Stories from Friday, May 29, 2020

Three people are now facing felony and misdemeanor charges for their alleged involvement in a Saturday burglary at Diebold Orchards in Benton, Missouri. In a Thursday news release, Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury stated deputies were called to Diebold Orchards for a possible burglary in progress and found 26-year-old Allie Halfacre on the property...

Firefighters respond to a structure fire Thursday on County Road 432 near Oak Ridge. Fruitland fire chief Rob Francis said the structure was a total loss and as "far as we know" no one lived in the building. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A former Sikeston police officer charged in a deadly crash that occurred Feb. 29 has pleaded not guilty. Andrew Cooper, who is charged with one Class B felony count of driving while intoxicated and causing a death, one unclassified felony count of armed criminal action and three Class D felony counts of driving while intoxicated and causing serious physical injury, waived a formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday...

The 2020 Shipyard Music Festival, a rustmedia celebration of up-and-coming musical artists from across the United States, has been canceled, organizers announced in a social media post Thursday. The festival was originally slated for Sept. 25 and 26...

Today, all trials held at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson will be moved to the new courthouse across the street. The old location will no longer be in use, Circuit Court Division III Judge Frank Miller said. Miller said the biggest improvement in the new courthouse is the addition of better security to protect all individuals who enter the courthouse. ...

The director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is “a little surprised” at new guidance this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about coronavirus antibody testing. “(CDC) recommendations of two weeks ago can change,” said Jane Wernsman, director of the center...

Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau has reported a case of COVID-19. According to the facility’s website, one employee has tested positive. The facility’s website states it has an average of 389 employees. The website states 15 employees have tested negative. ...

Three separate shootings occurred over a span of eight hours in Cape Girardeau from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, according to Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Joey Hann. According to Hann, the three separate shootings do not appear to be related to one another...

During his Thursday media briefing, Gov. Mike Parson announced he was extending the first phase of his reopening plan through June 15. It was originally scheduled to expire Sunday. He said the decision was not because of any setback but to ensure that the state is ready to move to the next phase...

City of Cape Girardeau water crews will close North Fountain Street between Pearl and Mason streets Monday to repair water mains. According to a city news release, the closure will begin at 8 a.m. and could extend one or two weeks, depending upon the work and weather conditions. Detours will be posted for motorists...

After several weeks of speculation about its future, J.C. Penney has announced its store in Cape Girardeau's West Park Mall will reopen next week. The store and the J.C. Penney salon will open Wednesday while the Sephora outlet inside the store will reopen Friday...

The current U.S. budget deficit could soon exceed a record $4 trillion. The massive borrowing is being driven both by prior budget profligacy and a hurried effort by the Donald Trump administration to pump liquidity into a quarantined America. The shutdown has left the country on the cusp of a self-inflicted economic collapse not seen since the Great Depression...

Today is Friday, May 29, the 150th day of 2020. There are 216 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 29, 1988, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev opened their historic summit in Moscow. On this date: In 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia's House of Burgesses...

A man was shot and transported by ambulance Wednesday night, according to Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Joey Hann. He was unable to provide further information about the victim's status or injuries at this time. "Officers are busy actively working the scene and [the] ambulance just arrived," Hann stated...

Following in the footsteps of a legendary figure can be a difficult chore. The next principal of Notre Dame Regional High School, assuming the position held for two decades by Brother David Migliorino, would undoubtedly have big shoes to fill. Enter Tim Garner...

BLAINE, Wash. (AP) -- Alec de Rham sat with his back against a stone obelisk marked "International Boundary" as he and his wife visited with a daughter they hadn't seen in 10 weeks. Hannah Smith took a bus and a bicycle from Vancouver, British Columbia, to the border to meet her "main person," Jabree Robinson, of Bellingham, Washington...

Like dozens of other veteran spellers in their final year of eligibility, Anson Cook had big plans for this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 13-year-old eighth-grader from Potomac, Maryland, was a two-time participant in the bee, and last year he finished in a tie for 41st. His objective was to make it into the top 12 or so who participate in the prime-time, ESPN-televised finals...

