Stories from Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Southwestern Hearing Centers recently opened their 31st clinic in Cape Girardeau Jan. 2. The three-generation, family-owned business was founded in 1947 in St. Louis. The Marino family prides themselves on providing the community with the highest level of service and care in hearing health...

The Southeast Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Symposium (SEEDS) on Thursday, Nov. 30 brought together several local industry leaders and economic minds to discuss the state of Southeast Missouri’s economy heading into 2024. Among the speakers at the event, senior economist Charles Gascon with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis presented to the audience some of the latest economic trends and their impact on a national level...

On the first day of my MG354 Business Negotiation: Concepts and Practice class, I tell my students that the class will literally change their lives — a bold claim usually met with lit-up eyes, curious facial expressions and palpable excitement (albeit with a touch of skepticism). ...

The St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church will be hosting the Alpha Series from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 21 to May 8 in Cape Girardeau...

Blake Witcher, 19, of Cape Girardeau was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, with a suspended execution of sentence, and five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to unlawful use of a weapon...

Friends of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation was selected as a recipient of a $2,000 grant from AmerenCares...

Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will celebrate the 24th Annual Children’s Arts Festival exhibition during the First Friday Art Walk from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at 16B N. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau...

The American Red Cross, in partnership with the National Football League, is offering blood donors a chance to go to Super Bowl 58...

The Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau announced recently that tickets are on sale for “A Night with Cedric The Entertainer”, a comedy show that will raise money for the Department of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University as well as scholarships in Cedric’s fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi...

A Cape Girardeau man has been charged with the unlawful use of a weapon after allegedly threatening hospital security with a handgun...

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 17, the 17th day of 2024. There are 349 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 17, 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address in which he warned against "the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex."...

When faced with the possible return of former President Donald Trump, the current agenda of the Democratic Party is summed up simply as "We had to destroy democracy to save it." The effort shares a common theme: Any means necessary are justified to prevent the people from choosing their own president, given the fear that a majority might vote to elect Trump...

O Lord Jesus, we look to you for strength for you are the Rock of our salvation. Amen.

During a recent congressional hearing exploring how deep anti-Jewish feelings run on college campuses, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Pennsylvania were called on to denounce calls for genocide against the Jewish people occurring at their institutions. ...

The second week of the legislative session has brought some really good discussion on the Senate floor and the start of committee hearings, meaning legislation is now moving forward. On Thursday, one of the discussions that took place was regarding an issue that I have seen increasingly come up over the last few years, concerning boards, commissions and other bureaucratic entities finding ways around implementing legislation that is passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor...

Some folks like a smooth, jazzy sax riff. Some prefer a wailin' rock guitar. For others, give them a thumping drum beat. But if lively fiddles, banjos and mandolins tickle your fancy, this week's Bootheel Bluegrass Festival is the place to be. Bavarian Halle in Jackson, 225 Weiss Roadside Park, hosts the annual three-day festival, which kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, and continues through Saturday, Jan. 20...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. Jan. 15 n Medical assists were made at 10:22 a.m. on East Riverside Circle; 3:55 p.m. on Stoddard Street; 5:21 p.m. on South West end Boulevard; and 5:37 p.m. on Wayne Street.

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to the following calls. Arrests do not imply guilt. Assaults Fourth-degree assault, resisting/interfering with arrest, detention or stop and first-degree trespassing were reported on Clark Avenue. Domestic disturbance was reported on North Mount Auburn Road.

Iris Lorene Wood, 92, of Cape Girardeau went home to be with the Lord Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, on her birthday. Lorene was born Jan. 13, 1932, to Carl and Iva Hedspeth Kearbey in Cane Creek Valley in northern Butler County. She married Kenneth Leon Wood on Sept. 16, 1951, in Poplar Bluff. ...

Fred A. Jones passed away Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia.

Alvin D. Farless, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at Bethel Assembly of God in Cape Girardeau. ...

ATKINSON, N.H. -- After Donald Trump's record victory in the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire voters now get their turn to decide just how competitive the Republican nominating fight will be as the former president continues to dominate his party. Trump was eager Tuesday to flaunt his 30-point victory in Iowa a night earlier, as he stepped up the pressure on former U.N. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Biden administration is expected to soon announce plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official...

RAFAH, Gaza Strip -- Palestinian militants battled Israeli forces in devastated northern Gaza and launched a barrage of rockets from farther south Tuesday in a show of force more than 100 days into Israel's massive air and ground campaign against the tiny coastal enclave...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Former President Donald Trump scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses on Monday with his rivals languishing far behind, a victory that affirmed his grip on the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. In what was the lowest-turnout caucus in a quarter-century, participants endured life-threatening cold and dangerous driving conditions to meet in hundreds of schools, churches and community centers across the state. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- What's expected to be an expensive and bitter fight over multiple Missouri abortion-rights ballot measures so far has not attracted much money. An abortion-rights campaign called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom had no money on hand as of Dec. 31, according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday. The group received $25,000 in nonmonetary aid from the American Civil Liberties Union last year...

DALLAS -- A federal judge on Tuesday sided with the Biden administration and blocked JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition. The Justice Department had sued to block the merger, saying it would drive up fares by eliminating Spirit, the nation's biggest low-cost airline...

The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport enjoyed a banner 1998 with a record number of passenger boardings; the airport recorded 11,745 passenger boardings, topping the all-time high of 11,014 achieved in 1987; it also marks the first time since 1990 the airport topped the 10,000 boarding mark. ...

Media Contact: Andrew Meiller 816.381.2600 | andrew.meiller@cruxkc.com Missouri organization to host nationwide medical education conference KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) will host the VOC, one of the country’s largest virtual CME conferences for continuing medical education (CME), February 16-18, 2024. The VOC features 48 continuing medical education (CME) programs meeting AOA Category 1-A and AMA PRA Category 1 accreditation...

Once upon a time, there was a town named Somewhere, USA. Somewhere was a small, rural, farming community. Hank White was a high school senior and attended Somewhere High School. Hank lived in a modest house with his dad, Karl. Hank had lost his mom, Mary, about a year ago after a long fight with cancer. ...

Margie (Runnels) Liley, my only sister, crossed the River Jordan the year before last. I think about her a lot. I call her "Sis" because there were three Margies in our family. The Norman and Mary Runnels family had five kids: Milford, Floyd, Margie (Sis), Tom and me. ...

Jon Steven "Buck" McNeely, 63, of Cape Girardeau County died unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at his home. He was born Sept. 27, 1960, in Cape Girardeau to Bob and Sharon Wieser McNeely. He and LaDonna Kay Sims were married April 18, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada...

James David "Jim" Grindstaff, 79, of Scopus passed away Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at his home. Jim was born Feb. 12, 1944, in Patton to Reagan and Martha Presnell Grindstaff. He was a 1962 graduate of Patton High School. Jim was in the Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968...

Leopold High School has a new after-school club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), thanks to the efforts of eighth-grader Alex Hampton. The club's main focus is to help students play sports with a Christian-like attitude. Hampton first learned about FCA when he attended a camp at Notre Dame. ...

Leopold High School's Christmas party on Dec. 22, the last day of the semester, was a huge event with lots of tournaments. After students completed their finals, the party kicked off with a volleyball tournament. Each high school class formed a team, and the teams played against each other...

n Eighth grade: Issac Allgier, Kaylynn Baker, Daylynn Barks, Wynter Barks, Jansen Booth, Ella Cook, Trevor Crader, Kaitlyn Green, Holly Harper, Payten Hinkle, Paityn Huffman, Colden Lindley, Macy Lindley, Joe McCormick, Cassi Miller, Azriel Nance, Kiana Phillips, Brooke Riegert, Talon Shetley, Devin Simmons, Collin Sites, Josiah Standley...

