Stories from Tuesday, September 29, 2020

For many years there has been much discussion about broadband internet service to areas of the United States. This year, it has come to the forefront because of the COVID-19 crisis. The need for school students to have internet service for remote access to school resources has become paramount...

Much talk is swirling about the voting process during this coronavirus craziness. Specifically, jabber about mass mail-in voting has been particularly prevalent. Democrats, typically, are for it, heralding the right to vote while accusing Republicans of wanting to suppress that right. Republicans are typically opposed, stating concerns about voter fraud. I'm weighing in as a person who has seen firsthand how easy it would be to do some downright dirty deeds during an election...

Cape Girardeau County officials have approved an “emergency notification” to retailers and other businesses in the county, reminding them of a new sales tax that goes into effect Thursday. Members of the County Commission approved the notification at their meeting Monday at the request of County Treasurer Roger Hudson. ...

More than 150 new COVID-19 cases — and one additional death attributed to the virus — were reported in the region Monday. Cape Girardeau County accounted for more than 100 new cases — 45 Saturday, 21 Sunday and 40 Monday — pushing the county’s total number of cases to 1,907. Of those, 1,363 county residents have recovered from the virus, and 26 deaths have been attributed to the disease associated with coronavirus...

Suggesting the district has reached a “crossroads” in more than two years of discussion, Cape Girardeau School District superintendent Neil Glass proposed Monday the school board consider a more expensive “bricks-and-mortar” building to house a planned aquatics center at Jefferson Elementary...

Gov. Mike Parson came through the area last Tuesday (again), this time to celebrate his failed special session of the General Assembly. Gov. Parson and my House District opponent, lame duck Sen. Wayne Wallingford, have provided a pitiful response to the epidemic of gun violence. ...

Father God, we praise you, for every good and perfect thing comes from you. Amen.

Recently there was a letter written to the editor about the disparaging remarks made by President Trump concerning veterans being losers. The writer made the remark that the president must not be reelected because of said remarks. I disagree. I don't believe he said that. Obviously, the writer believes in fake news. The fake news is relentless. The swamp is deep. The Kool-Aid is strong...

Rigged election So if Trump wins the election, it's fair, but if he loses it, it's rigged? What world is he living in? Is it populated with unicorns, rainbows and Oompa Loompas? This man is delusional. Medicare, RX Trump has announced that he will be sending all Medicare recipients a $200 prescription card. I will gladly spend the money on prescriptions and vote for Joe Biden. Does Trump really think he can bribe seniors into voting for him?...

ST. HELENA, Calif. -- California firefighters battled destructive new wildfires in wine country north of San Francisco on Monday as strong winds fanned flames in the already badly scorched state. The new fires erupted Sunday in the famed Napa-Sonoma wine region and in far Northern California's Shasta County, forcing hasty evacuations of neighborhoods...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross says the 2020 census will end Oct. 5, despite a federal judge's ruling last week allowing the head count of every U.S. resident to continue through the end of October, according to a tweet posted by the Census Bureau on Monday...

NEW DELHI -- The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus has eclipsed 1 million, nine months into a crisis that has devastated the global economy, tested world leaders' resolve, pitted science against politics and forced multitudes to change the way they live, learn and work...

CLEVELAND -- In an election year like no other, the first debate between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, could be a pivotal moment in a race that has remained stubbornly unchanged in the face of historic tumult. Tonight's debate will offer a massive platform for Trump and Biden to outline their starkly different visions for a country facing multiple crises, including racial justice protests and a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans and cost millions of jobs.. ...

Janet Sue Werner, 78, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at the Arbors at Auburn Creek after her final battle with Alzheimer's. She was born Oct. 15, 1941, in Cape Girardeau to the late Dewey and Virginia Keller. On Aug. 5, 1962, she married the love of her life, Ronald Lee Werner, who survives...

Ruth Coleen Morton Tinnin, 83, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 13, 1937, in Fruitland, the only child of Robert and Estell Wallace Morton. She and LeeRoy Tinnin were married in June 1956. LeeRoy passed away Feb. 9, 1996...

Peggy A. Stewart, 72, formerly of Scott City died Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center.

Pansy Joyce Wilson Snowden, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, at Ratliff Care Center. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

David Lee "Catfish" Sides, 71, of Jackson passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Aug. 8, 1949, to Mildred Rosalee and Roy Eugene Sides of Jackson. A 1967 graduate of Jackson High School, David honorably served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to the K-9 unit in Pleiku, Vietnam. He also served at Mather Air Force Base in California and Lackland and Dyess Air Force bases in Texas...

Betty Sue Rinkenberger, 81, of Imperial, Missouri, formerly of Jackson, passed away Monday, Sept. 29, 2020, at her home. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Warren Woerth officiating. Burial will follow at New Bethel Cemetery near Pocahontas...

Mary Kratky — mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, mentor and teacher — of Cape Girardeau passed away at the age of 83 years at 12:36 a.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at the Chaffee (Missouri) Nursing Center. She was born in San Jose, California, June 29, 1937, to Jesus and Pablo Becerra, the youngest of nine children...

Albert L. Brugger, 99, of Jackson passed away Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 8, 1921, in Gordonville, the son of Charles and Helen Kirn Brugger. He and Betty Spalding married Aug. 28, 1947. She passed away Jan. 20, 2002...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Patsy Jean Brewer, 70, of Perryville died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Monday at Ford and Young Funeral Home in Perryville. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Deacon Direk Hunt officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville...

Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Assaults n Assault was reported in the 600 block of North Street. n Assault was reported in the 3200 block of William Street. n Assault was reported in the 400 block of South Kingshighway...

Daughter to Matt and Betsy Crader of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 3:56 p.m. Thursday. Sept. 17, 2020. Name, Nola June. Weight, 7 pounds, 12 ounces. First child. Mrs. Crader is the daughter of Todd and Sandy Lincoln of Grassy, Missouri. Crader is the son of Val and Soni Crader of Burfordville. He works for Crader Distributing...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A state low-income housing tax credit sought by developers seeking to build affordable housing but often criticized by Missouri officials as inefficient has resumed after a three-year moratorium. The Missouri Housing Development Commission has restarted the program, The Kansas City Star reported. The commission's decision came in a unanimous vote Friday...

ST. LOUIS -- Ameren plans to invest $8 billion in renewable projects during the next two decades, with a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 across Missouri and Illinois, the energy company announced Monday. The St. Louis-based company said it plans to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030 and 85% by 2040, based on 2005 levels. ...

A sting operation has led to the capture of 101 people who were being sought by law enforcement agencies in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties; the Cape Girardeau-based sting, dubbed Operation Lam Scam, was the fourth such sting operation in the state; the three-day operation involved a clandestine and elaborate scheme to lure people to an office on the pretense they would be given a check for $2,500...

S. M. Wilson & Co. has hired Nick Martin as Senior Project Development Manager for the firm’s Southeast Missouri market. Martin is stationed in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The addition comes as part of the company’s efforts to provide more value and personalized experience for their clients and partners in Southeast Missouri. ...

Title Buffalo Wild Wings donates to Deployed Veterans Holly Gordon, Manager Buffalo Wild Wings, Charlie & Judy Thrower VFW Post 3838 & Auxiliary accepting donation of 10 cases of Buffalo Wild Wings Sauce to be mailed to deployed Veterans.