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ESTABLISHED 1904, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. $1.00

TUESDAY

BUSINESS / 3A

Coming soon

JUNE 9, 2020

Jackson eyes several business openings this summer, fall GOOD SPORTS / 1B

AN ORAN GUY

Basketball coach Shoemaker makes impact on many young people

MONDAY MOURNING Marijuana dispensaries plan to open later this year Event calls local clergy to repent inherent racism, act against racial injustice

Representatives of local shops say COVID-19 has not affected schedules BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN State officials say it’s possible the COVID-19 pandemic could result in delays in Missouri’s medical marijuana program, but representatives of medicinal cannabis dispensaries in Cape Girardeau and Jackson say they expect to be open by this fall as long as they have “product” to sell by then. “Hopefully, we’ll see some (dispensaries) open in August,” said Lisa Cox, head of public relations with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in Jefferson City. “I don’t know that we can say that with 100% certainty, but we’re on track so far.” She said DHSS “remains on track” with its timeline and processes, but “some facilities have reported setbacks to their implementation efforts related to COVID-19.” Others, she said, report they are on schedule and DHSS is proceeding with verification and certification of cultivation, production, testing, transportation and distribution operations

Hopefully, we’ll see some (dispensaries) open in August. I don’t know that we can say that with 100% certainty, but we’re on track so far.” LISA COX Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services head of public relations in the state. “It is too early to say whether COVID-19 will cause significant delays in implementation of the (state’s) medical marijuana industry as a whole,” Cox said, “however, individual circumstances will be considered as deadlines draw nearer.” According to DHSS regulations, medical marijuana license holders must be operational by this winter. Locally, plans are moving ahead for dispensaries in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area. See MARIJUANA, Page 11A

BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com

The Rev. James Muriuki with Redeemer Episcopal Church in Cairo, Illinois, delivers a prayer to conclude a Monday Mourning call-to-action event Monday at Peace Park in downtown Cape Girardeau. The event was called by the social justice ministry at St. James AME Church to encourage local clergy members to confront racism and actively seek social justice in their communities. BY BEN MATTHEWS

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN An interdenominational group of faith leaders gathered Monday at Peace Park in downtown Cape Girardeau to answer a specific call to action — to repent for complicit behaviors contributing to social systems of white privilege and renounce any past preclusions to confront systematic oppression. The Monday Mourning event called by St. James AME Church’s social justice ministry drew represen-

ONLINE Photo gallery More photos of the Monday Mourning event are in a gallery at semissourian.com. tatives from about a dozen local religious centers — many of whom wore stoles and collars in addition to face masks as they stood in a socially-distant circle. An opening prayer led by Pastor Joe Rowley of Emanuel United Church of

Christ in Jackson noted the group gathered themselves to “reorient towards faithfulness” and emphasized a belief all humankind was created in God’s image. “In this time of pandemic, we asked for not just physical healing and wholeness, but a spiritual wholeness that touches on our deepest illness, especially as white Christians in this time of protest,” Rowley prayed. Speaking through his face mask, Omar Aziz expressed his perspectives as a member of the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau by

Inside George Floyd scholarship established at SEMO, Page 5A. Hundreds gather for BLM protest in Perryville, Page 14A. extending condolences to the family of George Floyd in the wake of his “tragic” and “unjust” death May 25 in Minneapolis, after he was pinned to the ground under a white officer’s knee for almost 9 minutes. See MOURNING, Page 11A

Delta church holds unusual baptism to maintain social distancing BY JEFF LONG

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Under a cloudless sky in the parking lot of First Baptist Church in Delta on Sunday morning, Erica McClard was baptized in a cattle trough. Two weeks earlier, she had given her life to Jesus. Baptism, McClard said, publicly affirmed her private convictions. “I’m starting a new life free of addictions,” said McClard, who said she is in recovery from methamphetamine use.

WEB:

“Baptism is telling the world you’re not ashamed, that you are a new creation in Christ,” said Randy Conn, pastor since 2017. McClard, 40, is the mother of two — Rylie, 20, and R.J., 15. Her parents, Donna and Steve, were in attendance. “We’ve been praying (for this) for a good long while,” said Erica’s mother, Donna McClard, “and this (baptism) is a blessing to us.” Conn said due to social-distancing restrictions, a maximum of 84 can fit inside the church’s sanctuary.

semissourian.com

Erica McClard is baptized by full immersion in a cattle trough Sunday at First Baptist Church in Delta.

“We’ve been drawing 90 or more since COVID started, so we’re still worshipping outside,” Conn said. Conn, who previously served a church in Morehouse, Missouri, for 16 years before coming to Delta, said the church’s governing board is paying close attention to Gov. Mike Parson’s guidelines. “(Parson) has extended Phase 1 (of reopening Missouri) to June 15, so we’ll reexamine what we’ll do at church after that,” Conn said. See BAPTISM, Page 11A

Pavement Ends

JEFF LONG ~ jlong@semissourian.com

WEATHER

Photos & story Chicken and the egg — Backyard chickens aren’t just for pastoral country settings anymore. See photos — and read the story — at semissourian.com.

INDEX

Business .......................3A Classified...................... 5B Comics .......................... 3B

Watch your step! James Baughn peers into a massive sinkhole that has opened in Reynolds County along the Trail of Tears. Take a look in his latest Pavement Ends blog at semissourian.com/blogs.

Crossword ........ 12A, 3B Daily Record .......6A, 7A Dear Abby ................ 13A

Entertainment ........ 13A Obituaries............6A, 7A Opinion ................8A, 9A

H:87 L:68

Strong winds subsiding

Sports............................ 1B TV listings ...... 12A, 13A

Volume 116 • Issue 205

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

Business FROM THE (HOME) BUSINESS DESK ...

JAY WOLZ ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

David Williams, with Charles Hampton & Son Construction, tosses a stack of ceiling panels into a dumpster at the former Kmart building, 11 S. Kingshighway, on Thursday. The building is the future home of Orscheln Farm & Home’s Cape Girardeau store.

JAY WOLZ ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

A “help wanted” sign is seen at the new Best Western Plus hotel, 3003 S. Old Orchard Road in Jackson. The 80room hotel is slated to open in a few weeks.

Business openings, moves set for summer, fall in Jackson BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

espite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and major highway reconstruction at the junction of Interstate 55 and U.S. 61, several new retail businesses are opening this summer and fall in Jackson. Appearing last week at the Jackson Board of Aldermen study session, Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce vice president Jen Berti pointed to several signs of retail growth in the community. Listed alphabetically, Berti gave the aldermen updates on the following businesses: Best Western Plus — The four-story, 80room hotel at 3003 S. Old

Orchard Road near I-55 is hiring employees and plans to open by later this month or in early July. Blazin’ Car Wash — Owned by Kevin Herberlie and located near the Jackson Walmart, Blazin’ Car Wash will reportedly wash vehicles with “blazing” speed, up to 120 of them an hour (that’s two a minute). The business is expected to open in the fall. Domino’s Pizza — The new Domino’s outlet, to be located on East Main Street next to SoutheastHEALTH’s primary care facility, is larger (2,400 square feet) than the one its replacing and will offer some indoor seating, ample parking and a drive-through window. Owner Dave Bumpus says it should open by late summer.

LT’s Street Tacos — As of now, the business is a food truck on the parking lot by Stooges in front of the old Pizza Pro building on West Main Street, but construction is underway on a brick-andmortar eatery to be known as Muchos Tacos. An opening date has not been announced. Sappington Outdoor — The business recently relocated to 4536 E. Jackson Blvd., the former home of Ashley Home Furnishings, which roughly tripled its floor space. Birti said Sappington reports “booming” sales and says the nearby highway construction hasn’t impacted the business to a significant extent. Scooter’s Coffee — Ground for this drivethrough coffee shop on

East Jackson Boulevard near the Town House Inn was broken in late May. Owners Bart and Keri Vandeven say it should be open this fall. SEMO Crawfish Co. — Located on East Jackson Boulevard next to the Rhodes 101 Stop not far from the Jackson Walmart, is scheduled to open this week and will feature a fresh seafood market as well as a restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor seating. Stooges — Berti said the popular casual restaurant at 507 W. Main St. will reopen later this month. 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.

Work being done on former home of Kmart to prepare for Orscheln move

nterior demolition began last week at Cape Girardeau’s former Kmart building in preparation for Orscheln Farm & Home’s longawaited move to that location. JAY WOLZ A crew from From the Charles (Home) Busi- Hampton ness Desk ... & Son is a weekly Construccolumn by tion out business of Poplar editor Jay Bluff, Wolz. To Missouri, submit news, has been reach him at on site jwolz@semis- removing sourian.com. ceiling tiles and other materials from the 82,600-square-foot building at 11 S. Kingshighway.

