Stories from Thursday, May 5, 2022

Northbound Interstate 55 in Perry County — between mile markers 129.4 and 130 in Perryville, Missouri — will be reduced with a 12-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge repairs. According to a MoDOT news release, the work began Wednesday and will continue through May 26, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. today 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minutes n Minutes of stated meetings of April 28 Communications/reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on the agenda Appointments and possible action items...

The end of the school year is quickly approaching, wedding shower invitations are arriving, friends and family are going places and visiting out of town, and our calendar is full of activities and things to planned to do. It was a sudden switch to the busy spring and early summer schedule...

A Poplar Bluff, Missouri, man has been charged with a felony relating to a March crash in which an Oran, Missouri, woman died. State Highway Patrol troopers arrested Harvey Jacobs, 38, on Wednesday in connection with the death of Terry Gramlisch, 48, who died in a three-vehicle crash March 24 near Dutchtown...

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Missouri House committee advanced a new plan for dividing up the state's congressional districts Wednesday, seeking to break a standoff with the Senate and avoid the need for court intervention to adopt voting districts for this year's elections...

From the billions in broadcasting rights paid for NCAA national championships to the new bugaboo of “NIL” (Name, Image and Likeness licensing), college sports is big business. Making sense of the dollars is a big part of what athletic directors do, and Southeast Missouri State University’s Brady Barke — who helped bring the 2020-2021 Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Cup, recognizing the university with the most athletic success to SEMO — is among those keeping a keen eye on revenue and expenses.. ...

Next month, Ashley Puckett, RN, will mark seven years working in Saint Francis Healthcare System's Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Cape Girardeau. On Sept. 10, Saint Francis' NICU and the Family BirthPlace celebrated their 20th anniversary...

A local health care organization's nurse training program is drawing from a wide pool of candidates and then placing them in jobs at a high rate. All of SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing and Health Sciences students were employed within six months of graduation in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. The two-year college located at 2001 William St. in Cape Girardeau currently has a 86% graduation rate...

Benton, Missouri native Jim Klipfel has been a nurse in the Department of Veteran Affairs for the past 29 years. He currently staffs the Cape Girardeau medical center, and has worked for the VA in Cape since 2004. "It's been a long, long time," Klipfel said. "I've almost seen the greatest generation pass before my eyes. But we've still got a few! We've still got a few that I'm taking care of. They're very precious to me."...

Local restaurants in Cape Girardeau are gearing up for Cinco de Mayo, celebrated today. Al Muñoz, owner of El Sol at 1105 Broadway, said the restaurant is having one of the largest celebrations in town. After postponing a Cinco de Mayo event at his nearby establishment Fuel + Taco, ...

After driving past 811 Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau for months on end waiting for any signs of life, I was rewarded Saturday afternoon. Speakeasy Coffee Company finally opened. I wrapped up some business a few doors down then wandered over. I wish I could say I was dressed in my "glad rags" on my way to shimmy the hours away in a dimly lit lounge, but it isn't that kind of speakeasy...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri senators took another step toward requiring photo identification at the polls as the deadline for lawmakers to pass legislation approaches. Senators compromised on the measure late Tuesday night, adding a Democratic-sponsored amendment to allow no-excuse absentee voting up to two weeks prior to the date of an election...

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-8) said Wednesday he is in "full support" of an investigation into how a draft of a U.S. Supreme Court decision made its way into a Monday story published by politico.com. The draft in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, presumably penned by Justice Samuel Alito, was leaked to Politico and appears to show the high court is preparing to rule in favor of Mississippi's authority to outlaw abortions at and after 15 weeks gestation...

There have been plenty of good days for Bridget Straedey, an obstetrics nurse at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville, Missouri. One stands out. "I actually got to be the nurse who cared for my youngest daughter when she had her baby, and that was a special moment — to be there not just as her mom but as her nurse, being able to be the nurse to your daughter and seeing your granddaughter brought into the world. Yeah, that was one of the good moments," she said...

