Stories from Thursday, March 17, 2022

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. today 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minutes n Minutes of stated meetings of March 10 n Minutes of closed session of March 3 Communications/reports — other elected officials n None at this time Public comments...

CAIRO, Ill. — According to a news release from the Illinois Department of Transportation, the U.S. 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River at Cairo will be closed to all traffic. The closures are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. March 28 and will extend through noon March 31, and from 8 a.m. April 4 to noon April 7. The bridge will be open to all traffic from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. each night, the news release said. ...

Two people were hurt Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle left a roadway and collided with another vehicle at a gas pump. According to Cpl. Ryan Droege of Cape Girardeau Police Department, a motorist was on Kingshighway when the vehicle left the roadway and collided with a vehicle whose driver was pumping gas into the vehicle at a Rhodes station at 1624 N. Kingshighway...

A 2-year-old sustained serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning west of Jackson. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report said the juvenile was a passenger in a 2007 Dodge Ram driven by Kelsey Bullinger, 32, of St. Mary, Missouri. Bullinger was eastbound on Highway 72 about 3 miles from Jackson when a 2018 Ford F150 driven by Cathy Barks, 62, of Sedgewickville, Missouri, struck the vehicle from behind...

Today is St. Patrick's Day and instead of doing recipes to serve on this day, I decided to give a nod to a green vegetable and celebrate national celery month! I didn't even know there was such a thing until I saw it on television one morning. Celery has far more delicious uses other than our favorite childhood Ants on a Log snack...

Authorities said a driver who was both distracted and under the influence almost caused serious injury to sheriff's deputies Tuesday night. Two Butler County (Missouri) Sheriff's Department deputies and a K-9 officer were making a traffic stop shortly before 11 p.m., when their vehicles were struck by a passing vehicle, a report said...

Enter the words “election integrity” in an internet search engine of your choice and a raft of results will appear on your screen. Perhaps not in our lifetimes has the validity of election results been questioned as often as witnessed in the past six years...

When my friend, who lives in Scott City, told me that the country fried steak at Sandy's Place was huge, as big as the plate, I was sold. This was not the first time that a Scott City resident had recommended Sandy's Place to me. The locals seem to love this eatery...

Charles D. McAllister, Ph.D., who has taught at Southeast Missouri State University for 16 years as an authority on quantitative business methods, will spend his upcoming sabbatical year teaching as a "Distinguished Visiting Professor" at U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado -- a posting beginning in July...

Katrina Amos, manager of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, said Wednesday an order from the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) assures the northern Scott County facility will not be left without passenger air service. Utah-based SkyWest revealed Mar. 9 it would end flights to and from Cape Girardeau and 28 other Essential Air Service (EAS) locations in 16 states within 90 days...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- A police officer and a gunman died following a shootout early Thursday at a motel in eastern Missouri that left another officer wounded, authorities said. Bonne Terre Officer Lane Burns and Cpl. Garrett Worley were dispatched to a reported disturbance at a Motel 6 about 12:30 a.m., Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Dallas Thompson told The Associated Press...

Spring is just around the corner. For many people, this time of year brings hope and enthusiasm as well as looking forward to spring and summer activities. For others, spring may not bring much joy. People who suffer from depression may feel worse. When asked what time of year has the highest suicide rate, many people say the holiday season or during the winter. ...

Woke corporate CEOs seem to think they know better than voters what's best for the country. These titans are throwing their companies' clout and cash behind activists pushing gender-fluidity lessons for kindergartners and other extreme political causes...

Two years ago, I was asked if I would volunteer my time to serve on the Perry County Health System Board, in part due to my background in health care. I am a Registered Respiratory Therapist, inactive now, and I started the Respiratory Therapy Department at Perry County Memorial Hospital. After I left the hospital, I went into health care sales and services. I dedicated the early years of my career to PCHS, and I'm now dedicating time at the end of my career to PCHS...

O Heavenly Father, we praise you, our Creator and Holy God. Amen.

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. March 15 n Medical assists were made at 7:24 a.m. on North Middle Street; 8:04 a.m. at Airport Road and Rambler Drive; 8:08 a.m. on Whitener Street; 8:35 a.m. on Wisteria Drive; 11:03 a.m. on Laurel Lane; 12:04 p.m. on South Mount Auburn Road; 1:35 p.m. on Linden Street...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to the following calls. Arrest does not imply guilt. Arrests n A warrant arrest was reported. n A warrant arrested was reported on William Street. Assault n Third degree domestic assault was reported on South Hanover Street...

Valdis Imants Zalite, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, March 14, 2022, at the home of his son. He was born Dec. 3, 1950, in Germany to Richard and Emma Gaida Zalite. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and, after a career in the service, he retired as a master sergeant. He was honored by the Wake Foundation, a Missouri veterans organization, for his service to our country...

PERU, Ill. -- Delores Jean Thompson, 66, of Peru passed away Sunday, March 13, 2022, at home surrounded by her family. Delores was born June 14, 1955, in Cape Girardeau to Rudy and Ruie Jackson Thompson. She was a caregiver for her mother and brother for over 10 years. She was a member of Crossbridge Church in Peru, loved to go shopping and was a true St. Louis Cardinals fan...

Cheryl Denise Sides, 66, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Cheryl was born May 18, 1955, to Dale Penny and Patty "Pat" Hawkins Brooks. She and Terry Sides were married Nov. 16, 1974, at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ruby M. Schremp, 88, of Perryville died Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Independence Care Center. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. March 25 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. March 25 at the church with the Rev. Norbert Wood officiating. Entombment will be at Mary Queen of Heaven Mausoleum at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville...

Aaron Ray Lange, 72, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2022, at home with his family by his side. Aaron was born Dec. 11, 1949, to Paul and Alma Ahrens Lange in Cape Girardeau. He and Barbara Ann Bugge were married Aug. 16, 1975, in Normal, Illinois. She survives...

Robert "Bob" Charles King, 75, of Jackson died Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Mark Schario officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson...

Harley Vance Combs, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church with the Rev Mark Anderson officiating...

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- When their 11-year-old son started losing weight and drinking lots of water, Tabitha and Bryan Balcitis chalked it up to a growth spurt and advice from his health class. But unusual crankiness and lethargy raised their concern, and tests showed his blood sugar levels were off the charts...

DETROIT -- Any motorist who has had to fill up lately could be forgiven for wincing in disbelief. Fueled largely by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, gas prices worldwide have skyrocketed. In the U.S., they've reached record highs above $4.30 a gallon. That's 50%, or $1.43 per gallon, more than they were a year ago...

WASHINGTON -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy summoned memories of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11 terror attacks Wednesday in an impassioned live-video plea to Congress to send more help for Ukraine's fight against Russia. Lawmakers stood and cheered, and President Joe Biden later announced the U.S. is sending more anti-aircraft, anti-armor weapons and drones...

KYIV, Ukraine -- Russian forces destroyed a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of people were sheltering Wednesday and rained fire on other cities, Ukrainian authorities said, even as the two sides projected optimism over efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting...

The worst flooding in Southern Illinois in 60 years is on the way out, with the Ohio River having crested at 56.1 feet at Cairo yesterday morning, 16.1 feet over flood stage; even with an expected smattering of rain tomorrow, river levels should continue falling, says meteorologist David Humphrey of the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky...