Stories from Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The body of a Tamms, Illinois, man has been recovered from the Mississippi River in Tennessee, Illinois State Police said Tuesday in a news release. Larry L. McNelly of rural Tamms had been missing since a fire was set at his home Sept. 10, police said...

Students at Cape Girardeau Central Academy are learning to cope with emotional struggles and hardships through spray paint, acrylic finger paint and unique brush strokes — some made with toothbrushes — while using the facility’s ceiling tiles as a canvas...

Although industry experts generally agree the drone attack Saturday on one of the world’s largest oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia could result in higher gas prices worldwide, local gas station operators aren’t saying how they think price at local pumps will be affected ... at least not publicly. ...

Federal, state and Scott County law enforcement officers dug for evidence Monday in the 40-year-old disappearance of Cheryl Ann Scherer, but turned up nothing. It was another dead end in a cold case that has baffled law enforcement and left Scherer’s family struggling to find closure. ...

Sometimes in life you come across a talent and personality so big, that you know you're in the company of someone special. At the Southeast Missourian, Heidi Hall was a talent for the ages. A reporter here in the 1990s, she rose to managing editor 2000 to 2003, before departing to become an editor in Florida and Nashville, then for the past five years, a public affairs officer at Vanderbilt University. ...

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2019. There are 104 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Sept. 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. On this date: In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A data-gathering sensor attached to the American Queen steamboat will give scientists and cities a better understanding of water quality along the entire length of the Mississippi River, officials said Monday. U.S. Geological Survey and Army Corps of Engineers officials, a group of Mississippi River city mayors and the operators of the American Queen gathered to show off the new equipment on the steam-driven vessel in Memphis. ...

ST. LOUIS -- A new Missouri law shielding large farms from local health regulations is now in effect, but opponents say the fight is far from over. Cole County Judge Daniel Green earlier this month set aside a temporary restraining order imposed days earlier. A lawsuit over the law is proceeding, with the next court hearing scheduled for Dec. 9...

HENRIETTA, Mo. -- The mayor of a small western Missouri town has acknowledged reaching for his gun while arguing with a maintenance supervisor but said that's no reason to step down. KMBC-TV reported Henrietta Mayor Jim Lovern said he was upset the supervisor had blocked his driveway with snow while plowing in the town of about 350 residents. He said he called the supervisor "dumb," then unsnapped the weapon "because, man, he was mad."...

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fell short of securing a parliamentary majority with his religious and nationalist allies in national elections Tuesday, initial exit polls showed, setting the stage for a period of coalition negotiations that could threaten his political future and clear the way for him to be tried on corruption charges...

WASHINGTON -- Democrats' first impeachment hearing quickly turned hostile Tuesday as their sole witness, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, stonewalled many of their questions and said they were "focusing on petty and personal politics."...

RIO RANCHO, N.M. -- President Donald Trump is making a rare visit to California, a Democratic stronghold where he is expected to rake in millions of dollars during a series of fundraisers for his reelection effort that are almost certain to be met with jeering protests...

WASHINGTON -- Democrats controlling the House are steering clear of controversy in a short-term, government-wide spending measure that's needed to prevent a government shutdown at the end of September. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has agreed to a White House request to replenish funds for bailout payments to farmers absorbing heavy losses as a result of President Donald Trump's trade battles with China...

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is poised to revoke California's authority to set auto mileage standards, asserting only the federal government has the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy. Conservative and free-market groups have been asked to attend a formal announcement of the rollback set for this afternoon at Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington...

DETROIT -- Contract talks between the United Auto Workers and General Motors showed some signs of progress Tuesday as a strike by more than 49,000 employees extended into a second day. The walkout brought to a standstill more than 50 factories and parts warehouses in the union's first strike against the No. 1 U.S. automaker in over a decade. Workers left factories and formed picket lines shortly after midnight Monday in the dispute over a new four-year contract...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Thousands of people packed under the marble arch of Manhattan's Washington Square Park to hear Elizabeth Warren on Monday. They didn't show up by accident. The crowd was the product of a carefully planned, data-driven strategy to identify supporters, attract them to a rally and ultimately convert them into voters, a plan that goes well beyond producing a compelling scene for television...

