Stories from Saturday, December 5, 2020

When Olivia Carter left her Jackson home Friday morning, she had no clue how her day would unfold. Carter, 32, counselor for the last five years at Cape's Jefferson Elementary, was surprised by an announcement in the school's gymnasium where a socially distanced group of students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators eagerly awaited her arrival...

Prior to 2020, the holiday season was traditionally a time filled with parties, celebrations and gatherings with family and friends. This year, however, the usual holiday stresses -- present buying, money worries, holiday decorating and travel schedules -- are mixed in with COVID-19 stresses such as social distancing, family members quarantining or in isolation, separation from family and friends, mask-wearing and fear of getting the coronavirus...

In 1998, Lanie Black did the impossible in Mississippi County. He won the contest for state representative as a Republican — the first to do so since Reconstruction. The four-term legislator, farmer and Navy veteran died recently. He was 73.

The inaugural class of The Next Project 2020 will be announced Monday at a special event produced by The Scout. The program will highlight 11 young people doing great things in their communities, and a movie at Rock n' Roll Drive-In will feature their tales of kindness, genius, courage and strength...

Area health officials reported the highest one-day death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday. Officials attributed 14 deaths to the disease associated with coronavirus. Friday, another nine deaths were reported. Thirteen of the deaths were in Cape Girardeau County (83 total). ...

Banner C. Meyer, 20, of Oak Ridge was arrested Wednesday on two counts of second-degree sexual trafficking of a child. According to a probable-cause statement written by Missouri Highway Patrolman Sgt. Jeremy Weadon, police made contact with Meyer at his home in reference to an ongoing child pornography investigation. While being interviewed, Meyer admitted to using his cell phone to record two pornographic videos of a 12-year old girl earlier this year...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Longtime structural and flooding issues at Sikeston Fire Station No. 2 have prompted officials to pursue a replacement. At Monday's Sikeston City Council meeting, council members accepted the five-year capital improvement plan. Accepting the plan does not allocate funds to any projects, but does rank projects in the order in which city officials deem important. A new fire station tops that list...

City Councilman Melvin Gateley wants the city to establish a board of governors to look at funding public-private partnerships such as the one proposed for Old St. Vincent's College; the Cape Girardeau City Council tabled the matter last night over the objections of Gateley, who said the city needs to formulate a strategy to fund a wide range of economic development projects...

Today is Saturday, Dec. 5, the 340th day of 2020. There are 26 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first Black president, died at age 95. On this date:...

In early July 1937, the caretaker at the newly-renovated Fort D saw occupants of a car assist an elderly man on a tour of the fort. The man indicated he had been there "during the battle" and served at the fort, but the caretaker failed to get his name. Once the Louis K. Juden Post, American Legion, heard about the man, they asked the public for assistance finding him so they could invite him to the dedication of the new building. Searchers identified the man as Fred Davis from near Oak Ridge...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary This cute little guy, Pawly Shore, is looking for his perfect forever home. He is 4 months old and ready for love. If you are ready for a rewarding experience, come see us at Safe Harbor. Call (573) 243-9823...

Back during the virus event and today as it's recurring again, there was and is a shortage of toilet paper. Unreal how the store shelves in some stores are just bare of toilet paper. One other item back several months was the disappearance of yeast or packages of yeast. ...

I was fortunate to find this small colony of strange looking plants Nov. 23. They were the dominant plant in an area the general shape of a circle about 12 feet across. Dark purplish to black beads decorated stems, many of which stuck up nearly 3 feet into the air. The jagged yellow-brown leaves you see here are from this same plant...

Senior centers are open for carryout and delivery only. Menus are subject to change. Monday: Barbecue riblet or stuffed bell pepper, black-eyed peas, season spinach, whole-grain bread and Mandarin oranges or mixed berry crisp. Tuesday: Ground beef stroganoff or poppy seed chicken, savory carrots, lima beans, whole-grain hot roll and emerald isle salad...

Fall 2020 records of Lamplighters FCE show they have encountered opportunities to learn new information and share of themselves with others. Examples of this began in September when members spent one day in the home of Jo Ann Hahs constructing blankets and rice bags for the county's autism weighted items project. ...

Have you have finished your Christmas shopping? If you are like me, I shop up until Christmas Eve -- even after Christmas depending on when I am going to exchange gifts. Sometimes the hardest part about Christmas shopping is finding the right gift for each person. Most people appreciate money or a gift card -- at least I do...

Advent. Here we are again, within this mystery of preparing to celebrate what has already happened in hope of what will happen again. It is a pause within movement. A time to stand in the present with one hand reaching back into the past and one hand stretched forward into the future. ...

Some of the best gifts we give cost us much, but we do not buy them. The over 50 "one another" phrases in the New Testament prescribe actions we take as gifts to each other. Phrases like "encourage one another" (1 Thess. 5:11), "bear with one another" (Eph. 4:2), forgive one another (Eph. 4:32), and love one another (1 John 3:11). Simple but powerful gifts...

Congratulations to the Jackson football team on a wonderful season. Here's hoping they win it all at state. Also, congratulations to the Jackson soccer team on winning their state title. Good things happening with Jackson sports. In a year with so much uncertainty, it's been refreshing to have a bit of normalcy with the display of Christmas lights. Many wonderful displays locally that can be enjoyed from the safety of your car. Merry Christmas!...

There is no word more overused in political life than "historic." But considering the runoff races for the two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia, "historic" is the right word. There is little of what we once thought of as middle ground remaining in the nation. Today, we've got the left, the right and not much in the center...

O God, protect those in harm's way and thank you for those who have fought for freedom. Amen.

