Stories from Wednesday, December 29, 2021

13-year-old Elvis tribute artist Finley Watkins of Bernie, Missouri, appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Tuesday. ...

The low level of the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau has exposed sandbars to the east of Cape Rock Park that are usually under water. ...

BENTON, Mo. — A Scott County couple wanted for allegedly evading law enforcement on sex-related charges are now in custody after being located by the U.S. Marshals Service in Sikeston, Missouri. Donald Joseph Tyra, 39, whose last address was listed as Scott City, is charged with three counts of statutory sodomy; third-degree child molestation; fourth-degree domestic assault; and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child...

SIKESTON, Mo. — A Christmas miracle came early for one Sikeston family. When Jeannie and Darren Lingle's kitchen caught fire in their North Ridge Road home just before 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15, their beloved pet, Ernie, a Bernese mountain dog poodle, or Bernepoodle — was the only family member inside and unaccounted for when fire crews arrived on scene...

Former KFVS12 news director Mike Beecher, who led the television station's news team from 1984 to 2000, died Sunday at the age of 76 and is being remembered as a person "who lived and breathed news," according to his one-time colleagues. "He really cared about journalistic standards, making sure every newscast had content," said retired KFVS12 meteorologist Bob Reeves, who retired from the station in 2014 after 44 years and who worked under Beecher during the latter's entire 16-year tenure...

Gov. Mike Parson requested Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve a major disaster declaration for Missouri to provide federal assistance to seven Southeast Missouri counties in response to severe storms and deadly tornadoes that swept across the state Dec. 10, resulting in extensive destruction...

City of Cape Girardeau attorney Eric Cunningham will retire this month after 28 years of service to the city. Cunningham's last official day is Friday. His former assistant, Greg Young, has been appointed interim city attorney as city management continues to search for Cunningham's replacement...

Attorney and former circuit judge John Grimm was elected president of The Missouri Bar in September, the organization which represents 30,000 attorneys across the Show Me State. Grimm, 58, is only the fifth individual whose practice was based in Cape Girardeau to be elected president of the organization and the first in 39 years to ascend to the position. ...

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 29, the 363rd day of 2021. There are two days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Dec. 29, 1940, during World War II, Germany dropped incendiary bombs on London, setting off what came to be known as "The Second Great Fire of London."...

BNEI BRAK, Israel -- Yossi Levy has repeatedly booked and canceled his coronavirus vaccine appointment. The 45-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jew recovered from the virus earlier this year, as have his eight children and wife. But a combination of lethargy and procrastination has prevented him from following through and getting inoculated...

BANGKOK -- The humanitarian group Save the Children said Tuesday it has confirmed that two of its staff were among at least 35 people, including children, who were killed in eastern Myanmar on Christmas Eve in an attack it blamed on the country's military...

CAIRO -- Sudanese authorities said at least 38 people were killed Tuesday when a defunct gold mine collapsed in West Kordofan province. The country's state-run mining company said in a statement the collapse of the closed, non-functioning mine took place in the village of Fuja 435 miles south of the capital of Khartoum. It said there were also injuries without giving a specific tally...

MOSCOW -- Russia's highest court on Tuesday shut down one of the country's oldest and most prominent human rights organizations, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters. The Supreme Court's ruling to close Memorial, an international human rights group that drew international acclaim for its studies of political repression in the Soviet Union, sparked international outrage...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Conservation experts in Virginia's capital Tuesday pulled books, money, ammunition, documents and other artifacts from a time capsule found in the remnants of a pedestal that once held a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The lead conservator for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Kate Ridgway, said the measurements and material of the box, copper, match historical accounts. ...

A federal judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss an indictment charging four alleged leaders of the far-right Proud Boys with conspiring to attack the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's electoral victory. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly rejected defense attorneys' arguments that the four men -- Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Charles Donohoe -- are charged with conduct that is protected by the First Amendment right to free speech...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. health officials' decision to shorten the recommended COVID-19 isolation and quarantine period from 10 days to five is drawing criticism from some medical experts and could create more confusion and fear among Americans. To the dismay of some authorities, the new guidelines allow people to leave isolation without getting tested to see if they are still infectious...

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Early in the new year, the Vermont House of Representatives is due to begin debate on an amendment that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution and send the question to voters in the fall. Because the process began two years ago, it's a coincidence that Vermont lawmakers will be considering the Reproductive Liberty Amendment while the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case that could severely erode a right that has stood for half a century...

WASHINGTON -- The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol has agreed to defer its attempt to get hundreds of pages of records from the Trump administration, holding off at the request of the Biden White House. The deferral is in response to concerns by the Biden White House that releasing all the Trump administration documents sought by the committee could compromise national security and executive privilege...

