Stories from Saturday, January 9, 2021

According to a social media post from Saint Francis Healthcare, Collins Rebecca Wright is the first newborn of 2021 delivered at the Cape Girardeau hospital. The post said, "Brannon and Paden Wright of Jackson ushered in the new year at our Family BirthPlace, delivering their 7-pound, 4-ounce daughter Collins Rebecca Wright. ...

Area health officials reported eight more deaths because of coronavirus-related complications Friday. Perry County health officials reported six more deaths, bringing the county's total to 32. The county recorded 27 new cases, and there are 76 active...

Southeast Missouri State University is receiving funding in the amount of $4,094,371 to repair and renovate some of the school's 66 underground tunnels which run over 2.2 miles beneath the Cape Girardeau campus. With the money, five tunnels will see long-deferred mechanical, electrical, plumbing and information technology fixes in two phases beginning in May and continuing until the summer of 2023...

With 1,200 employees and an additional 500 contractors and vendors coming in and out Procter & Gamble's (P&G) Cape Girardeau plant on a weekly basis, leadership quickly devised a plan for worker safety and production continuity when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March...

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center and Community Treatment, Inc. are hosting a free drive-through COVID-19 testing event in Cape Girardeau. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Arena Park. Pre-registration is required for anyone who wants to be tested. Visit mako.exchange/scheduler/registration/?location=2746...

The mayhem of the riot has united most of the country in horror. “This is not America” has become a common refrain. Yet it happened, and the nation is at a crossroads. Will the mayhem of this day cause the country — including the media and both parties — to lower the temperature, restrain the inflammatory rhetoric, and seek more common ground? Or will divisiveness and disrespect continue to reign?

Some of the most popular new year's resolutions year after year are to exercise more, lose weight, learn something new and find ways to save money. One practice that flies under the radar is fasting, and a few local churches are encouraging their congregations to do a new years fast...

Today is Saturday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2021. There are 356 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 9, 2020, Chinese state media said a preliminary investigation into recent cases of viral pneumonia had identified the probable cause as a new type of coronavirus...

Five years ago I put up a wood duck box at the edge of a pond. Wood ducks began frequenting the box and, although I occasionally would see a wood duck fly in or out the hole, I never did see a brood of ducklings at the pond. A week or so before Christmas I opened the side door on the box to see what might be inside. I was surprised to find three wood duck eggs. They had laid in the box unhatched all summer and fall. I carefully picked up an egg. It was hollow and light as a feather...

Delbert and Dimple Wiseman of Jackson celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 25. Wiseman and the former Diimple Eaker were married Dec. 25, 1960, at First General Baptist Church in Randles, Missouri. The Rev. Verlee Eaker, brother of the bride, performed the ceremony...

Shanna Froggatt and Travis Sievers were married Dec. 26 at Stooges Retaurant in Jackson. Rodney Barnes performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Ira and Donna Froggatt of Scott City. The groom is the son of Tim and Kathy Sievers of Jackson and Judy Sievers of Jackson, Tennessee...

For the last several years I have heard much criticism aimed at any member of the clergy who openly supported or prayed for the President of the United States. I have been a pastor since the '90s, and I have seen both political extremes use religion to further their agendas. ...

Do you always make New Year's resolutions? This custom seems to be one numerous people feel compelled to follow each New Year. Many stress over what changes they need to make in their lives. After all--it's New Year's Day. I, myself, feel guilty if I neglect to attempt to come up with an idea or two...

Senior centers are open for carryout and delivery only. Menus are subject to change. Monday: Barbecued riblet and Polish sausage, black=eyed peas, seasoned spinach, sauerkraut, cornbread and Mandarin oranges or Black Forest cake. Tuesday: Ground beef stroganoff or poppy seed chicken, savory carrots, Lima beans, whole-grain hot roll and sugar-free emerald isle dessert or regular emerald isle dessert...

A health and wellness seminar, Substitute for a healthier you, will be held 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Osage Centre. Learn how to turn your favorite dishes into a healthier version to keep you and your family healthy for 2021! Health & Wellness Seminars are by the Cape Parks & Rec Department. This is a FREE seminar! Pre-registration is required. To register, go to cityofcape.org/wellnessevents...

One notable ocean survival story from World War II involved World War I ace, national hero and airline executive Eddie Rickenbacker and the crew of a B-17 that crashed in October 1942. Secretary of War Henry Stimson dispatched Rickenbacker on a mission to review living conditions and operations in the Pacific. He also delivered a message of rebuke to Gen. Douglas MacArthur...

Growing up on a cattle ranch in Nebraska, one memory I remember vividly was coffee and snacks. Coffee was served from first thing in the morning until the last thing at night. Mom and Dad had coffee first thing in the morning, then at breakfast, mid-morning coffee break with a snack, dinner, afternoon coffee break with a snack and then coffee for supper. Coffee took center stage. It was served most all day every day...