The structure has been vacant since Kmart’s “Big K” store there closed in November 2018. Orscheln confirmed in April last year it planned to move its current store, at 338 S. Christine St., to the Kingshighway location. A month later, it was announced a second retailer, Bargain Hunt, would share the Kmart building with Orscheln. Last year at this time, both retailers said they expected to be in the old Kmart building by August or September of last year, but the timeline was pushed back into 2020. A spokeswoman for Orscheln, which is headquartered in Moberly, Missouri, said she needs “another couple weeks” before she has more information about the timeline and other details related to the move of the Cape Girardeau store. See DESK, Page 4A

BUSINESS NOTEBOOK

State unemployment claims slow; Ameren offering program to help pay bills BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

nother 20,459 Missourians filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits during the last week of May, bringing the 11-week total of initial filings to 611,642. However, it was the smallest single-week increase since the COVID-19 pandemic spread into Missouri in mid-March when businesses began closing and people started losing their jobs. Many businesses that closed in March began reopening in May and started rehiring many of the workers they had laid off. According to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the impact of the rehirings won’t be reported for another week or so when the state’s unemployment rate for May is calculated. Missouri’s unemployment rate for April stood at 9.8%. Nationwide, another 2 million people filed unemployment claims during the week ending May 31; and since March 15, roughly 42 million American workers have lost their jobs due to coronavirus. There are signs the economy could be rebounding. The government reported 2.5 million jobs were created in May, helping lower the nation’s unemployment rate from 14.7% in April to 13.3% in May.

Ameren announces program to help pay utility balances Ameren Missouri will provide $3 million in energy assistance funding to help

qualified customers pay off past-due utility bills. The funding, announced last week, is part of the company’s “COVID-19 Clean Slate” program and is on top of $1 million worth of support Ameren announced in March. According to an Ameren news release, multiple community partners and agencies will participate in administering the program, which is designed to help income-eligible customers clear the remaining balances on their accounts after paying 25% of their current balances. For example, customers in a four-person household making up to $45,850 a year, or $2,821 a month, are eligible to apply. “There are a lot of Missouri families struggling right now and having to make some tough financial decisions in light of this pandemic. We get that and we want to help,” said Marty Lyons, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. More information is available at AmerenMissouri. com/CleanSlate or by calling Ameren Missouri at 800-5527583.

Seminar to examine business valuations

Murphy Business Sales will host a webinar later this month about how business values could be impacted by COVID-19. “Business valuations are generally based on past years’ tax returns, among other things, and many businesses have seen a disruption in their sales so far this year,” according to an online post about the webinar. The webinar, scheduled

for 3 p.m. June 23, will look at how this year’s economy could affect business values next year and beyond. To register for this free webinar, go to murphybusiness.com/capegirardeau and click on the “resources” tab. Shawnee offering free online tutorials ULLIN, Ill. — Shawnee Community College is offering several free selfpaced tutorial (SPT) courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10 courses offered through the college’s Workforce Innovation Division include instruction in a mix of hard and soft employment skills. The courses touch topics including webpage development; creation of WordPress websites; fundamentals of supervision and management; individual excellence; keys to effective communication, managing customer service; business marketing on the internet; personal finance; small business marketing on a shoestring; and 12 steps to a successful job search. Registration for any of the classes is available through June 30 and class participants have three months to complete coursework. For more information or to register, contact Lora Clark at (618) 634-3364 or lorac@ shawneecc.edu.

Modern Woodmen make COVID relief donations Between mid-March and mid-May, members of Modern Woodmen chapters and youth service club programs nationwide made 1,429 donations totaling $1,073,874 through the organization’s COVID-19 relief program. Donations helped pur-

chase medical supplies for health care professionals dealing with the pandemic; food, internet access and laptops for at-risk students learning from home; supplies and special care services for elderly and disabled people; and support for not-for-profit organizations such as food pantries, domestic-violence and mental-health organizations and animal shelters. Chapters and youth service clubs are groups of Modern Woodmen members who contribute to volunteer, fundraising, social and educational activities. For more information, visit www.modernwoodmen.org.

People on the Move Jessica Sexton, who has been a member of the City of Cape Girardeau’s public information office for more than a decade, has been named assistant emergency management diJessica rector with Sexton the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. This partially grant-funded position gives the fire department a full-time staff member to assist the fire chief and emergency management director in emergency operations planning, risk assessment, training and community coordination efforts. In her nearly 11 years with the city’s public information office, Sexton has had responsibilities in the areas of social media, email marketing, media assistance, web-

semissourian.com/business

site maintenance, graphics and other duties as assigned. She also serves on the city’s emergency planning team. Sexton received a Bachelor of Science in mass communications with an emphasis in public relations from Southeast Missouri State University. She has also completed extensive training through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Master Public Information Officer Program and other FEMA courses. She is a co-founding member of the Southeast Missouri Information Officers Association, serves as secretary and public information officer for the Southeast Missouri Emergency Management Association and has volunteered with several area not-forprofit organizations.

Chamber notes The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce hopes last week’s “virtual” version of its monthly First Friday Coffee is the last one that has to take place online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is hopefully our last completely virtual First Friday Coffee,” chamber president and CEO John Mehner said Friday through a live video feed on the chamber’s Facebook page. Depending on Missouri’s coronavirus guidelines in effect by then, Mehner said it’s possible the July First Friday Coffee could be a blend of online and in-person formats, if social distancing will allow. In the meantime, he encouraged chamber members to follow steps outlined in the chamber’s Reclaim Our

Region guidelines for restarting the area’s economy. These guidelines, he said, won’t be necessary for just the next month or so. “This is going to be a ‘from now on’ thing,” he said. The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce will host its June Business After Hours gathering from 6 until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jackson Tire Center, 1901 E. Jackson Blvd. Social-distancing guidelines will be followed, according to the chamber’s website.

Commercial building permits

A commercial construction permit was recently granted to Mac Con Construction Co. for the interior remodeling of the Riverside Family Medicine office, 3129 Blattner Drive in Cape Girardeau, at an estimated cost of $20,000. A commercial building permit has been issued for the renovation of restroom facilities at St. Vincent De Paul School, 1919 Ritter Drive in Cape Girardeau. Columbia Construction Corp. is the contractor on the project, which has an estimated cost of $40,000.

Business license applications

A business license application has been submitted by Ron and Kristine Brzycki of Jackson to open Sedona Bistro, a soup, salad and sandwich shop at 1812 Carondalet Drive in Cape Girardeau. The restaurant is expected to open by early September.

See NOTEBOOK, Page 4A

BUSINESS

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

Desk

and entertainment venues, all of which are key elements of Cape Girardeau’s downtown community. For several weeks in March and April, sections of Broadway Liz Haynes and Main Street resembled a ghost town with entire blocks — from Century Casino to the River Campus and west toward Capaha Park — seemingly on lockdown as would-be shoppers, diners, sightseers and others stayed home in deference to the state’s “stay-at-home” directive. But now, nearly a month after the state began to “reopen” and after the community initiated its Reclaim Our Region campaign, downtown has started coming back to life ... slowly, cautiously, but with a definite pulse. “It’s been so encouraging to see the community rallying around our downtown businesses by supporting them in so many ways,” Liz said in a “status report” email late last week, adding, “it’s wonderful to see our downtown community return to the vibrant place we all know and love.” Liz, who grew up in downtown Cape in what is now the Indie House on the corner of Broadway and Frederick Street, said downtown shops and restaurants are encouraging employees to wear masks, abiding by social

distancing, paying extra attention to sanitizing their businesses and some are even offering private shopping appointments. “If you’re not comfortable leaving your home right now, you can still support our downtown businesses by ordering curbside to go, shopping online, writing a review or sharing social media posts,” she said. The weekly Riverfront Market has been temporarily moved to Century Casino’s parking lot and takes place from 8 a.m. until noon Saturdays. “Most of your favorite vendors are at this alternate location (where) we’re trying to keep the community safe by encouraging masks, distancing vendors from each other and eliminating music and seating areas,” she said.

From Page 3A

detailing business, at 30 S. Park Ave. in Cape Girardeau. According to the application, the business is now open.

Tower, 338 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The application indicates the bank operation opened earlier this month.

Dewayne Clark of Jackson has filed a business license application to operate All Of Us Enterprises, a car washing and

UMB Financial Corp. of Kansas City, Missouri, has submitted a business license application to operate UMB Bank N.A. in suite 512 of the Marquette

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.

