The Employability Summit is made to help enrich the lives and businesses within the Southeast regions. Hiring someone who has a disability shouldn’t have to be scary and we want to help make it so it isn’t. Disability is a factor that most everyone will face at some point in their life and bring awareness to the community and employers will help make us a stronger community overall. ...