Jackson Board of Aldermen 6 p.m. Monday City Hall 101 Court St. Public hearing n Hearing to consider the vacation of a portion of the Short Street public right of way in the Southwestern Realty and Improvement Company Subdivision, as requested by Lisa Boyd...

Cape Girardeau City Council 5 p.m. Monday City Hall 401 Independence St. Study session n No action will be taken during the study session Presentation n Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau and MAGNET Annual Report Communications/reports...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. today 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minute n Minutes from Dec. 3 meetings Communications/reports -- other elected officials n COVID-19 Update: In an effort to keep Cape Girardeau County residents safe and aware regarding the status of the virus, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director Mark Winkler will be issuing an update at County Commission meetings. ...

Doris J. Wilkinson, 89, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Nov. 21, 1931, in Millersville to the late Amon Andrew Jacob and Dessie Esther Seabaugh Moore. She and Bobby G. Wilkinson were married April 28, 1956, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Feb. 17, 2001...

Larry J. Welker, 71, of Gordonville died Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1949, in Cape Girardeau to Glennon Jesse "Glen" and Florence Lappe Welker. He and Xiufang Sang were married Sept. 28, 1999, in China...

Norma A. Welch, 79, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 8, 1941, in Cape Girardeau to Paul and Valeria Grasser Glueck. Norma worked for many years in sales for Hutson's Furniture Store in Cape Girardeau. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Mary B. Van Cleve passed away peacefully in her home Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, in Louisville at age 65 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was born May 13, 1955, in Rockford, Illinois, to John Joseph Borkowski and the late Jean Green Borkowski. ...

Billy Eugene "B.E" Shuffler, 90, of Brookfield, Missouri, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at Mercy Hospital Washington in Washington, Missouri. Visitation will be 5 to 8 pm on Dec. 16 at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Earlene Payne, 75, of Perryville died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 at her residence in Perryville. Services will be held a later date and will be private for the family. Ford and Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ruby Franck Moore was born in Cape Girardeau on February 14, 1926 to Ervin F. and Alma Schaefer Franck, and passed away from this life on Nov. 24, 2020, in Woodville, Texas, at the age of 94. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, God-mother and friend who will be dearly missed. She retired from Levi Strauss...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- John "Toby" Modde, 82, of Perryville passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at his residence in Perryville. He was born Oct. 25, 1938, in Belgique, Missouri, to Edward L. and Marie C. Wood Modde. He and Beatrice Prevallet were married April 1, 1989, in New Madrid, Missouri. She preceded him in death Jan. 20, 2016...

Joseph Carl Miller Jr., 74, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Frisco, Texas, after battling Parkinson's disease for many years. He was born Oct. 3, 1946 in Cape Girardeau to Carl Miller and Helen Catherine Brugger...

CORNVILLE, AZ -- Iva Houchins, 92, passed away peacefully at her home of 15 years in Cornville on Nov. 27, 2020. She was born in Crump, Missouri on Feb. 11, 1928, the ninth child of Burette Oliver Brown and Addie Mae Robbins. Iva loved music, flowers, her family and friends. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Wendell Lee "Wendy" Smith Hamil, 81, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Nov. 30. Her loving husband, Robert Vaden Hamil, 89, of Scott City, followed just one day after on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. ...

Willis Haertling, 87, of Jackson and formerly of New Wells passed away Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 16, 1932, at New Wells, son of Eldor H. and Alma Meyr Haertling. He married Thelma Amanda Sticht on Oct. 20, 1956, at Salem Lutheran Church at Farrar, Missouri...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Timmothy Evans, 26, of Perryville passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at his residence in Perryville. He was born April 17, 1994 in Chester, Illinois, to John Joseph Evans and Lori Eggemeyer. He was an Engineer at TG USA and volunteer for Perryville Fire Department...

June F. Martin Baugh Black, 85, of Jackson, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at the Monticello House in Jackson. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson is in charge of arrangements...

Arlinda Barringer-McElreath, 100, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 5, 1920, in Illmo, Missouri, to Finis Huff and Pearl Jennie Foster Huff. Arlinda worked for JCPenney for more than 30 years as a sales clerk and catalog supervisor...

Cape Girardeau needs a new city board to foster economic development, Councilman Melvin Gateley says; he proposed last night that the council create a five-member board of governors to formulate a plan for economic development and look at funding public-private partnerships; some funding could come from motel and restaurant tax money, Gateley said...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri's health director on Friday said the state should be able to vaccinate all hospital workers, nursing home staff and nursing home residents against COVID-19 by the end of the year. Missouri is expecting to get close to 340,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines this month, which should to cover everyone in the state's top priority groups, health department Director Randall Williams told reporters...

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli government Thursday urged its citizens to avoid travel to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, citing threats of Iranian attacks. Iran has been threatening to attack Israeli targets since its chief nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated last Friday near Tehran. It accuses Israel, which has been suspected in previous killings of Iranian nuclear scientists, of being behind the shooting...

LONDON -- U.K. regulators went on the offensive Friday to beat back criticism they rushed their authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, saying they rigorously analyzed data on safety and effectiveness in the shortest time possible without compromising the thoroughness of their review...

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave an optimistic assessment of the prospects for a mid-sized COVID-19 relief bill and a separate $1.4 trillion governmentwide spending bill Friday, teeing up expectations for a successful burst of legislative action to reverse months of frustration on pandemic relief...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Southeast Missouri, but a little different from years past. With coronavirus positive case numbers having increased nationwide, statewide and locally in November, precautions to help slow the spread are still prevalent in the Christmas season...