From Page 3A However, it appears Bargain Hunt, which is based in Antioch, Tennessee, is no longer interested in the Cape Girardeau market. “We are not moving forward with the Cape Girardeau location,” Andrea Jacobs, Bargain Hunt’s marketing manager told me Friday. She said the decision was not related to COVID-19 or the nation’s current economic downturn. Speaking of renovations, work has begun at the former home of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, 1812 Carondalet Drive in Cape Girardeau, which is being transformed into Sedona Bistro, a soup, salad and sandwich shop. Owners Ron and Kristine Brzycki of Jackson plan to open Sedona Bistro (named after Sedona, Arizona) by early September. Ron described the restaurant to me as “casual dining” and said it will also offer beer and wine by the glass. We’ll have more information about Sedona Bistro as its opening nears. When Liz Haynes took on the role of Old Town Cape’s executive director last fall, she had no way of knowing the COVID-19 pandemic was on the horizon. Liz had no idea how the health crisis would morph into an economic calamity, closing stores, restaurants, offices

Notebook

I saw a note on Facebook the other day that True-Que, a barbecue outlet at 402 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau, reopened Friday. I have to admit, I’ve not had the pleasure of eating there, but I see close to 3,000 Facebook users like its Facebook page, so I’m sure there are plenty of barbecue enthusiasts who are happy to know it’s open again, offering carryout, delivery and catering services. According to its Facebook site, True-Que is open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

JACKSON

MUNICIPAL BAND 2020 Concert Schedule www.jacksonmunicipalband.org • Visit us on FACEBOOK June 11th Steel Blossoms is a duo located in Nashville. Hayley Prosser and Sara Zebley hope to reach people through their original lyrics. June 18th Wayne Givens offers a variety of classic Rock, Pop, along with a little Country and R&B. Includes original music, as well as cover songs mostly from the ‘70s. June 25th Scott Holt is established as a six-string virtuoso but also as a penetrating and soulful storyteller. Holt calls it “creating a soulful communion. *All concerts start at 7:00 pm (*unless noted change*) and are at the Nick Leist Memorial band shell, the special guest musical entertainment starts each concert followed by the Jackson Municipal Band

History of the Jackson Municipal Band The Jackson Municipal Band began in 1920 when the Jackson Chamber of Commerce asked Mr. A. W. Roloff to start a band. The band practiced in Mr. Roloff’s woodworking shop, using sawhorses for benches. The gazebo on the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse lawn was completed in 1932 and served as a stage for the group until the dedication of the present band shell, located in the City Park, in July of 1976. Directions: Entrance to the band shell parking lot is off of Route D across from McCombs Funeral Home. Remember to bring a blanket and lawn chairs for seating.

Come on out to the beautiful Jackson City Park and join the Jackson Municipal Band for the summer!

Smile!

Need a break from downer news stories? Like our SemoGoodTimes Facebook page and find your happy place.

Recession began in Feb. in face of coronavirus BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy entered a recession in February as the coronavirus struck the nation, a group of economists declared Monday, ending the longest expansion on record. The economists said employment, income and spending peaked in February and then fell sharply afterward as the viral outbreak shut down businesses across the country, marking the start of the downturn after nearly 11 full years of economic growth. A committee within the National Bureau of Economic Research, a private not-for-profit group, determines when recessions begin and end. It broadly defines a recession as “a decline in economic activity that lasts more than a few months.” For that reason, the NBER typically waits longer before making a determination the economy is in a downturn. In the previous recession, the committee did not declare the economy was in recession until December 2008, a year after it had actually begun. But in this case, the NBER said the collapse in employment and incomes was so steep it could much more quickly make a determination. “The unprecedented magnitude of the decline in employment and production, and its broad reach across the entire economy, warrants the designation of this episode as a recession, even if it turns out to be briefer than earlier contractions,” the NBER panel said. The way the NBER defines recessions, they begin in the same month the previous expansion ends. Because the economy peaked in February, that is the month when the recession officially began, rather than in March, when unemployment began to rise. Financial markets had little reaction Monday to the NBER’s declaration. February is when the stock market hit its own record high before stumbling into a severe downturn from which it has mostly recovered, thanks to extraordinary stimulus and support measures from the Federal Reserve and Congress as well as expectations the worst of the economic pain may have passed.

JEFF ROBERSON ~ Associated Press

A woman walks into a closing Gordmans store May 28 in St. Charles, Missouri. Stage Stores, which owns Gordmans, is closing all its stores and has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The unemployment rate is officially 13.3%, down from 14.7% in April. Both figures are higher than in any other downturn since World War II. A broader measure of underemployment that includes those who have given up looking and those who have been reduced to part-time status is 21.2%. On Friday, the government said employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, an unexpected gain suggesting job losses may have bottomed out. A recession ends when employment and output start to pick up again, not when they reach their pre-recession levels. So it’s possible the recession could technically end soon. That would make the current recession the shortest and deepest on record. It is expected to be followed by an extended recovery before the economy manages to regain its pre-pandemic levels of production and employment. Some economists say it could take two years or more, with the unemployment rate likely still 10% or higher at the end of this year. “The most important thing to focus on is the strength of the recovery, and that’s where the greatest uncertainty lies right now,” said Ernie Tedeschi, policy economist at investment bank Evercore ISI. It’s unclear, Tedeschi noted, whether the virus is under control, whether there will be a second wave or whether or when a vaccine will be developed. On Monday, the World Bank said the world was facing a health and economic crisis that has spread with astonishing speed and will produce the

largest shock the global economy has witnessed in seven decades. It expects millions of people to be pushed into extreme poverty. In its updated global outlook, the World Bank projected that international economic activity will shrink by 5.2% this year, the deepest recession since a contraction in 1945-46 at the end of World War II. The 5.2% downturn would be the fourth-worst global downturn over the past 150 years, exceeded only by the Great Depression of the 1930s and the periods immediately after World War I and World War II. In the U.S., states have begun reopening their economies, thereby allowing businesses to recall some employees to work. But economic activity is returning only very gradually. A full recovery won’t occur until Americans are willing to resume their previous habits of shopping, eating out, and traveling. That might not happen until a vaccine is developed or testing is more widely available. Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton, an accounting firm, said the NBER committee might end up declaring this recession to have already ended in May based on the fact that hiring rebounded that month. “We could have the shortest recession in history – it seems ridiculous, but we could,” Swonk said. Still, it will take much longer for the economy to rebound, she said. “This bottom is going to be uniquely deep, and we don’t know how fast we will get out of the bottom,” she said.

LOCAL

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

George Floyd scholarship established at SEMO BY JEFF LONG

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN On Friday, the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship was formed within the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, confirmed Trudy Lee, interim vice president for university advancement and executive director of the university foundation. By Monday night, the new Floyd scholarship had already raised 60% of the announced $10,000 goal from 33 donors, according to the university’s website. Lee said Southeast president Carlos Vargas and his wife, Pam, were the first to contribute. “No institutional funds of the university are being used,” Vargas told the Southeast Missourian. “This scholarship is being privately-funded.” Vargas said a staffer in his office saw a tweet Friday morning from Scott Hagan,

president of North Central University in Minneapolis, which challenged other schools to establish a scholarship in Floyd’s name. Missouri State University in Springfield has also set up a Floyd scholarship but the school has not specified a dollar figure target for its award. “This is a troubling time,” Vargas said, “and it is also a polarizing one.” Floyd, 46, an African American, died in May 25 in Minneapolis after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes while Floyd lay handcuffed in the street. Floyd’s death led to criminal charges and sparked protests all over the United States, including a peaceful one in Cape Girardeau. “The $10,000 figure is the minimum amount necessary for the university foundation to endow a scholarship,” said Vargas, who has been president of Southeast since 2015. “The (university) foundation

is always looking for opportunities to establish (new) scholarships. In fact, we’re working on such a scholarship for Hispanic students right now.” A statement from the university reads as follows: “Southeast Missouri State University serves students from all demographics, nationalities and geographic areas. Together, our humanity has always bridged our divides. “It is incumbent upon us as an institution of higher learning to educate, to celebrate others of all cultures and to challenge our community to follow its moral compass. Racism, bigotry and inequality have no place in our society nor in our community. “It is time to invest like never before in a new generation of young Americans who are poised to take leadership of our nation. Southeast Missouri State University is answering the call from Dr. Ha-

Free produce to be given away today in Cape Girardeau

gan, the President of North Central University, to establish a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship. Through your contributions to this scholarship, we will step up together to move closer to achieving this goal. “We encourage each of you to stand up to racism. Be a positive force for change. Do your part to find common ground, dialogue nonviolently, build trust, demonstrate compassion, plant seeds of unity and respect, and promote healing. At Southeast, we remain committed to embracing racial equity, providing a safe environment and steadfastly supporting our students.” The scholarship, the foundation announced, will be awarded for the first time this fall. Guidelines for scholarship candidates have not been established, Vargas said. Those wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund may visit http://impact.semo. edu/campaigns/georgefloyd.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau will distribute 200 boxes of produce beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis St. in Cape Girardeau. The effort is in partnership with the SEMO Food Bank, said Avon

Crocker, president of the FISH Volunteers’ board. No registration is required to receive a free 25-pound box of fresh produce, Crocker said: “Just drive up and we’ll give it to you.” FISH Volunteers’ food pantry at 106 S. Sprigg St. closed amid COVID-19 concerns, and will reopen June 15, Crocker said.

Are you not entertained? Culture and entertainment reporter Marybeth Niederkorn profiles creative and talented people every week in the TGIF section. Have a story idea? Email: mniederkorn@semissourian.com.

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‘10 Ford Expedition XLT 4x4

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‘07 Chevrolet 1500 Z-71

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‘04 Cadillac Escalade

V-8, Leather, Moonroof, New Tires

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‘12 Chevy Colorado LT 4X4

4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, New Tires, One Owner

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‘07 Chevy Colorado Z-71 4X4 5 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, CD, Keyless

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‘11 Chrysler 200 Touring 4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, Moonroof

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‘07 Durango SLT 4X4 V-8, 3rd Seat, New Tires

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‘90 Cadillac Fleetwood V-8, Leather, 60K Miles

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‘08 Cadillac Escalade AWD Every Factory Option, New Tires!

