Stories from Saturday, December 24, 2022

A structure fire caused approximately $40,000 in damage in Cape Girardeau early Friday morning, and an electrical substation fire caused about 1,300 city residents to temporarily lose power. According to a report from Dustin Koerber, deputy chief with Cape Girardeau Fire Department, the fire at the residence at 121 S. Benton St. began on the second floor around 6 a.m., and authorities said the cause was electrical in nature...

Better Business Bureau of Cape Girardeau recently honored three local businesses and one not-for-profit with the organization's TORCH Award. PC Medical Centers, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties and SirVent STL Chimney and Venting Service received the award for "exceptional business ethics and customer satisfaction," according to a news release from BBB Cape Girardeau...

While 2022 was a calmer year than recent others in Southeast Missouri -- cough, cough, 2020 -- it still featured a few unusual stories. Among them ... While exploring a Perry County cave system in early August, cavers discovered more than they bargained for...

The man sitting in a lawn chair in the Jackson City Hall vestibule at 5:45 yesterday morning was Alderman Larry Cunningham; on the first day of filing for the April 7 aldermanic election, the Ward 3 incumbent wanted to be first in line so his name would appear first on the ballot; but if Tuesday's filings hold, he missed some sleep needlessly; only incumbents filed for the four seats up for election on the Jackson Board of Aldermen; also filing for seats Tuesday were David Reiminger in Ward 2 and Fred Leimer in Ward 4; Alderman David Ludwig, who represents Ward 1, was out of town Tuesday but is expected to file for re-election today.. ...

n Magical frost escape room will be open by appointment Monday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Dec. 30. Whisk your crew away to a world of magical characters as they endeavor to aid the forest Wisp in time for the Winter Faire. Registration is required at capelibrary.org/event/winter-escape-room/all...

The Torchbearer Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met Monday, Dec. 12, at the home of Judie Herbst for the annual Christmas dinner party with 11 members present. Vicki Connell-McKinney assisted. Bobbie Woodard was unable to attend. Guests attending were Shirley Palen and Tamra Palen Walker...

It's Christmas! Christmas falls on Sunday every seven years, so when it does it makes the year extra special. Christmas has always seemed to be a special season where most everyone loves a little more, cares a little more and even shares a little more. Christmas has always been a special time of the year for bigger hearts and more love for everyone...

NEW YORK -- The rudeness pandemic, the actual pandemic and all things gray. There's a lot to leave behind when 2022 comes to a close as uncertainty rules around the world. The health crisis brought on the dawn of slow living, but it crushed many families forced to hustle for their lives. Karens went on the rise. Crypto currencies tanked. Pete Davidson's love thing with Kim Kardashian made headlines...

We are celebrating the birth of Christ, and many of us have been counting down to Christmas by lighting the Advent Wreath. Over the past few weeks, we lit candles representing hope, peace, joy, love and, finally, the Christ candle that is in the center of it all. The love of God is present in every aspect of this Christian tradition...

"I'll bake the cookies, this year." Janice heard from her daughter, Jane's, room. "I'll pick up a vegetable tray and a fruit tray," said her middle son, Brett. "We kids will prepare the Christmas Eve and Christmas day, meal this year, mom," came from the eldest son, Michael. ...

This is a common Canada goose. I photographed it a few years ago while visiting Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico, Missouri. The Canada goose is a native North American bird. It is considered to be a migratory bird, but some of these birds will take up year-round residence in places as far south and farther south than Southeast Missouri...

Monday: Closed for Christmas. Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan with pasta or stuffed bell pepper casserole, mixed vegetables, lettuce salad, whole-grain bread slice and tropical fruit dessert or cook's choice desserts. Wednesday: Ham and beans or turkey burger, oven-fried potatoes with onions, stewed tomatoes, cornbread or whole-grain bun and cottage cheese with peaches or German chocolate cake...

Father God, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Messiah and King of kings. Amen.

It takes some doing in this country to be more than about 25 miles from a production of "The Nutcracker" during the Christmas season. The ballet has become as American as Friday Night Lights, and as much a holiday tradition as Frosty the Snowman or Charlie Brown...