n Fifth grade: Bentley Brown, Brantlee Hotop, Gunner Jones, Talan Montgomery, Isabella Palmer, Jaxson Stanfill, Hailey Vandeven, Gage Wagner, Harley Whaley n Fourth grade: Kota Bollinger, Anna Brown, Audrielle Burr, Cooper Cook, Kash Cook, Bentley Ellis, Amya Estes, Karsyn Helmers, Charlotte Higgins, Brantley Shipley...

n Seniors: Austin Allen, Gavin Brown, Allie Conrad, Dillon Davis, Madisen Denman, Rachael Hellebusch, Alissa Jones, Lori Kent, Hunter Mayfield, Jordis Mize, Abby Moran, Katrina Seabaugh, Rylee Shelton, Cheyenne Tonjum, Aaliyah Yount n Juniors: Izabella Ackman, Kinley Burr, Mason Dixon, Braeden Hays, Abigail Henson, Destiny Kempfer, Preston Kirkpatrick, David Meier, Kaylynn Moehsmer, Andrew Royle, Isaac Shands, McKenzie Snyder, Hannah Terbrak, Ella Wallis, Andrea Welker, Trae Yamnitz...

Hunter Mayfield is a senior at Meadow Heights High School. Mayfield has been an FFA member ever since the seventh grade. He is interested in FFA because of all the benefits that come with it. He likes to compete in FFA and help the community through highway cleanups, along with the annual fish fry. His biggest accomplishment in FFA was when he received the Agribusiness Award...

This week's SAE spotlight is Kaden Cook, the son of Pooter and Hannah Cook of Marble Hill. Cook is a four-year, senior member of the Meadow Heights FFA chapter and has earned his greenhand, chapter and county degrees. His supervised agricultural experience includes dog trading and employment at Angelbeck...

The third floor of Bollinger County Library is receiving a new lease on life as the future site of Mayfield Entrepreneurial Center (MEC). The Mayfield Entrepreneurial Center will act as an incubator and accelerator space for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses that will operate 24 hours a day...

Wanda Nell Cooper, 89, of Marble Hill passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at StoneBridge Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 12, 1934, to the late James and Bertha Goad Barker, in Lexington, Tennessee. She attended grade school in Kennett. Wanda worked as a real estate agent for over 20 years in Aurora, Illinois. ...

Andrew Douglas Chadd, 62, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at Mercy Hosptial Southeast in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 25, 1961, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Ronald and Charlene DeHart Chadd Sr. Andrew was a graduate of Festus High School in Festus...

We had another busy week in the Capitol. As always, it is so nice to have visitors from the district stop by and visit. The Missouri Forest Products Association was at the Capitol. Phil and Christy Roberts and Mike McNail were able to attend as well as a few others from the surrounding communities...

The second week of the legislative session brought some really good discussion on the Senate floor and the start of committee hearings, meaning legislation is now moving forward. One of the discussions that took place on Thursday was regarding an issue I have seen come up increasingly over the last few years. ...

During a recent congressional hearing exploring how deep anti-Jewish feelings run on college campuses, the presidents of Harvard, MIT and Pennsylvania were called on to denounce calls for genocide against the Jewish people occurring at their institutions. ...

A lot of Bollinger County families were scrambling last week preparing animals for the cold spell. I heard from a family having lambs on the way and several folks with strays or pups needing rescue. It's during winter storms or below 10-degree temps that the phone start ringing. It's as bad as the Fourth of July week...

This is a picture of a painting I made in 2008, a representation of a historic house in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico. The house is in a remote area of the refuge and seldom visited. My internet search for information on this old house turned up nothing. Information I gained from talking to individuals in and near Puxico revealed that the cabin was built by a family named Sweet on or around the year 1905...