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‘14 Nissan Frontier 4X4

6 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, Local Truck

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‘07 Harley Davidson F-150 4X4

5.4, Auto, All Pwr, Leather, Moonroof

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‘12 Chevrolet Colorado Z-71 4X4 5 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, CD, Keyless

$8,995

‘08 GMC 1500 SLE 4X4 5.3, Auto, All Pwr, One Owner

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‘11 Honda Accord EXL

4 Cyl, Auto, Leather, Moonroof

$7,995

‘12 Nissan Altima S

4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, New Tires, 62K Miles

$6,995

$15,995

‘12 Chevrolet Camaro SS V-8, Auto, Leather, Moonroof

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‘11 Dodge SLT 4x4

5.7 Hemi, Auto, All Pwr, CD, Keyless

$10,995

‘07 Chevrolet 1500 Z-71 5.3, Auto, All Pwr, Clean Truck

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‘14 Toyota Corolla LE

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‘11 Kia Sorento LX AWD 4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, Local Trade

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‘14 Kia Soul

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‘06 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 V-6, Auto, All Pwr, New Tires

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‘04 Ford Expedition XLT

2014 Chevrolet LT 4X4

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$14,995

‘12 F-150 XLT 4X4

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$12,995

‘12 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4

V-8, Auto, All Pwr, 1-owner Lease

$10,995

‘14, Toyota Corolla S

4 Cyl, Auto, New Tires, 81K Miles

$8,995

‘13 Town and Country Touring

V-6, Every Option Available, Must See!!!

$13,995

‘12 Chevrolet 1500 LT Z-71

5.3, Auto, All Pwr, One Owner Lease

$11,995

‘11 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4

5.0 V-8, Auto, All Pwr, Nice Truck!

$10,995

‘07 Chevrolet 1500 LT 2WD 5.3, Auto, All Pwr, CD, Keyless

$8,995

‘17 Nissan Versa SV

4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, Only 47K Miles

$8,995

‘09 Chevrolet 1500 LT 4X4

‘05 Chevrolet 2500 HD 4X4

$7,995

5.3, Auto, All Pwr, CD, Keyless

‘17 Nissan Versa SV

4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, New Tires, 60K Miles

$6,995

‘07 Toyota RAV4

4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, FWD

$6,995

6.0, Auto, One Owner Lease

‘12 Chevrolet Colorado 2WD 4 Cyl, Auto, One Owner Lease

$$6,995 4,995

‘09 Honda Accord EXL

4 Cyl, Auto, Leather, Moon Roof

$6,995

5.7 Hemi, Auto, All Pwr, New Tires

5.4, Dual Heat/AC, 3rd Row Seat, Low Miles

‘08 Ford Ranger XLT 2WD

‘06 Dodge Dakota SLT 4x4

$6,995

$5,995

$$4,995 4,995

‘06 Chevrolet Colorado 4X2

‘05 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS

$$4,695 4,995

$2,995

‘06 Dodge 1500 SLT 4x4

‘05 Chevrolet 2500 HD 2WD 6.0, Auto, One owner lease

$4,995

‘05 Ford F-150 STX 4X4

V-8, Auto, Local Trade, Eye Turner

4 Cyl, Auto, 120K Miles

‘06 Ford Escape Limited 4X4 V6, Auto, Leather, Moonroof

V-6, Auto, All Pwr, CD, Keyless

4X4, V-6, Auto, All Pwr, Cloth

‘07 GMC Sonoma 2WD V-6, Auto, Clean Truck!

V-8, Auto, All Pwr, Moonroof

‘12 Ford Fusion SE

4 Cyl, Auto, All Pwr, New Tires

$2,995

‘02 GMC Sonoma SL 2WD

4 Cyl, 5 Spd, 3rd Door, Runs Good

10A

REGION

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

Ten new COVID-19 cases reported in region; Cape Senior Center closed

CATCH & RELEASE

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

JACOB WIEGAND ~ jwiegand@semissourian.com

Remington Rueseler, 10, of Cape Girardeau goes fishing with his father, Ryan Rueseler, during Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation’s Youth Catch & Release event Saturday at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Cody Hinkebein, Cape Jaycee golf course manager, said the fishing event, where children received a free T-shirt and lunch, was sponsored by the Cape Jaycees and Academy Sports + Outdoors. He said there were also prizes for biggest and smallest fish.

Ten new COVID-19 cases were reported over the weekend and Monday, with no new deaths being attributed to the disease associated with the coronavirus. Five new cases were reported in Scott County, bringing the total of cases to 122. Eighty county residents have recovered from the disease, while 11 died because of the virus. Two new cases were reported in Cape Girardeau County, pushing its total to 115 (87 confirmed and 28 probable). Eight-two county residents have recovered from the virus, and three died because of it. Two new cases were also reported in Alexander County, Illinois. A total of 15 cases have been confirmed in the county, while 11 patients have recovered and no deaths have been reported. One new case was reported in Stoddard County, Missouri, increasing its total cases to 104. Forty-three county residents have recovered from

the virus, and six deaths have been attributed to it. No new cases were reported in Bollinger County (seven, six recoveries) or Perry County (74;, 53 recoveries) in Missouri or Union County (165, 53 recoveries, 13 deaths) in Illinois.

Cape Senior Center closed

The Cape Girardeau Senior Center is closed through June 15 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to director Susan McClanahan. The employee had several days off from work before testing positive, McClanahan said Monday, and the center is taking all necessary precautions. Homebound individuals using the center’s meal delivery services received a package of frozen meals to use this week during the closure, she said, and the center will reopen for pickup and delivery June 15. Reporter Nicolette Baker contributed to this report.

Arts Council to reopen galleries today BY MARYBETH NIEDERKORN

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will reopen to limited walk-in traffic Tuesday at 16 N. Spanish St. in downtown Cape Girardeau. Protocols now in place to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus include heightened facility maintenance and sanitization, gallery occupancy monitoring, and mask and sanitizer availability for staff and patrons. This is to ensure the

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health and safety of all gallery patrons, staff and the works of art entrusted to the council’s care, according to a statement. The number of visitors inside the gallery at any time will be limited to 33, and will be admitted on an “equal or less-than” basis as previous visitors leave. Visitors and groups will be encouraged to practice physical distancing and to use hand sanitizing stations. Masks will be required. Restrooms will be closed to

the public. “If patrons foresee any issue following these guidelines, we respectfully ask that you refrain from visiting the galleries at this time,” the statement read. Marked pathways may also be employed to indicate the best route between galleries. Gallery hours will 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Arts Council spokeswoman Kelly Downes said exhib-

its now on display include Visual Arts Cooperative artists’ works in the galleries through the end of July. A virtual showing of top pieces from 8th District Rep. Jason Smith’s high-school art show is online at capearts. org/CongressionalHighSchoolArtCompetition.aspx. Get your weekend plans delivered to your inbox. Sign up for the Expedition: Weekend email newsletter. Go to semissourian.com/newsletters to find out more.

Red House to host lecture on Missouri statehood BY MARYBETH NIEDERKORN

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

Steven Belko, executive director of the Missouri Humanities Council, will give a free lecture about Missouri’s journey to statehood, from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Red House Interpretive Center at 128 S. Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic basket. Respect for social distancing

is appreciated. In case of inclement weather, an indoor location will be announced on the Red House’s social media and rainout hotline at (573) 975-1024. Contact the parks and recreation department for more information: (573) 339-6340. The Red House Interpretive Center reopened to the public on a limited basis last week. Belko’s article “The Struggle for Statehood” is avail-

able at missourilife.com/thestruggle-for-statehood. For more information on Missouri Humanities Council, visit mohumanities.org; for more information about Missouri’s upcoming bicentennial, visit missouri2021.org. Get your weekend plans delivered to your inbox. Sign up for the Expedition: Weekend email newsletter. Go to semissourian.com/newsletters to find out more.

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PB man gets 6 years for drug, weapons offenses DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC A Poplar Bluff, Missouri, man was sentenced to six years in federal prison Friday on multiple drug distribution and weapon offenses. Payten James O’Neil Ice, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen Lim-

baugh Jr. to 72 months on three felony counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as the felonies of distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Ice reportedly was stopped by law enforcement three times in a seven-month period, and found to be in possession of narcotics all three times, as well as a weapon twice. Upon Ice’s release from prison, he will be placed on a three-year period of supervised release.

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There are no cases of COVID-19 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. It was reported Monday during the Cape Girardeau County Commission meeting that testing was done last week on all 132 residents and 199 staff members at the residential facility and 100% of the tests were negative for the coronavirus. The veterans residential facility, near the intersection of U.S. 61 and Interstate 55, has been closed to visitors since March 11 in an effort to protect residents and staff from coronavirus infection.