My daughter lost her dad to cancer. My best friend's elderly dog died. Plus, I and many of my colleagues are furloughed this month to satisfy the budget of our corporate employers. Still others were terminated. The holidays feel especially hard this year. The pandemic has waxed and waned but lingers still. Illness is all around in an active "tripledemic" with cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, on the rise...

As 2022 draws to a close, it's worth celebrating that this hasn't been a good year for authoritarianism. This might seem Pollyannish. After all, just last month, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance issued a report concluding that democracy is in decline while authoritarianism is deepening. ...

Some thoughts about our country as Christmas and the new year approach. In his Farewell Address to the nation in 1796, America's departing first president, George Washington, observed: "It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring to popular government."...

MISSION, Kan. -- Tens of millions of Americans endured bone-chilling temperatures, blizzard conditions, power outages and canceled holiday gatherings Friday from a winter storm that forecasters said was nearly unprecedented in its scope, exposing about 60% of the U.S. population to some sort of winter weather advisory or warning...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to the following calls. Arrest does not imply guilt. Arrests n A warrant arrest was reported on North Kingshighway. n A warrant arrest and shoplifting were reported on North Kingshighway. n A warrant arrest and shoplifting were reported on North Kingshighway...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. Dec. 21 n Medical assist was made at 4:18 a.m. on Landgraf Drive; 3:16 p.m. at Belleridge Pike and Kent Drive; 4:19 p.m. on William Street; 5:09 p.m. on Independence Street; 5:55 p.m. on Siemers Drive; and 7:54 p.m. on Bellevue Street...

Son to Deandre Bernard Foster Jr. and Katana Mischelle Alcorn of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. Name, Ryder Romonte Legend. Weight, 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Fifth child, second son. Alcorn is the daughter of Byron and Donna Alcorn of Greenville, Missouri. She is a nurse practitioner with Progressive Pain Management. Foster is a shipper/packager with Schaefer Electrical Enclosures...

Patsy Parmeter, 78, of Jackson died on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. Cremation rites will be accorded. No services will be held. Crain Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Marvin Elmer Mecker, 83, of Perryville died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 at his home. He was born May 18, 1939, in Perryville to Elmer and Helen Buchheit Mecker. Marvin and Eleanor E. Mattingly were married May 12, 1962, in Brewer, Missouri. She survives him...

Nancy Alene Wilson Friese, 86, of Jackson, passed away Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. One of four siblings, she was born Sept. 27, 1936, in Millersville to Edward Thomas and Ruby Stearns Wilson. Alene attended Roberts and Millersville Elementary Schools, and was a 1953 graduate of Oak Ridge High School...

WASHINGTON -- A $1.7 trillion spending bill financing federal agencies through September and providing more aid to a devastated Ukraine cleared the House on Friday as lawmakers raced to finish their work for the year and avoid a partial government shutdown...

One of the four traditional themes of the season of Advent, the time of waiting in the church for the coming of Christ, is hope. The others are joy, peace and love, but I'm focused on hope this Christmas. Watching Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, address the U.S. Congress this past Wednesday night in his green battle fatigues reminded this writer of the absolute necessity we all have to hope...

Do you ever look at a street name or town name and wonder where the name came from or why it was used? Christmas time is considered a time of reflection, and I've been thinking about another town whose identity has faded away. A merger in 1980 with Scott City brought the town of Illmo to an end. ...

The first step for researching deed records is to determine if your ancestor owned land. All but the most impoverished long-term residents in an area owned land. Value of real estate may appear beginning with the 1850 census. You may find landowners in plat maps. ...

What a magical night was created at Guardian Angel School in Oran on Thursday, December 15. The students danced to and sang Christmas tunes to a full gym. Under the direction of Mrs Sandi Hulshof, Father Joseph Kelly, and each classroom teacher, the students did a magnificent job with each of the songs that were selected to be performed...

When the holiday sounds of bell ringers fall silent and the kettles are taken from area stores, the work of the Salvation Army will continue well into the new year and beyond; next year, however, may prove difficult for the Army unless contributions to the Tree of Lights increase significantly in the upcoming days and weeks; Capt. ...