Stories from Saturday, February 24, 2024

Today is Saturday, Feb. 24, the 55th day of 2024. There are 311 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Feb. 24, 1942, the SS Struma, a charter ship attempting to carry nearly 800 Jewish refugees from Romania to British-mandated Palestine, was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine in the Black Sea; all but one of the refugees perished...

Nancy Hunter and John Guild Chapters DAR The Nancy Hunter and John Guild Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated 110 years of service and friendship together in January. In 1901, the Nancy Hunter Chapter in Cape Girardeau was organized with 12 members, and its numbers rapidly increased to the point they started a new chapter by 1914. ...

I was born in Ogallala, Nebraska, which was the end of the old Texas Cattle Trail. Hundreds of thousands of cattle were driven from Texas to Ogallala. Some went up into the Sandhills, while many were driven on west into the mountains. When I was born, Ogallala had a population of about 3,000 to 4,000 people, which is about the same today. ...

Are you one of those people that says, "I'm a loner, I am with people all day and I want to get away from everyone. I want my privacy?" I have felt that way many times and I still crave alone time--but not all the time. Until we experience loneliness when we aren't needing it or desiring the state, we cannot t pass an accurate judgment...

This might look like a domesticated cow to you, but it isn't. It is a young elk I guess to be 1 or 2 years old. Once eradicated from the Missouri landscape, elk have been successfully reestablished here in recent years. Today you can find wild elk in the counties of Shannon, Reynolds and Carter in Southeastern Missouri...

Too often, Black history is thought of as something to be celebrated only in February, with Martin Luther King Jr.'s rousing speech rightly at the forefront. The Civil Rights movement and slavery are far from the entire story, though. February is Black History Month, and that means celebrating all of Black history and how it is part of the fabric of all of our shared history, so I thought I would highlight a particular volume in the Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society's library at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center.. ...

Monday: Beef Stroganoff over noodles or white chicken chili with half sandwich, green peas, steamed carrots, whole-grain bread and chilled pears or fresh baked cookies. Tuesday: Pulled pork or roasted chicken breast, sweet potato, green beans, whole-grain hot roll and pineapple tidbits or coconut delight...

A plan for transportation in Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order last year, calling for the establishment of a statewide master plan on aging. One of the plan's goals is that Missourians will have access to safe and reliable transportation and mobility options as they age...

The House this week sent to the Senate an extensive bill aimed at reducing crime in Missouri. Among its provisions are several proposed changes to how juveniles are treated by the state's legal system; the launch of a collaborative fight against online harassment and stalking; and Blair's Law, which would increase penalties for what has become known as "celebratory gunfire."...

Just because protesters toss out the terms prurient, obscene and pornographic doesn't mean those terms fit books they criticize. In fact, those words do not apply to books currently in the young adult section of the library. What a parent may consider to be obscene or pornographic does not mean that those terms apply legally. What is offensive is the implication that any adult who does not agree with the protesters is unreasonable...

Universities are not alone among our institutions that have lost their way. How about America's corporations, which now seem to think social justice is their job, beside efficiently delivering goods and services to the American public? In a recent panel discussion at the Bipartisan Policy Institute, Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan, the nation's largest bank, rang the alarm about the nation's debt...

Lord Jesus, we trust in you with our heart and seek your guidance always. Amen.

Vote no on Cape tax increase "Most" can afford an extra $10-$15/month, some say. But a tax increase would be levied on all -- even those already struggling financially. What will that extra monthly amount buy? A copay, a meal, gasoline, bare essentials. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls. Feb. 21 n Medical assists were made at 7:14 a.m. on Vista Lane; 7:46 a.m. at Green acres and O'Connell drives; 10:37 a.m. on William Street; 10:58 a.m. on Cape Meadows Circle; 11:26 a.m. on Cousin Street; 1:26 p.m., on North Kingshighway; and 1:28 p.m. at William Street and Campster Drive...

Son to Trenton Patton and Dakota Fightmaster of Cape Girardeau, Mercy Hospital Southeast, 1:07 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Name, Drayton Ory Lee. Weight, 7 pounds, 5.2 ounces. First child. Fightmaster is the daughter of Jaime Salzman of Marble Hill. She works for Barnabas Acres. Patton is the son of Crystal Thomas and Gregory Thomas of Cape Girardeau. He is employed by Taco Bell...

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 Park Avenue. n A warrant arrest and trespassing were reported on South Benton Street. n A warrant arrest and trespassing were reported on South Benton Street...

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union announced Friday that it is imposing sanctions on several foreign companies over allegations that they have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in its war against Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc also said that it was targeting scores of Russian officials including "members of the judiciary, local politicians and people responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children."...

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A long-awaited postwar plan by Israel's prime minister shows that his government seeks open-ended control over security and civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip. That was swiftly rejected Friday by Palestinian leaders and runs counter to Washington's vision for the war-ravaged enclave...

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) -- Former President Donald Trump said Friday that he would "strongly support the availability of IVF" and called on lawmakers in Alabama to preserve access to the treatment that has become a new flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wayne LaPierre misspent millions of dollars of the National Rifle Association's money during his decades leading the powerful gun lobby, using the funds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle that included exotic getaways and trips on private planes and superyachts, a New York jury determined Friday...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden told the nation's governors on Friday that he's exploring what executive actions he can take to curb migration across the southern border after a bipartisan deal collapsed in Congress this month. He seemed to express frustration at the legal limits of his authority to act unilaterally...

Jerry Lee Wendel, 76, of Sedgewickville passed away Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. Memorial visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Gaige Michael Webb, 27, of Scott City died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at his home. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Father's Arms Church in Scott City. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the church, with the Rev. Kenny Strong officiating...

Wanda Lee Sparks, 88, of Jackson passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at Jackson Manor She was born Dec. 5, 1935, in Chaffee to Hess and Blanch Edith (Conrad) Stone. She and Louis Denford Sparks were married Dec. 22, 1957, in Chaffee Wanda had one son, Curtis Denford Sparks. ...

Harriet Joann Puchbauer, 85, of Jackson passed away Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at the Villas of Jackson. She was born May 9, 1938, in Jackson to Harry and June McDowell. Harriet was a 1956 graduate of Jackson High School. She and Bobby G. "Bob" Puchbauer were married June 29, 1956, at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson...

Heather Nicole Miget-Spear, 48, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Sept. 17, 1975 in Perryville to Kenneth C. and Charlotte A. Lukefahr Miget. Heather married Don Spear on Nov. 23, 2013. Heather served people throughout her life. ...

William Creighton Holly, 82, died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, after a brief illness. He was born June 2, 1941, in Hope, Arkansas, and was primarily raised in Arkansas. He graduated from Stuttgart (Arkansas) High School in 1959, where he was a member of the varsity football and track teams...

Thomas Eugene Elliott, 69, of Jackson died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to service time Sunday, Feb. 25, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The Rev. Jay O'Neail will conduct the funeral at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson...

Residents of Dutchtown may again participate in the federal flood insurance program; the designation marks another step toward protection from Mississippi River flooding for the small village, says Bud Obermann, who serves on the Dutchtown village board; the village was incorporated a year ago by the County Commissioners; organizers hope to develop a levee that would protect the community from river water; it would also help keep highways 25 and 74 open during floods...

Members of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education favor many of the redistricting changes proposed by its Attendance Area Study Committee, but oppose any changes that would separate neighborhoods; the board likely will decide new school boundaries in April after receiving public input...