Jan. 17: BB vs Meadow Heights at home, 6 p.m. (junior cheer performance) Jan. 19: BB at Richland, 6 p.m. Jan. 20: Robotics at Jackson Jan. 23: BB at Chaffee, 6 p.m. Jan. 26: BB at Oran, 6 p.m. Jan. 17: BB at Leopold, 6 p.m. Jan. 18: GB vs Scott City at home, 6 p.m...

Jan. 22: Rib patty, peas, baked beans, fruit Jan. 23: Chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, fruit Jan. 24: Pork patty, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, fruit Jan. 25: Soup, crackers, carrots, fruit Jan. 26: Sandwich, chips, pickle, fruit Jan. 22: General Tso Chicken, rice, egg roll, peas and carrots, banana...

Debra Ruth Lawson, 70, of Glen Allen passed away Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at her home. She was born Sept. 8, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Tommy and Mattie Lawson Taylor. She was a high school graduate from West Covina, California. Debra had a green thumb and had a talent for growing plants. She enjoyed camping and sitting in the water...

The daughter of a murdered Bollinger County woman described her mother as a person who was willing to help anyone, including the man who is alleged to have shot and killed her. Tina Skaggs died Dec. 17 at her residence off Route Y in Bollinger County...

Each varsity boy's basketball season, the team at Woodland High School hosts the Woodland Invitational Tournament early in its season. The Cardinals' girl's program is seemingly doing something similar in mid-season, but it goes by the name of the Bollinger Cape Scott Conference Tournament, as Woodland has absolutely dominated this event since its inception three years ago...

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been allocated $6.9 million through the USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program to help strengthen the food supply chain between the farmer and consumer. The purpose of the RFSI program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses; and support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages and new and safe job opportunities that keep profits in rural communities.. ...

The election for Bollinger County Extension Council will be next week. Any person, age 18 or older, who resides in Bollinger County may vote in the election. Voting will begin Monday, Jan. 22, and close Friday, Jan. 26. The ballot box will be in place at Bollinger County Extension Office, 302 Union St., in Marble Hill. Voting will be allowed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during normal office hours...

The 1973 senior class of Woodland High School celebrated the 50th anniversary of its graduation during a three-day reunion Oct. 13 to 15. The weekend-long reunion included lunch at El Tule that Friday, followed by dessert at EC Reed's Mercantile; a Saturday night dinner and dance at Leopold Knights of Columbus; and a church service at First Baptist Church of Marble Hill...

September through November in 2023 will go down on record as Earth's warmest such period on record, a substantial leap -- 0.70 F (0.39 C) -- above the previous record from 2015, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The report uses historical climate data going back to 1850...

Crooked Creek 4-H Club in Marble Hill is one of 24 Missouri 4-H clubs which have been awarded 2024 Drive to Feed Kids grants through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. The Bollinger County 4-H club received a $250 matching grant. This is the fourth year the foundation has provided grants for Missouri 4-H clubs to fund local food security efforts through 4-H Feeding Missouri...

Daughter to William and Amber Malone of Delta, Mercy Hospital Southeast, 8:22 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Name, Madilyn Nicole. Weight, 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Malone is the daughter of Mark and Debbie LaClair of Marble Hill. She works at Cape Family Medical Clinic. Mr. Malone is the son of Cheryl Toombs of Marble Hill. He is a team leader at Sam's Club...

Bollinger County Commission met at 8 a.m. Jan. 2 with the following officers and members present: Leo Arnzen, presiding commissioner; Chad Hulvey, associate commissioner; and Brittany Howard, county clerk. n The commission reviewed minutes from the Dec. 26 commission meeting and the minutes were approved...

Robert Dwayne Wylie, 61, of Marble Hill passed away Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at his home. He was born Dec. 28, 1962, to Robert and Shirley Harris Wylie, in Fort Worth, Texas. Robert loved to be outside. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, shooting guns and watching the animals. He collected knives and various things he could find from flea markets...

Woodland graduates reunite. Page X Meet Hank White from Somewhere, USA. Page X