WASHINGTON -- A year after failing to meet its enlistment goal for the first time in 13 years, the U.S. Army is now on track to meet a lower 2019 target after revamping its recruitment effort. Army leaders said they expect to sign up more than 68,000 active duty soldiers for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, as the largest branch of the U.S. military increasingly turns to social media and other new online methods to find potential recruits...

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Joyce J. Young, 91, of Round Rock passed away Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, of dementia. She was born Feb. 18, 1928, in Centralia, Illinois, to Leland and Helen Setmeyer Spangler. She was married to Haywood "Kay" Young and raised four children in Cape Girardeau...

Alberta Winders, 92, of Jackson, formerly of Cairo, Illinois, passed away at 5:55 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. Alberta was born Sept. 6, 1927, in Cairo, daughter of the late Earl H. and Myrtie Elizabeth Cullen Johnson...

Joann Kennedy Weatherly, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at de Greeff Hospice House at Mercy South Hospital in St. Louis, following a stroke suffered on Labor Day. She most recently was a resident at Saxony Village in Cape. Joann, legally named Athelda Joanna, was born Jan. ...

Dorothy E. Makins, 92, of Jackson passed away Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at her home. She was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Detroit, daughter of John E. and Julia May Lynchard Bolitho. She and Harold Edward Makins were married April 26, 1946, in Detroit. He passed away May 2, 2014...

ORAN, Mo. -- Carlton "Omer" Hodges, 90, of Oran died Monday, Sept. 17, 2019, at Life Care Center in Sullivan, Missouri. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Oran. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery in Morley, Missouri...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Gilbert Anthony Eichhorn, son of Clyde Anton and Josephine Olivia Uhrhan Eichhorn, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, at his home, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 68 years. He was a retired carpenter for Boulder Construction. He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee and a member of Chaffee Elks Lodge No. 1810...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- June Workman DeLay, 90, of Sikeston passed away at her home Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. A former resident of Bell City and Charleston, Missouri, she had lived in Sikeston for the past 19 years. The DeLay family moved to Charleston from Bell City in 1958, when the family-owned business, DeLay Brothers Implement Co., expanded to a second location. The family moved to Sikeston in 1998...

Peter Dominic Biffignani, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, at his home. He was born May 24, 1934, in St. Louis to Oreste and Santa Gianino Biffignani. He and Betty Biffignani were married Aug. 11, 1956, at St. Ambrose Church in St. Louis. She preceded him in death Jan. 19, 2018...

DES PERES, Mo. -- Joel Ralph Beaudean, 73, of Des Peres died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Schrader Funeral Home in Ballwin, Missouri. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ballwin. Burial will follow at the church cemetery, a short distance south from the church...

ORAN, Mo. -- David Earl Anthony, 74, of Oran died Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was the son of Earl and Mabel Martin Anthony and was born March 8, 1945, in Oran. He was united in marriage to Kathern King on June 25, 1964, in Oran...

O God. we worship you today, giving thanks for your many blessings in our lives. Amen.

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Thefts n Stealing was reported in the 2500 block of Melrose Avenue. Miscellaneous n Property damage was reported in th 700 block of Normal Avenue. JACKSON The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrest does not imply guilt...

The Rev. Neal O. Zeilinger is installed as pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in the afternoon; the installation ceremony is conducted by the Rev. Dennis Hallemeyer, assistant to Bishop Charles H. Maahs. It's clean-up day for about 50 volunteers at Arena Park, after the eight-day run of the SEMO District Fair brought out about 97,000 fun seekers; fair board member Pete Poe said it was the best attendance since the fair's format was changed about 15 years ago...

While on a 60 mile backpacking trip with a group through Glacier National Park in Montana, I spooked a family of grizzly bears in some brush right off the trail and literally just a few feet from me. I noticed there was a mother and two cubs. The mother ran up the hill a bit with the cubs and then charged back down to within 15 feet or so of me, so I pulled out my revolver that was loaded with six .454 Casull rounds, dropped the hammer back, aimed right at her face, and yelled “stop!” Miraculously, she stopped and stood up on her hind legs. ...