REGION / FROM PAGE ONE

Mourning From Page 1A Aziz expressed his full support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Focusing specifically on issues of justice and equality as they relate to race, he referenced Chapter 5, Verse 8 of the Quran. “Oh you believers, be beautiful to Allah and stand out firmly as witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of people prevent you from doing justice,” Aziz said to the group. “Be just; that is near to righteousness.” Next, a message shared by the Rev. Adrian Taylor Jr. of Lighthouse United in Cape Girardeau illustrated his belief the racial diversity of humankind is a testament to God’s infinite creative power over people of all creeds and colors. “I’m not interested in white power or black power — I’m interested in the Holy Ghost’s power,” Taylor said. “I believe that only the power of God is able to truly give us what is necessary for us not only to find peace and tranquility in this moment, but in order to be able to build a future and a society that all of us can look back on and say, ‘I’m proud of that.’” Members of the group then took part in a reading to seek reconciliation for historic injustices inflicted upon minority communities including the failure to recognize and take responsibility for the legacy of slavery; the pain, humiliation and suffering imposed on African American peoples through white action and inaction; and the individual and institutional failures to seek an end to segregation and racial profiling.

The repentance culminated with those in attendance committing themselves to “walk forward with healing and reconciliation” by seeking to actively work to dismantle white privilege. After a breaking of bread and pouring of wine by the Rev. Ellen Gurndon as a symbolic representation of Jesus’ body and blood, the Rev. Renita Green left the group with a call-to-action as they returned to their individual institutions. “Heart by heart, one by one, we must stop speaking peace where there is no peace. We must stop allowing those who sit on our pews to be comfortable with their -isms. We must call it as God sees it. Not being afraid of our positions, worried about if they will fire us, we need to worry about if God is going to fire us.” Green’s final message urged the group to show empathy and belief for those who are suffering and “show up” in the spaces where injustices occur and alongside those who protest such injustices. “We wonder where the church is and why the young folks aren’t in our church? It’s because the church has not been in their lives,” Green said. “We don’t need them in our buildings. They need us in their presence. Will we be there?” After voicing a pledge to “be there” for local youths, the group united their voices for the hymn “Singing For Our Lives” led by the Rev. Edie Bird of Christ Episcopal Church, with a personalized, final verse to ask for God’s forgiveness of their previous inactions. The event closed with a prayer led by the Rev. James Muriuki with Redeemer Episcopal Church in Cairo, Illinois.

JEFF LONG ~ jlong@semissourian.com

Erica McClard emerges from a cattle trough following her full immersion baptism Sunday at First Baptist Church in Delta.

Baptism From Page 1A Conn did say it may be mid-July before people are comfortable enough to come inside for worship. “Until social distancing is done away with,” Conn said, “we’ll probably be out here.” Parishioners fanned out from the makeshift stage, some seated in lawn chairs, others remaining in their vehicles with the windows down. Conn’s church is a mem-

ber of the Missouri Baptist Convention. “Eight percent of (convention) churches are seeing offerings either the same as pre-COVID or higher,” Conn said. “Ours are actually higher.” Conn said conducting a baptism in a cattle trough, selected because it is large enough to accommodate an adult, is a first for him. It’s McClard’s first-ever baptism. “My life is not dull,” reflected a drenched McClard following the full immersion. “This (baptism) is awesome.”

BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com

Photo gallery

Graduating high school senior Sam Varnon speaks to school counselor Judi Fuchs before entering the Gerhard Birk Gymnasium for Saxony Lutheran High School’s graduation ceremony Sunday in Jackson. Attendance for the postponed commencement ceremony was restricted to five guests per graduate, and seating in the gymnasium was arranged into groups for each graduate and their guests. Hand sanitizer and tissues were stationed at each group of seats. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com.

Marijuana From Page 1A “Because of COVID, it’s taking a little longer than expected,” said Krystal Wright, contact person for a dispensary planned for Cape Girardeau to be known as Greenlight. Greenlight, she said, could be open in the next three to four months. “We’re hoping by late August or September,” she said. “We should have product by then.” Wright said it’s her understanding at least four cultivation operations have completed their state inspections and should be harvesting their first crops of medical-grade cannabis within a matter of weeks. From there, the plants will go to testing and production facilities before being shipped to dispensaries. “So in three months, we’re hoping to actually have product,” she said. Greenlight’s opening date could also depend on its location. It’s license with DHSS lists its address as 420 Siemers Drive. However, Wright said it may be relocated because of its proximity to another dispensary

planned for 69 Doctors’ Park. “We’re looking at another location that might better suit our needs,” she said, “but we might stay there. We’re just waiting to see what the state says and how long it will take (to revise the license).” Wright, based in Kansas City, Missouri, is a consultant for about a dozen medical marijuana license holders in Missouri in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas as well as Southeast Missouri. The Greenlight dispensary license is held by Cape Girardeau Investments LLC. Although Wright declined to identify the ownership of Cape Girardeau Investments, she said it includes “a pharmacist, a doctor and a couple of business owners who live there.” Bloom Medicinals of Missouri LLC is licensed to operate the Doctors’ Park dispensary, which will be known as Bloom Medicinals. The company is planning three other Missouri dispensaries — in Springfield, O’Fallon and Plattsburg. It is also licensed to operate cultivation and processing facilities in O’Fallon and Plattsburg. “Just like all other businesses, COVID-19 has certainly presented some delays in business as usual,” said R.J. Starr, the compa-

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ny’s head of compliance and human resources. “However, Bloom Medicinals intends to comply with the end-of-year deadline set by the Department of Health and Senior Services.” The only medical marijuana dispensary licensed to operate in Jackson will be known as The Herbalist. It was originally licensed to operate at 2387 W. Jackson Blvd., but the dispensary’s ownership group, Missouri Medical Marijuana Collective LLC, now plans to open in the former American Woodsman building at 1336 Clover Drive. “Our build out has not begun,” said Justin Neely, managing member with Missouri Medical Marijuana Collective. “Demo is scheduled to start this week, and we hope to have permits the following week.” According to Jackson building and planning superintendent Janet Sanders, the new location is suitable for the dispensary under the city’s zoning and medical marijuana ordinances. “COVID-19 has had little direct effect on our company’s momentum,” Neely said, although he pointed out there will be some operational changes once The Herbalist opens. “The main impact

COVID-19 has had on our operational plan is making the availability for (product) delivery a top-level priority,” he said. “We realize we will be serving at-risk individuals and want them to be able to acquire their medicine without leaving the comfort of their homes. We will also be giving our cleaning and sterilizing standard operating procedures some attention.” Neely said he hopes the Jackson dispensary will be open by late September. The company is also licensed to operate a dispensary in Kennett, Missouri. Representatives of two other dispensaries licensed in Cape Girardeau — Organic Remedies MO Inc., 350 N. Kingshighway, and QPS Missouri Holdings LLC, 772 S. Kingshighway — did not respond to the Southeast Missourian’s request for comments in time for inclusion in this article. Sixty-five percent of Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 in November 2019, legalizing the medical use of marijuana for qualifying patients in Missouri. 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.

FARM AUCTION

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2020

10:00 AM RAIN OR SHINE

Owner: Cynthia Evans Due to the death of my husband, Ted Evans, I will sell the following described personal property to the highest bidder regardless of price.

Located North of Poplar Bluff, MO - Approx. 7 miles DIRECTIONS: From Poplar Bluff, MO, take Highway 67 North approximately 7 miles, turn left to Service Road, (Mustang Lane), then turn right on Service Road, go six tenths of a mile . Turn left on Butler County Road 402 (Pine Cone Estates Road), go 2.7 miles to auction on right. WATCH FOR SIGNS ON HWY. 67 TRACTORS: • 1- CASE IH, 3594, MFWD • 1- FORD 876, 4X4, 280 HP • 1- CASE IH - 2394, 2 WD • 1- JD - 4630, 2 WD • 1- CASE IH - 2394, 2 WD • 1- CASE IH - 3594, 2 WD • 1- FORD - TW 25, 4 WD • 1- JCB, BACKHOE SERIES III, WITH OUTRIGGERS AND EXTRA BUCKET • 1- MASSEY FERGUSON FORKLIFT, 2500, GAS COMBINES: 1- JOHN DEERE COMBINE -9600 - RWD 1- JOHN DEERE COMBINE - 8820 - RWD HEADERS & TRAILERS: • 1- 930-F JOHN DEERE HEADER, GOOD SHAPE • 2- JOHN DEERE 924 HEADERS • 1- HT-25 HEADER TRAILER UNVERFERTH • 1- ROAD RUNNER, 30’ HIGH SPEED HEADER TRAILER PLANTER: • 1- KINZE, 3600 23 ROW, 30” PLANTER HYD FOLD, NICE WILLMAR SPRAYER: • 1- WILLMAR 6400, 72’ SPRAYER WITH JOHN DEERE ENGINE SEMIS (TRACTOR & TRAILERS): • 1- 1996, VOLVO, TRACTOR WITH M-11 CUMMINS ENGINE, 10 SPEED, WITH WET KIT • 1- 1978 FREIGHTLINER TRACTOR, WITH CUMMINS ENGINE AND