Years and years ago, Greyhound had a good route going along I-55 and one going along U.S. 61. Ending of bus service was a stupid thing to do. Greyhound had two good drop-off/pick-up locations in Cape Girardeau where the Greyhound bus passengers could make a connection to the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority bus service...

Recent events on the national scene remind us of the need to control our tongue! "No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil." (James 3:8) The tongue can be a godly servant or a terrible demon. It can speak the truth or tell lies. It can comfort or it can cut. ...

O God, may we guard our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Amen.

Amid the current hysteria of toppling statues and renaming things, we keep mindlessly expanding the cancel culture. We are now seeing efforts to ban classics of Western and American literature. These hallowed texts are suddenly being declared racist or sexist by preening moralists...

While sitting in the Delta lounge in the Atlanta airport waiting for my flight back to Washington, a white gentleman approached me and struck up a conversation. Politics was on his mind, and seeing me, a Black woman, he was sure that he had found a kindred spirit to share his hopes that Democrats will prevail in both U.S. Senate runoff races in Georgia...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. today 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minute 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. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following item. Thefts n Larceny was reported in the 200 block of North Louisiana Avenue. n Burglary was reported in the 1800 block of Cape LaCroix Road. n Larceny was reported in the 2100 block of William Street...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. Jan. 7 n Medical assists were made at 7:45 a.m. on Bella Vista in Jackson; 9:57 a.m. on South Mount Auburn Road; 10 a.m. on Marquette Drive; 12:20 p.m. on South Benton Street; 12:29 p.m. on South Benton Street;

SB I-55 in Cape County reduced for drainage work Southbound Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County, between mile markers 103 and 104, near Fruitland, will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. According to a MoDOT news release, the work will take place Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Geraldine Rapert Thomason, age 92, a resident of Charleston, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2020, at the Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born Feb. 7, 1928, to the late Orvin Raymon Rapert and Lelia Jewell Johnston Rapert. She lived in Charleston most of her life where she was employed for more than 31 years at Warren E. ...

Cynthia Cole Marsh, 67, of Cape Girardeau peacefully passed away Thursday, Jan. 7,2021, at the Lutheran Home; she ended her long struggle with cancer, a burden now lifted by Our Lord. She was born May 24, 1953, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Howard and Phyllis Weckerling Cole, a Cajun-German family. After high school, she graduated with a registered nursing degree from Charity Hospital in 1974...

Lynn Lavern Maloney, age 72, of Jackson died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 at his home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Jackson Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson...

Marjorie Mae Johnson, 73, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau due to complications from COVID, surrounded by her family. Margie, as she was called by her friends and family, was born July 5, 1947. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to John G. and Allie Wilsie Olivent Carr. She resided in St. Petersburg, Florida; Eufala, Alabama; Germany; Bainbridge, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; Jackson and Cape Girardeau...

Raymond E. Davidson, 90, of Cape Girardeau went to his heavenly home Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, from his home on the farm where he was born and raised with his loving family. Raymond was born Sept. 17, 1930, to William Calvin and Edna Maevers Davidson at Egypt Mills. He was baptized Oct. 12, 1930, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills and was also confirmed there...

Betty Jane Colyer, 86, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of McClure, Illinois, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Monticello House in Jackson. She was born to Barnett and Willie Edwards Adams July 19, 1934, in Bardwell, Kentucky. She and William "Witz" M. Colyer were married at Cairo, Illinois, on May 3, 1953...

Twitter banned President Donald Trump's account Friday, citing "the risk of further incitement of violence" following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Twitter has long given Trump and other world leaders broad exemptions from its rules against personal attacks, hate speech and other behaviors. ...

Son to Thomas and Kristin Jeffries of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 10:42 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Name, Owen Thomas. Weight, 6 pounds, 12 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Jeffries is the daughter of Lee Thompson and Tracy Thompson of Cape Girardeau. Jeffries is the son of April Gantz of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is employed by Lighthouse Baptist Church.

A very long time ago, at least for me it was, I worked two summers in a steel fabricating plant. The work was desultory but honest. As a 1970s-era college student needing employment in the summer, I labored alongside much older men who clearly were bored by their work...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary It might be after Christmas but this Santa Claws is still here. He is a sweet 1-year-old and would love the perfect forever home. If you are ready for a rewarding experience, come see us at Safe Harbor. Call (573) 243-9823...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The weather canceled classes yesterday at the Perryville School District, but it didn't stop the business of searching for a new superintendent; Dr. Dan Roe of Pittsburg, Kansas, was the first of three candidates for the superintendent's job to visit Perryville: he and his wife, Marla, spent the day with community leaders and board members at breakfast and lunch meetings...

BENTON, Mo. -- The 14 members of the Scott County Democratic Central Committee chose one of their own last night to fill the vacant seat on the Scott County Commission; Wayne Petitt, a 27-year-old corporate administrator from Scott City, was elected to fill the unexpired term on the commission; the seat on the three-member board opened up last month when Associate Commissioner Joe Spalding, a Democrat, died after an extended illness; one year remains on Spalding's term...