Stories from Monday, December 14, 2020

The Cape Girardeau Police Department is reviewing evidence regarding several thefts of catalytic converters. Department public information officer Sgt. Joey Hann said there have been a few instances of the thefts around town. According to Hann, police detectives have condensed the cases down and are reviewing all of the evidence they have on the thefts. ...

Despite the nationwide economic turmoil brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers spent more than $1.5 billion on taxable goods in Cape Girardeau County over the most recent 12-month period, based on the county's sales-tax receipts. The county received its 12th and final monthly 2020 sales-tax payment from the Missouri Department of Revenue last week, adding to a record-setting total for the year...

Citing the potential of more business recruitment, retention and expansion, the Cape Girardeau Area Magnet announced plans last week to expand its leadership and boost its budget. Magnet board president Charlie Herbst said a larger budget, made possible by anticipated private partnerships, will allow for additional investments in marketing and technology...

The Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Sikeston, Missouri, along with the several food pantries in the region, have experienced an increase in the number of people they serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa Church, chief advancement officer of the SEMO Food Bank, said before the pandemic began the organization was helping serve roughly 60,000 people per month. ...

Maria Stevenson pulls no punches about the initial impact of the novel coronavirus on blood drives. “When COVID hit in the spring, blood drives were being canceled left and right,” said Stevenson, executive director of the Red Cross of Southeast Missouri. “We lost 1,700 drives in March, April and May in Missouri and Arkansas, (and) that was dramatic for us and scary,” she added...

In two weeks we'll kiss 2020 farewell. Like many of you, I prefer not to kiss it, but rather to kick it to the curb. (Have you seen this year's commemorative Christmas ornament of a burning trash dumpster labeled 2020? I want one.) To say this year has been challenging would be a gross understatement. ...

From left, Sam Helle and Makenna Christeson (dressed as elves) and Lisa and Mike Spies, dressed as Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus, respectively, pose for photos with children during Photos at Santa's Workshop on Saturday at Bella Vista Subdivision in Jackson. ...

In 2017, Barry Evans had a car wreck, breaking his femur in two places. During recovery, Evans spent time in the gym trying to regain strength when a friend recognized his lack of dedication and motivation, and encouraged him to get his testosterone levels checked at the Paducah Optimize U clinic...

O God, may we comfort those in distress with the comfort we ourselves receive from you. Amen.

Some accuse Trump supporters of manufacturing allegations of voter fraud out of whole cloth and resisting the presidential election results in response to their supposed cult leader’s wishes. As usual, President Donald Trump is the villain and his supporters are complicit...

I love driving down Broadway by the towering, sparkling Christmas tree. It is such a beautiful addition to the downtown. Thank you Old Town Cape for all the things you do for our town. ...

As we search for safe things to do with our families during the holiday season in the midst of a pandemic, nothing lifts Christmas spirits of both young and the young at heart like gazing at twinkling Christmas lights. Take time to visit the festive drive-through light displays at the winter wonderlands of Cape County Park North, Jackson City Park and Scott City Park...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Neither woman could bring themselves to watch the video of George Floyd's final moments, his neck pinned under a Minneapolis police officer's knee. But as their city grieved, Leesa Kelly and Kenda Zellner-Smith found much-needed comfort in the messages of anguish and hope appearing on boarded-up windows as residents turned miles of plywood into canvases. Now, they're working to save those murals before they vanish...

WASHINGTON -- Shortly after President-elect Joe Biden's victory last month, Cabinet hopeful Marcia Fudge pointedly noted Black people are often typecast into positions such as housing secretary. On Friday, Biden announced Fudge, a prominent Black congresswoman from Ohio, was his nominee for that very role. ...

No "blue state bailout" is a rallying cry for many congressional Republicans as attempts to provide more federal aid to a nation stricken by an ever-worsening coronavirus pandemic remain stuck in neutral. Yet it's not just Democratic states asking for help amid plunging tax revenue, rising joblessness and a stuttering economy. Plenty of Republican-led states are feeling the pain, too...

WASHINGTON -- Hackers broke into the networks of the Treasury and Commerce departments as part of a global cyberespionage campaign revealed just days after a leading global cybersecurity firm announced it had been breached in an attack industry experts said bore the hallmarks of Russian tradecraft...

PORTAGE, Michigan -- The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation's pandemic deaths approached the new milestone of 300,000. The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. ...

WITTENBERG, Mo. -- June M. Wilson, 78, of Wittenberg died Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. A celebration of life service will be private. Ford and Young Funeral Home in Perryville, Missouri, is in charge of arrangements...

Gary Lee Province, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at his home at the age of 71. He was born Feb. 19, 1949, in Irondale, Missouri, to the late Wilburn and Imogene Youngblood Province. He married Connie Pulliam on June 3, 1972...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Dorothy Marie Ledermann, 77, of Marble Hill died Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at her home. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Elijah Allen officiating. Burial will be in McQuire Cemetery near Burfordville...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Norman Kenner, 85, of Marble Hill died Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at Woodland Hills. There will be no services. Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill is assisting the family.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Conservation Commission on Friday approved a framework for the state's first black bear hunt since the conservation department was founded in the 1930s. The hunt, scheduled for October, will be restricted to state residents in three "Bear Management Zones" in southern Missouri. Permit regulations and quotas will be determined in the spring...

NEW YORK -- Charley Pride, one of country music's first Black superstars whose rich baritone on such hits as "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" helped sell millions of records and made him the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died. He was 86...

Cape Girardeau plans to tout its transportation tax projects with road signs similar to those the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department has used for its road work; the city's Public Awareness Advisory Board approved the sign design Tuesday; the "Roads to Success" logo shows a road curving through a line of green trees and hills; it also thanks the public, which approved the tax that will fund the work; there will be two, 3-by-4 signs erected for each project...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Assaults n Assault was reported in the 3600 block of Richmond Drive. n Assault was reported in the 1100 block of South Pacific Street. n Assault was reported in the 1100 block of Good Hope Street...

Heather Christisen was awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Program for Continuing Education of P.E.O. She was sponsored by Chapter JN, P.E.O. Heather will use it to complete her nursing degree at the Southeast Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences. P.E.O., Philanthropic Educational Organization, is committed to women’s education and has awarded millions of dollars in educational grants over the years...

Cape Girardeau Post Office employees were deluged with a final big avalanche of Christmas packages on Dec. 23, 1957. Tackling the mountain of late mail were, from left, clerks Robert J. Sander, Robert D. Gladish, Lee Moore and Weldon Hoeller. (G.D. Fronabarger ~ Southeast Missourian archive)...

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is launching a new program to support nonprofits affected by the ongoing pandemic with below-market loans to help sustain activities and services that benefit our communities. This Program-Related Investment project is targeted at central and southern Missouri nonprofits working specifically in the areas of arts and culture; conservation and environment; and animal care and advocacy. ...