WET KIT • 1- 1986 FORD 7500 BOB TRUCK • 1- 38 FOOT, CPS, HOPPER BOTTOM TRAILER, GOOD SHAPE • 1- 20 FOOT FRAME TYPE END DUMP TRAILER • 1- 40 FOOT GOOSENECK DROP DECK TILT TRAILER • 1- 18 FOOT GOLD STAR BUMPER POOL TRAILER, WITH DOVE HEAVY DUTY SEED WAGONS, HOPPER TRAILERS & FARM EQUIP.: • 1- E-Z TRAIL, 3400, GRAVITY FLOW SEED WAGON • 1- TRI-STATE GRAIN CART • 1- 1050 GALLON WATER TRAILER • 1- F-600, A AND L GRAIN CART, HYDRAULIC DRIVEN • 1- VAN BOX TRAILER FOR STORAGE • 1- V RIPPER 9 SHANK • 1- W AND A PTO, DITCHER • 1- 496 INTERNATIONAL DISK 21 FOOT • 1- CASE IH, 30 FOOT DISK • 1- 10 FOOT WOODS PULL TYPE BUSH HOG • 1- MARLISS, 20 FOOT, NO TILL DRILL • 1- 56 FOOT CHICKEN WING SPRAYER • 1- WESTFIELD, 80-31 FOOT AUGER • 1- BRILLION 28 FOOT ROLLER HAY EQUIPMENT: • 1- 9 FOOT JOHN DEERE 1219 CONDITIONER • 1- MASSEY FERGUSON,

9 FOOT DISC MOWER • 1- 4 BASKET, HAY TEDDER • 1- 8 WHEEL HYDRAULIC FOLD HAYRAKE WELDER: • 1- MILLER, BOBCAT PORTABLE WELDER GENERATOR MOTORCYCLES & CAMPER: • 1- BIG DOG 2000 HUSKY/XT MOTORCYCLE • 1- 2004 ULTRA CLASSIC HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE FULLY LOADED • 1- KOUNTRY STAR 30’ CAMPING TRAILER BUMPER PULL WITH SLIDE OUT, AWNING, NEW AIR BUILDING MATERIAL & FARM SUPPLIES: • 1- LARGE LOT OF SHEET METAL 18 FOOT • 1- LOT OF TREATED FIVE BY FIVES • 1- LOT OF PIPE WRENCHES • 1- LOT OF SOCKETS RATCHETS EXTENSIONS • 1- LOT OF SANDERS, GRINDERS • 1- LOT OF HYDRAULIC & ROTELLA OIL • 1- LOT OF CYLINDERS • 1- BATTERY CHARGER • 1- BLACK JACK • 1- AIR HYDRAULIC JACK • 1- 2 INCH WATER PUMP • 1- METAL CUT OFF SAW • 1- DRILL PRESS ON STAND • 1- DOUBLE GRINDER • 1- 30 GALLON 5 HP AIR COMPRESSOR • 1- BENCH GRINDER • 1- PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR WITH

HONDA ENGINE • 1- L TANK, 12 V • 2- 500 GALLON FUEL TANKS WITH ELECTRIC PUMPS • 1- 50 GALLON FUEL TANK • 1- OH 21 STIHL CHAINSAW • 1- STIHL LEAF BLOWER • 1- 12V SPRAY TANK • 1- LOT OF INSECTICIDE AND HERBICIDE • 1- FOUR WHEELER SEEDER • 1- 3500 W GENERATOR • 2- PERKINS DIESEL ENGINES • 1- BACK AXLE FOR COMBINE, WITH MUD HOG • 1- 8X10 PORTABLE BUILDING • 1- LOT OF T POST • 1- THREE CAGE DOG KENNEL • 1- RUBBERMAID WATERER WITH AUTOMATIC FLOAT • 1- AUTOMATIC HEAD CATCH, THREE WAY SUPER • 1- 8’ ELEVATED FEED TROUGH, WITH OVERHEAD BUNK AND MANY MORE ITEMS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION

Auctioneer’s Note THIS IS A COMPLETE FARM SELL OUT. Plenty of Parking • No Buyer’s Premium Bank Letter a Must to Unknown Buyers. • TERMS: CASH OR GOOD CHECK • IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED • NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS OR LOST/ STOLEN ITEMS • ANNOUNCEMENTS DAY OF SALE TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER PRINTED MATTER • LUNCH SERVED

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TUESDAY

N AT I O N / 5 A

Shooting near WH

AUGUST 11, 2020

President Trump had to be escorted away from news briefing REGION / 11A

ELECTION DAY

County clerk, staff guide COVID-era election, prepare for November

City Council mulls relocating Canceled ballfields from Arena Park travel may

have boosted tax receipts Cape County treasurer says he thinks people spent more money locally BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN One of the current ballfields in Arena Park is seen Saturday in Cape Girardeau.

Sales tax revenue in Cape Girardeau County continues to exceed expectations and the county treasurer thinks canceled summer vacations may be one reason why. “If some families were going to take a $2,000 vacation, they’re spending that money right here instead,” Roger Hudson said. Hudson, appearing at the Cape Girardeau County Commission meeting Monday, said this month’s halfcent sales tax receipts were almost 31% higher than the county received in August last year. The $603,401.28 received by the county this month, which mostly reflected retail sales in the county during July, was more than $142,000 more than the $460,997.58 in sales tax revenue the county received in August last year. Hudson believes many vacation plans were scrapped this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the money people would have spent on their vacations has gone toward consumer goods purchases close to home. For the year to date, county sales tax revenue is running almost 4.1% ahead of last year’s pace, having contributed $5,108,170.01 to the

JEFF LONG ~ jlong@semissourian.com

BY JEFF LONG

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN The City of Cape Girardeau is looking to implement a “master plan” for Arena Park — which includes relocating at least five of the park’s ballfields to another location. “The end game is to make Arena Park more of a year-round venue,” said Scott Meyer, city manager since 2009, by redeveloping the site into more of an indoor-outdoor exposition — or Expo — area. “The Arena Building is sometimes not big enough to draw certain events,” said Bob Fox, mayor since 2018. The $4.5 million ballfield replacement project, to be financed by bonds, is part of the PRS2 (Parks and Recreation Stormwater 2) initiative passed by city

JEFF LONG ~ jlong@semissourian.com

A scoreboard next to one of the ballfields at Arena Park is seen Saturday in Cape Girardeau. voters in 2018. Parks director Julia Thompson-Jones told the City Council at its annual retreat July 31 that the city will put out a request for proposals for a new site in

2021 and possible locations have been identified, including property near Blanchard Elementary School, which is on North Sprigg Street. “As it stands now, we have to cut off (ball) leagues

in Arena Park well in advance of the SEMO District Fair,” said Fox, “and the fields get pretty torn up.” Fox said there are clear objectives in mind: Replace the fields. Create higher-quality fields. Generate more revenue for the city, through increased rentals and concessions. A different site will allow the city to develop efficiencies, Meyer said. “It will be easier to manage (new) fields if they are in pods that will have amenities in the center,” he added. Fox said one hurdle to overcome is finding 20-to-40 suitable acres to move the ballfields within the city limits. See BALLFIELDS, Page 11A

Going into [the coronavirus pandemic], we sure didn’t expect this. But being an economic hub in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, people are coming to Cape and spending money.” ROGER HUDSON Cape Girardeau County treasurer county’s treasury so far this year. According to data provided by the county treasurer’s office, this is the earliest point during any calendar year sales tax revenue has exceeded $5 million. “Going into [the coronavirus pandemic], we sure didn’t expect this,” Hudson said. “But being an economic hub in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, people are coming to Cape and spending money.” In addition to the sales tax numbers, the county’s usetax receipts on out-of-state goods and online purchases have also continued to grow. See TAXES, Page 11A

6th Cape Co. resident dies of COVID-19; more cases reported across region BY RICK FAHR

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN A sixth Cape Girardeau County resident’s death has been attributed to COVID-19, and county officials reported more than two dozen new cases Monday. Officials with Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center said the fatality was a person in the 70 to 79 age bracket.

WEB:

The county’s total case count of the disease associated with coronavirus was 689 on Monday — 355 in Cape Girardeau, 113 in Jackson and 221 elsewhere in the county. Five hundred ninety-three of those cases involve people who have recovered from the virus. Scott County reported 17 new cases, pushing its total to 399, with 283 recoveries and 13 deaths. Nine new cases were reported in Perry County, Missouri (237 total,

semissourian.com

204 recoveries, four deaths), while Bollinger County, Missouri, reported six new cases (76 total, 56 recoveries, one death). Stoddard County, Missouri, reported four new cases (230 total, 194 recoveries, nine deaths.) In Illinois, officials with Southern Seven Health Department reported nine new cases in Union County (311 total, 198 recoveries, 20 deaths) and one new case in Alexander County (37 total, 35 recoveries, zero deaths).

COVID-19 coverage

Local, state and nationals coronavirus coverage at semissourian.com/coronavirus.