Newspaper people are creatures of habit, and so it is that about this time every year, they start looking back to recall the most important and/or interesting stories. In Monday’s e-edition and Tuesday’s print edition, we highlighted 10 business “stories” from 2021. Some of the stories involved single events — Macy’s closing or Plaza Tire merging — while others involved trends and ongoing issues. Among the things we highlighted: n Supply chain issues plagued many businesses by preventing them from acquiring necessary materials. These bottlenecks delayed some projects — Cape Girardeau City Hall — and put others in the position of having to pay more for goods — The Ground-A-Bout. n Labor shortages appeared across the commercial and industrial spectrum. This nationwide phenomenon reared its head in Southeast Missouri as many business owners and managers reported less-than-full staffs, resulting in changes to operations and, in some cases, closures. Schnucks reduced its daily hours of operation. Mario and Angela’s Italian Cucina shut down entirely. n While there were some big comings announced, some big goings came with them. Rural King is moving closer to opening its Cape Girardeau location. Camping World announced a coming Scott County facility. Macy’s, though, closed its doors. Of course, none of these year-end lists is ever complete, and ours could have included another trend or two from a business standpoint. Health care expansions continued unabated, including the Veterans Affairs facility coming along and SoutheastHEALTH announcing a multiphase expansion at its west campus. Saint Francis Healthcare added its own expansion in Jackson. The Center Junction interchange project wrapped up, and it has been roundly praised. (Read more in this weekend’s top overall stories recap.) As the calendar turns from 2021 to 2022, what’s on the economic horizon? We wish for three things. Unemployment has continued to drop throughout the region, and we hope that trend continues. Full employment not only fuels the region’s economic engine, but it lifts all fiscal boats. Supply chain issues are holding down economic growth. We encourage elected, appointed and private officials to take steps to alleviate these hurdles. Infrastructure is the foundation upon which our economy moves. From port and rail facilities to bridge projects and broadband internet, we must continue to upgrade our capabilities if we are to continue an upward trajectory. There are exciting things going on in our region — a loop rail project at the Cape Girardeau port, expanded broadband service throughout the region and bridge/highways projects such as Center Junction. Keep the momentum going. Here is to a prosperous 2022!

Thank you to all the coaches, players, referees, volunteer and sponsors who make the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament a wonderful success each year. It's a special tradition in this area that so many enjoy. City of Cape wants to build a boat dock on the river. I fail to understand how we can build a boat dock but have to raise online sales taxes to pay for city expenditures. Cape's sales tax is already above the national average...

Lead us, O Lord Jesus, in your righteousness that we may glorify you. Amen.

Washington, D.C., is now the epicenter of the pandemic. As of Dec. 23, it had 158 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, a 541% growth in cases over the last two weeks. This was much more than Alabama, Mississippi or South Carolina, all of which had cases in the 20s or below per 100,000...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. Dec. 27 n Medical assists were made at 10:11 a.m. on Terrie Hill Road; 3:07 p.m. on Stonebridge Drive; 6:33 p.m. on Good Hope Street; and 7:40 p.m. on East Cape Rock Drive...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to the following calls. Thefts n Theft of a vehicle was reported on East Rodney Drive. n Shoplifting was reported on Siemers Drive. n Shoplifting was reported on William Street. n Shoplifting was reported on William Street...

Mary Ann Parker, 79, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully in her home Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, after an extended illness. Mary Ann was born March 7, 1943, in Oran, Missouri, to Zephyl and Hazel Smith Menz. She married the late Billy Ray Parker on May 17, 1958...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Jerry Lynn Harwell, 64, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill, Missouri, was in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Terry L. Hadler, 59, of Perryville passed away Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. He was born March 8, 1962. in Perryville to Elbert A. and Janet R. Abernathy Hadler. He and Sherry Hadler were married Dec. 23, 1988, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Steeleville, Illinois...

Randy Joe Green, 54, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, at Southeast Hospital. Visitation will be noon to 1 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home. Memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating...

Velma Dean "Deanie" Fulbright, 91, of Jackson, formerly of Marble Hill, Missouri, went to her heavenly rest Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, at Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 25, 1930, in Bessville, Missouri, daughter of Jessie Odell and Vallie Devenport. She and Sylvester Clyde Fulbright were united in marriage April 11, 1948. Clyde preceded her in death March 15, 2010...

Phillip "Phil" A. Brinson, 54, was born Nov. 28, 1967, to Lloyd and the late Beverly Dunlap Brinson. He passed Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, while surrounded by friends who loved him dearly. Phil is survived by his father, Lloyd; stepmother, Nancy; and brother, Michael Brinson...

LAS VEGAS -- Harry Reid, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and Nevada's longest-serving member of Congress, has died. He was 82. Reid died Tuesday, "peacefully" and surrounded by friends at home in suburban Henderson, "following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer," according to family members and a statement from Landra Reid, his wife of 62 years...

First General Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau will celebrate its 70th anniversary with activities throughout the month of January, a different theme marking each week of the celebration; former pastors have been invited to speak, and special music will be presented by different groups from the past; a reception is planned for the latter part of the month in the Common Pleas Courthouse -- in the same courtroom where the church was organized...