W W W. S E M I S S O U R I A N . CO M
ESTABLISHED 1904, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. $1.00
THURSDAY
FOOD & DINING / 3A
Fudio
MARCH 26, 2020
Where high-class taste with down home comfort can be found SPORTS / 1B
VISION QUEST SEMO AD, new men’s basketball coach share positive outlook
COVID-19 cases grow in region
SOCIAL DISTANCING DOESN’T STOP CELEBRATION
But the numbers still remain small SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN
BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com
Photo gallery
Alma Schrader Elementary School teacher Rebecca Gentry waves to students and parents as they arrive for lunch pickups Wednesday while music from the 1950s plays in honor of Alma Schrader Day, which celebrates the school’s opening in 1959 in Cape Girardeau. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com.
Chambers urge support of local businesses Many have been hurt by COVID-19 outbreak BY JAY WOLZ
SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN The signs are everywhere — empty parking lots, deserted restaurants and shops that have either temporarily closed or have shortened their hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over spreading the coronavirus. Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce president John Mehner says coronavirus is having a devastating impact on
many area retailers and restaurants. Numerous businesses have also temporarily closed their doors to the public including, as of Monday, the Cape Girardeau chamber, Magnet and Visit Cape. The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce office is also closed “for now,” according to chamber president Brian Gerau. “In this challenging time, we have many businesses facing closures and many individuals
facing furloughs (from work),” Mehner said. “I want to ask each person who has the resources to help keep Cape strong by supporting our local economy.” While many businesses have temporarily closed until at least early April, many of them, especially restaurants and fast food operations, offer delivery, drive-through and curbside pickup options. And although it may seem people have little control over COVID-19, Mehner said they are able to control where
ONLINE
As COVID-19 testing has increased in the region, more cases have been reported, though the numbers remained low through Wednesday evening. Cape Girardeau County’s health care providers reported a total of Inside three positive tests Updates — two infrom across volving the region Cape Giand state, rardeau Page 2A. County residents, Missouri and a reports more third of a than 350 Bollinger confirmed County coronavirus resident. cases, S a i n t Page 9A. Francis Medical U.S. jobless C e n t e r claims climb reported sky high, testing 54 Page 9A. individuals. Two returned positive, while 23 were negative. The remaining results were not available. SoutheastHEALTH had conducted 26 tests, with one positive result and 25 negative.
they spend their dollars. “Look for ways to support our local businesses and shift dollars that you may normally be spending other places to help our local community,” he said. “Making these changes is extremely important now. More information about how the public can support the business and retail sector can be found at KeepCapeStrong.com, which includes information related to all of Cape Girardeau County. See BUSINESSES, Page 7A
COVID-19 For all of the Southeast Missourian’s COVID-19 coverage or to sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter, visit semissourian.com/ coronavirus.
Bollinger County The Bollinger County (Missouri) Health Center confirmed Wednesday morning its first presumptive-positive case of COVID-19 in the county, by news release from health center administrator Juanita Welker. The individual is a 60-year-old man and is currently on home isolation, following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the release. The Bollinger County Health Center continues to work with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while infectious and will See COVID-19, Page 7A
Mississippi River expected to crest this afternoon more than 5 feet above flood stage BY JAY WOLZ
SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau rose above the “moderate” flood stage level earlier this week and is expected to crest today afternoon more than 5 feet above the city’s minimum flood threshold. According to forecasts
WEB:
from the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, the river will reach 37.5 feet on the Cape Girardeau river gage before beginning a gradual fall to below 32 feet around April 5. That date could vary based on rainfall north of Cape Girardeau in the next week and a half. Excessive rainfall along the Mississip-
semissourian.com
pi and Missouri river basins could slow the river’s descent. The Broadway and Themis Street floodgates were closed Friday when the river approached 36 feet on the Cape Girardeau gage and should reopen sometime next week as the river begins to fall. The river reaches “minor” flood stage in Cape Gi-
rardeau when it exceeds 32 feet, while the “moderate” flood stage is between 36 and 42 feet. The river reaches “major” flood proportions when it exceeds 42 feet on the Cape Girardeau gage. The river has been above the 32-foot mark since March 19. The record river crest in Cape Girardeau was 48.86 feet recorded Jan. 2, 2016.
Last year, the river crested June 11 at 46.36 feet, which was the fifth-highest crest on record. In its 2020 spring flooding forecast, the National Weather Service said the flood potential in the Mississippi and Ohio river basins will be above average through the middle of May due to heavy rainfall in the
WEATHER
Photo gallery
From the Morgue Highway 61 revisited: Sharon Sanders looks back to a 1995 look at the towns that grew silent two decades after the opening of Interstate 55 in her latest From the Morgue blog at semissourian.com/blogs.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Cape Bible Chapel held its worship service virtually Sunday. Photos are in galleries at semissourian.com/gallery.
INDEX
Classified...................... 6B Comics .......................... 4B Crossword ................... 4B
Daily Record ...............6A Dear Abby ................... 8B Entertainment ........... 8B
Food & Dining ............3A Obituaries....................6A Opinion ........................8A
H:75 L:63 Clouds and sun
Sports............................ 1B TGI‘F’........................... 10A TV listings .................... 8B
Volume 116 • Issue 142
Copyright © 2020 Rust Communications
upper river regions that saturated topsoil, making it difficult for areas susceptible to flooding to absorb regional floodwaters. Do you crave business news? Check out B Magazine, and the B Magazine email newsletter. Check it out at semissourian.com/newsletters to find out more.