WEATHER

Local History

‘Bring it On! The Musical’ Because of COVID-19, performances at the River Campus are including face shields for cast and crew and audience sizes have been reduced to allow appropriate room for social distancing. Read more about it and see photos at semissourian.com.

INDEX

Business .......................3A Classified...................... 4B Comics .......................... 3B

Garret B. Kremer-Wright looks at attempts to prevent yellow fever from taking hold in Southeast Missouri in 1905. Read about them at semissourian.com/features.

Crossword ........ 12A, 3B Daily Record .......6A, 7A Dear Abby ................ 13A

Entertainment ........ 13A Obituaries............6A, 7A Opinion ................8A, 9A

H:89 L:72 A heavy morning thunderstorm

Sports............................ 1B TV listings ...... 12A, 13A

Volume 116 • Issue 258

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Business FROM THE (HOME) BUSINESS DESK ...

JAY WOLZ ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

Although an exact opening date has not been announced, a new Domino’s restaurant in Jackson should be selling pizzas and other menu items by sometime later this month. The facility, in the 2400 block of East Main Street, will feature delivery, takeout and drive-through service, and will eventually have a small indoor dining area.

Statistics, surveys and slices of pizza I JAY WOLZ ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce members practice social distancing and wear face masks — except to eat and drink their coffee — during the chamber’s first “in-person” First Friday Coffee on Friday at the Century Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center.

COVID-19 pandemic’s local effects discussed by chamber members BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

ooking as if they were seeing old friends for the first time in months — because they were — members of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce gathered last week for their first “in-person” First Friday Coffee since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the chamber members — all wearing face masks and observing “social distancing” — compared notes about the pandemic’s economic impact. Some of them shared their thoughts with the Southeast Missourian about how COVID-19 has affected their businesses and what changes they think it will bring in the future.

Flooring

“The only part of our business that’s down right now is the landlord and property management business, which has always been our wheelhouse, the main target of our business for years,” said Rob Stephens, owner of Heartland Custom Flooring. Stephens explained there hasn’t been a great deal of rental property turnover during the pandemic, so carpets, tile and hardwood flooring in apartments and rental homes haven’t had to be replaced. “That part of the business has almost stopped because people aren’t being evicted, so those properties aren’t turning over,” he said. “But everything else is up because people have the money, they’ve got the time, they didn’t go on vacation, so that’s been tremendous

for our business.”

Travel Asked how things have been in the travel business, Susan Berghoff of 1st Class Travel told the Missourian “they’ve been better,” but the travel industry is adapting. “It’s tough, but things will bounce back at some point,” she said. “There have been lots of challenges, but people are still going places,” she said. “We’ve done lots of beach condos and beach houses in Florida and Alabama and in places like Gatlinburg, Tennessee. People feel comfortable going there.” Although the cruise industry is idle through October and travel to Europe has been curtailed by the European Union’s travel restrictions, Berghoff said

other destinations such as Mexico and Jamaica are “coming back,” adding that “2021 looks really good right now.”

The great outdoors The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center has been closed to the public for most of the year because of the pandemic. “We’ve been closed since mid-March,” according to center manager Sara Turner. After setting and canceling several reopening dates, the center finally reopened last week. “We had 51 people come through the exhibits the first day,” she reported. “Masks were required for everybody over 9, and nobody had any problems with wearing them.” See IMPACT, Page 4A

n a quote often attributed to Missourian Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics.” Well, there are plenty of statistics flying around these days, many JAY WOLZ of them having to From the do with (Home) Busi- COVID-19, ness Desk ... positivity is a weekly rates, column by mortalbusiness ity data, editor Jay infection Wolz. To statistics submit news, and so reach him at forth. jwolz@semisStill sourian.com. others are related to the economy and the havoc coronavirus has played with things such as unemployment rates, jobless claims and even the nation’s gross national product (GDP). And it struck me the other day how many of the statistics we’re hearing can be presented, or colored, in such a way as to support more than one perspective. Take Friday night, for instance. That evening, I happened to be watching a news channel as President Donald Trump touted the addition of 1.8 million jobs to the U.S. economy in July and 9.3 million in May, June and July, calling it “the single greatest three-month period of

job creation in American history.” What the president failed to mention, though, was that the job growth followed on the heels of the most job losses the nation has ever experienced. The 9.3 million jobs added to the nation’s workforce represented only 42% of the jobs lost due to the pandemic (close to 21 million jobs disappeared in April alone). In one specific sector of the economy, the president Friday pointed to the addition of “639,000 brand new construction jobs.” But what he didn’t say was that, according to the building trades industry, that number represented just 59% of the jobs lost during the pandemic. The president also pointed to a drop of “nearly 30%” in the nation’s unemployment rate since April. While it’s true the nation’s unemployment rate has improved from 14.7% in April to 10.2% in July, he conveniently didn’t mention the July percentage is nearly seven points higher than February’s 3.5% jobless rate. Don’t get me wrong. Job growth and declining unemployment rates are very good things. Just remember to put them into context. The weekly number of first-time filings for unemployment benefits in Missouri has fallen to below 11,000 for the first time since before the pandemic, according to the state’s Department of Labor & Industrial Relations. See DESK, Page 4A

BUSINESS NOTEBOOK

Hutson’s now affiliated with ‘Big Sandy’; businesses eligible for COVID reimbursements BY JAY WOLZ

furniture retailers.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

CARES Act funds available to Cape County businesses

utson’s, a landmark in downtown Cape Girardeau for 75 years, has rebranded itself as “Hutson’s Big Sandy Superstore,” after affiliating itself with the Ohiobased Big Sandy furniture store chain. The affiliation with Big Sandy follows the bankruptcy in March of Art Van Furniture, which had been co-branded with Hutson’s since mid-2018. The “Art Van” logo on the Hutson’s building was replaced last week with a “Hutson’s Big Sandy Superstore” sign. According to Wikipedia, Hutson’s is Big Sandy’s first Missouri location. In addition to the Cape Girardeau store, Big Sandy has outlets in Kentucky (Ashland, Grayson and Paintsville), West Virginia (Charleston, Teays Valley and Parkers-

JAY WOLZ ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

Hutson’s Furniture, 43 S. Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau, has rebranded itself as Hutson’s Big Sandy Superstore. burg) and Ohio (Dayton, Chillicothe, Lancaster, Portsmouth, South Point, Dublin, Columbus, Heath, Zanesville,

Polaris and Reynoldsburg). Big Sandy Superstore was founded in 1953 in Ashland, Kentucky, by Robert Van

Hoose Sr. Now headquartered in Wheelersburg, Ohio, Big Sandy is listed among the nation’s top 100

semissourian.com/business

Businesses in Cape Girardeau County can be reimbursed for expenses related to COVID-19 out of the county’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act fund. The county has designated Cape Girardeau Area Magnet as the organization responsible for reviewing reimbursement applications to determine eligibility and grant amounts. Awards will depend on the number of applicants, availability of funds and demonstrated need. Funds distributed through the county’s CARES Act fund must be used for expenditures directly related to COVID-19. Examples include costs for things such as sanitizer products, divider shields and personal protective equipment.

To be eligible for CARES Act funds, businesses must: Provide proof (receipts) that expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19. Show expenses were not anticipated in business budgets most recently approved as of March 27, 2020. Have incurred COVID-related expenses between March 1 and Dec. 30, 2020. Be located in Cape Girardeau County and funds must be spent in the county, as well. Additional requirements and qualifications are listed on the grant application form, which may be found online at reclaimourregion.com. Applications may be scanned and emailed to jvoss@capeareamagnet.com. They may also be hand-delivered or mailed to Cape Girardeau Area Magnet at 220 N. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau. See NOTEBOOK, Page 4A

BUSINESS

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Notebook From Page 3A Grant funding is limited and will be awarded until the appropriated funds are distributed. There is no limit on the amount of funds a business may request. However, the final awarded amount will depend on available funds. Businesses may apply for grants even if they have received funds through the Paycheck Protection Program or the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Cape Girardeau Area Magnet will notify applicants of their grant application status within 15 days of application submission and funds will be distributed to approved applicants via checks made out to the legal name of each business within 30 days of application submission.

SoutheastHEALTH begins rehabilitation partnership SoutheastHEALTH is partnering with Kindred Healthcare LLC to provide post-acute health care services at Southeast Hospital. The partnership between Southeast and Kindred became effective Aug. 1 and is centered on the hospital’s 13-bed, all private room rehabilitation unit for patients recovering from stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological disorders, orthopedic surgery and other conditions. Kindred Healthcare provides physical, occupational and speech-language therapies at more than 1,500 hospitals and long-term care facilities in 46 states. The company has 31,800 employees and reports approximately $3.2 billion in annual revenue. With Kindred, an interdisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and other health professionals design individualized treatment plans to help patients restore lost ability and function. SoutheastHEALTH president and CEO Ken Bateman said the combined partnership with Kindred “will bring care and support to a new level.”