Perry County Memorial Hospital board chooses Mercy The Perry County Memorial Hospital board of trustees has chosen Mercy Health Care System over SoutheastHEALTH for a potential partnership. In a March 23 release, PCMH’s board directs hospital officials to begin negotiations for a non-binding letter of intent with Mercy as both parties work toward a final agreement. Mercy and SoutheastHEALTH emerged as the final two contenders for a partnership with the Perryville, Missouri, hospital...

O Father God, may our faith bear fruit by helping those in need. Amen.

Southeast Missouri State University is more interested in educational competition than the focus of learning for students. For years we have been told that education is the means to a better paying career. For years Cape has struggled with the income gap reported by USA Today on 07/13/2018: "The share of poor black residents living in extreme poverty neighborhoods rose from 45.3% in 2010 to 78.1% in 2016, the highest black concentrated poverty rate of any U.S. ...

Schools are becoming indoctrination factories, trying to turn children against their country and their own parents' values. It's what the teachers unions intend. Amazingly, that's just fine with President Joe Biden, who told a gathering of teachers and union bigwigs on April 27 that the kids are "yours when they're in the classroom." That wasn't just a Biden stumble. He repeated it for emphasis: "They are all our children ... They are not somebody else's children."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to the following calls. Arrest does not imply guilt. Theft n Theft from a vehicle was reported on South Kingshighway. Miscellaneous n Third degree domestic disturbance and resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony were reported on College Street...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. May 3 n Medical assists were made at 12:47 a.m. on West Rodney Drive; 12:49 p.m. on Bloomfield Street; 6:03 p.m. on Tower Ridge; 8:45 p.m. on Albert Street. n At 2:19 p.m., lift assist on Linden Street. n At 5:59 p.m., fire alarm on North Lorimier Street...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Daniel Joseph Steele, 61, of Perryville died Monday, May 2, 2022, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Ford and Young Funeral Home in Perryville. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with Deacon Tom Schumer officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville...

Debra Lou Scholl, 58, of Jackson died Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at her home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson...

LaVerne E. Puchbauer, 93, of Jackson passed away Monday, May 2, 2022, at Villas Memory Care in Jackson. She was born Jan. 2, 1929, in Pocahontas to Henry and Mabel Swan Lichtenegger. LaVerne was a lifetime member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where she and Floyd Puchbauer were married May 15, 1949. They had been married 50 years when Floyd passed away Oct. 26, 1999...

Jerry Wayne Grim, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at his home. He was born Dec. 21, 1945, in Cape Girardeau to Morton W. and Betty Jo Tanner Grim. He and Joann "Jody" Grim were married Jan. 2, 1988, in Cape Girardeau. She preceded him in death Sept. 2, 2020...

Virginia Lee "Jen" Girard, 75, of Oak Ridge passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at her home. She was born July 27, 1946, in Cape Girardeau to August Henry and Emma Elizabeth Long Ahrens. She and James Girard were married Dec. 26, 1971. He preceded her in death June 28, 1994...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Shirley Jean Colvin, 93, of Sikeston, formerly of Martinsville, Missouri, died Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Delta South Nursing Care in Sikeston. The family and close friends will gather to say goodbye at a later date. Ford and Sons Funeral Home--Mount Auburn is in charge of arrangements...

Francis Randolph Cannon, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at Fountainbleau Lodge. He was born April 2, 1942, at Saint Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Francis was born the second child, second son, to Charles and Alice Cannon...

Evelyn Blocker, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Cape Girardeau.

Seventeen people attend the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting to oppose a proposal to build a storage locker facility near a home for people with handicaps; Steve LeGrand wants to build the storage lockers at Silver Springs Road and Whitener Street...

Gage Kellett, a Junior at Jackson High School, recently signed a Letter of Intent to attend Lindenwood University following graduation and be a part of their Archery program. Gage has won several national and state archery championships in recent years. Pictured with Gage are Laura Kellett, Patrick Kellett, Sue Kellett, as well as Derek Schaub, archery coach for Lindenwood...

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-8) said Wednesday he is in "full support" of an investigation into how a draft of a U.S. Supreme Court decision made its way into a Monday story published by politico.com. The draft in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, presumably penned by Justice Samuel Alito, was leaked to Politico and appears to show the high court is preparing to rule in favor of Mississippi's authority to outlaw abortions at and after 15 weeks gestation...