WASHINGTON -- Democrats on Thursday pulled legislation from the House floor to extend FBI surveillance authorities after President Donald Trump and Republicans turned against the measure and ensured its defeat. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there instead should be a new round of negotiations with the Senate over the expired powers the FBI considers vital in fighting terrorism...

NEW YORK -- The relationship between faith and science has faced its share of strain during the coronavirus pandemic -- but for some scientists leading the nation's response, the two have worked in concert. National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins founded a nonprofit focused on "the harmony between science and biblical faith." Anthony Fauci, NIH's senior infectious disease specialist, has said he isn't active in organized religion but credited his Jesuit schooling with burnishing the values that drive his public service.. ...

WASHINGTON -- An estimated 2.1 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week despite the gradual reopening of businesses around the country, bringing the running total since the coronavirus shutdowns took hold in mid-March to about 41 million, the government said Thursday...

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump escalated his war on Twitter and other social media companies Thursday, signing an executive order challenging the lawsuit protections that have served as a bedrock for unfettered speech on the internet. Announced with fanfare, the president's action yet appeared to be more about politics than substance. He aims to rally supporters after he lashed out at Twitter for applying fact checks to two of his tweets...

Raymond Lynn Murray, 76, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, April 10, 2020, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Aug. 22, 1943, in Hull, Iowa, son of the late John R. and Loretta Sawyer Murray. Ray was valedictorian of the 1961 graduating class of Boyden-Hull High School in Hull...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Phyllis Ann Lemons, 70, of Zalma died Thursday, May 28, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 14, 1949, in Cairo, Illinois, to Wayne Wallace and Arlene Hartline Garrott. She and Ivan Lemons Sr. were married July 21, 1996, at Gipsy, Missouri...

GREENWOOD, Miss. -- Sadie Frances Goff Hagar, 87, of Greenwood, formerly of Benton, Missouri, died Friday, May 22, 2020, at Riverview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Greenwood. She was born to D.L. and Rachel Koehler Goff on Sept. 20, 1932, in Louisville, Mississippi. She married Dewey C. Hagar on May 5, 1950...

GIDEON, Mo. -- Beloved daughter, sister, aunt, mother and MeeMaw, Cathy Roseann Brock passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at her childhood home surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 12, 1950, to C.L. "Dobie" and Evelyn Bernice Finney in Gideon...

Paul Edward Abernathy, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Arbor House. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Monday at Ford and Young Funeral Home in Perryville, Missouri. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ben Chapman officiating. Burial will be in Home Cemetery...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Elaine Kellerman of Parkville cringes when she hears people describe the sound coming from a train's horn as "noise." "To me, the whistles of the train, they are like the song of the train," she said. "They're a call. I think they are very beautiful."...

HANLEY HILLS, Mo. -- Bishop Floyd Williams knows the coronavirus has proven especially lethal in the black community, so his decision to reopen his End Times Christian Assembly in St. Louis comes with some trepidation. Still, Williams says that for his 80 parishioners, meeting together again is a risk they're willing to take. He plans to restart in-person services June 7...

My memories of presidents began with Eisenhower. I have seen good presidents (Kennedy), ineffectual presidents (Carter), criminal presidents (Nixon) and flawed presidents (Clinton), but I have never experienced a president who lacks the empathy, intelligence, emotional stability, statesmanship and moral fiber as Donald Trump. ...

Lord Jesus, may we stand with courage, remembering the battle belongs to you. Amen.

More than 480 flags, each placed in memory of a deceased veteran, lined the drive at North County Park yesterday, fluttering in a strong, almost chilly breeze; a large Memorial Day crowd gathered at the park to consider the price of freedom; the Joint Veterans' Council used the holiday ceremony to admonish those who allow the Stars and Stripes to be dishonored...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Assaults n Assault was reported in the 2100 block of William Street. n Assault was reported on South West End Boulevard. Thefts n Larceny was reported in the 200 block of South Mount Auburn Road...