New medical spa opening next week

Aurora Medical Spa will open next Monday, Aug. 17, at 3117 Lexington Ave., Suite 103, in Cape Girardeau. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 3 o’clock that afternoon, hosted by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. The mission of Aurora Medical Spa, according to co-owner and aesthetic nurse practitioner Chelsey Becker, is to enhance the natural beauty of its clients by providing safe, high-quality care and patient education using the most advanced technology. “Our priority is for all patients to feel like the best version of themselves while maintaining a natu-

Desk From Page 3A During the week ending Aug. 1, the most recent week for which data is available, 10,829 Missourians filed initial unemployment claims, down from 14,804 the previous week, a continuing indication the state’s economic decline is reversing as businesses in the state continue to recover from the pandemic. The weekly number of first-time unemployment claims in Missouri has dropped in 15 of the previous 18 weeks, dating back to late March, when there were 104,230 initial claims in the week ending March 28. According to a study released last week by WalletHub, the speed of Missouri’s economic recovery is ranked seventh among

Submitted

Aurora medical Spa, 3117 Lexington Avenue, Suite 103, in Cape Girardeau, will open next Monday, Aug. 17. ral aesthetic appearance,” she said. Aurora Medical Spa will offer a variety of non-invasive skin-care procedures, including Botox cosmetics, derChelsey mal fillers, Becker medical microneedling, HydraFacial services, Diamond Glow treatments and chemical peels. More information about Aurora Medical Spa is available online at auroramedicalspacape.com or by calling Becker at (573) 271-5120.

Saint Francis starts work on new medical clinic in Jackson Construction started last week on Saint Francis Healthcare System’s new primary and urgent care facility to be located at 2130 E. Jackson Blvd in Jackson. The new facility will replace Immediate Convenient Care-Jackson at that location and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2021. During construction, Immediate Convenient Care-Jackson has been closed. Saint Francis’ Jackson Family Care office, 545 Broadridge Drive in Jackson, however, remains open for primary care services while Immediate Convenient Care, also affiliated with Saint Francis, is available for urgent care needs. Immediate Convenient Care is at 1702 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

Krispy Kreme honors educators this week

With the new — and very challenging — school year about to begin in most school districts, Krispy Kreme locations across the nation, including the one in Cape Girardeau’s Town Plaza, are honoring educators this week with free coffee and doughnuts. Through Friday of this week, teachers can receive one free glazed doughnut and a regular sized coffee by showing a school badge or other school identification. The free doughnut and coffee offer is available through drive-through and in-shop takeout only. Krispy Kreme has also designated today a “Straight A Tuesday” and will give a free “Straight A Dozen” with every pickup, drive-through or delivery order with the purchase of any dozen doughnuts. Each “Straight A Dozen” includes three specially

all states and the District of Columbia, behind only (in positions one through six) New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Iowa, West Virginia and Maine. The rankings were based on the most recent unemployment claims in each state in comparison to claims throughout the pandemic and the number of claims during the same period last year. In another study related to COVID-19, nearly 4,000 Americans were surveyed about how their exercise habits may have changed during the pandemic. According to the survey, the average Missourian is doing about 30% less exercise now than before the pandemic began. The study also found people in Vermont were doing 67% less exercise compared to the average Minnesotan, whose exercise time has only dropped 16% during

Go out in style

decorated doughnuts along with nine glazed doughnuts.

Murphy Business adds new ‘value’ service

Murphy Business of Cape Girardeau has introduced a new service called “value coaching,” designed to help business owners be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to preparing their businesses for sale. “Every business owner will eventually exit their business,” according to a Murphy news release. “Failing to prepare could be devastating. They may find out the business is not sellable, worth what they need to retire, or structured properly.” Murphy’s value coaching packages are designed to provide business owners with an annual valuation, helping them keep their fingers on the pulse of what their businesses are worth. The service also includes monthly videos covering steps business owners should take to prepare their businesses for sale. Top tier coaching package subscribers also receive individualized quarterly coaching “to really maximize their investment,” according to the news release. More details are available at murphybusinessofcape. com or by calling (573) 3351885.

People on the Move Dr. Lynne Skaryak has joined the medical staff at Southeast Hospital. She has become affiliated with SoutheastHEALTH Heart, Lung & Vascular Lynne Services, Skaryak joining cardiothoracic surgeons Paul Robison and George Berberian in the practice of thoracic surgery. Skaryak brings more than 20 years of surgical experience to Southeast. She received her medical degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and was a cardiothoracic resident and chief resident at Duke University Medical Center. Before coming to Cape Girardeau, Skaryak was on the medical staff at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. Prior to that, she served as head of thoracic surgery at Sinai Hospital and Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital, both in Baltimore. Philip Moore and David

the pandemic. A new Domino’s restaurant in the 2400 block of East Main Street in Jackson is almost ready to open. Contractors installed much of the kitchen equipment and were working on the restaurant’s interior trim last week in preparation for an opening they said should be by the end of this month. The restaurant will offer delivery, takeout and drivethrough service, and will eventually include an inside dining area. According to published reports, this is a good time to be in the pizza business, especially Domino’s, which reported robust sales during its second quarter, which ended June 14. A recent story in the Wall Street Journal said Domino’s enjoyed a 16% gain in U.S. sales during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic

Shell have new positions in the Banterra Bank organization. Moore, who has been a leader for Banterra’s Cape Girardeau team since 2017, has been promoted to market executive for the bank’s Southeast Phil Moore Missouri region, while Shell, who joined Banterra in 2019 as senior commercial lender, has been promoted to assistant market executive for the region. Before joining Banterra in 2017, Moore was vice president and commercial lender at The Bank of Missouri in Jackson, where he was employed since 2010. Before that, he was with Regions Bank in Cape Girardeau, serving as vice president. He also served as branch manager and community banking manager with Regions Bank. Shell was senior vice president of commercial lending at First State Community Bank before joining Banterra. Prior to that, he was senior vice David Shell president of commercial lending at Commerce Bank in Cape Girardeau for 10 years and served in various bank leadership roles throughout Southeast Missouri for 14 years before that. SIKESTON, Mo. — Greg Cunningham has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Farm Credit Southeast Missouri. His apGreg Cunningham pointment became effective Aug. 1. Cunningham succeeds Bob Smith, who will retire this fall after 42 years with Farm Credit. Before joining Farm Credit Southeast Missouri, Cunningham served as president and CEO of Farm Credit of Florida. He has also served as the president and CEO of Legacy Ag Credit in Texas and has worked at Farm Credit organizations in Alabama, North Carolina and Louisiana. He began his career in financial services with the Federal Land Bank of Lake Providence, Louisiana, after receiving his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. He was involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America during his high school and college years. He also served 21 years in the Army National Guard. Headquartered in Sikeston, Farm Credit Southeast Missouri is a $750 million agricultural lending cooperative serving the Southeast Missouri counties of Bollinger, But-

compared to the same period in 2019. After a career that spanned more than 60 years, Dr. Abdul Basit Chaudhari has retired from his neurology practice at SoutheastAbdul Basit HEALTH Chaudhari in Cape Girardeau. His retirement became effective July 31. During my decade-plus at Southeast as marketing campaign coordinator, he was always one of my “go to” doctors whenever I needed neurology insights and he was always willing to help with whatever project I was working on. Enjoy your retirement, Dr. C!

ler, Carter, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne.

Awards and recognitions

Elite Travel Inc. of Cape Girardeau recently received the Diamond Producer Award for Karisma Hotels & Resorts. Awarded during the annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, the award is given to top travel agencies in North America that have shown strong partnership with the Karisma brand as well as dedication to the success of the Gourmet Inclusive program. Founded in 1992, Elite Travel is the only Gourmet Inclusive travel agency in Southeast Missouri. Gourmet Inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya region include El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma.

Chamber Notes The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly Business After Hours membership gathering at 5 p.m. today at the University of Missouri Extension office, 684 Jackson Trail in Jackson. Face masks will be required and attendees are asked to observe social-distancing guidelines. The Chaffee Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting Wednesday at Chaffee Drug Store, formerly Medicap Pharmacy, 211 W. Yoakum Ave. in Chaffee.

Business license applications

Matthew Ryan Hester of Jackson has applied for a Cape Girardeau business license to open The Hester Agency LLC, a property, casualty, life and retirement insurance agency at 835 N. Kingshighway, Suite 102. Hester is purchasing the Allstate Insurance agency operated by Kathy Darby at 1301 N. Kingshighway and will open it as The Hester Agency on Oct. 1, according to the license application. Andrea Danielle Dienstbach of Cape Girardeau submitted a business license application last week with the City of Cape Girardeau to operate a mobile snow cone and ice cream business called 5 7 Treats. According to the application, 5 7 Treats will be operational as of Aug. 24. A Cape Girardeau business license application was filed last week by Casey Nichole Petzoldt of Cape Girardeau who has opened Candids LLC at 1836 Broadway, offering photography services and printed products. The business also operates under the name Candids by Casey. 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.

On a final note, I learned the other day that one of Cape Girardeau’s newest and more “unique” businesses will close at the end of the month. The Breakroom on South Plaza Way opened briefly in early March before the COVID-19 pandemic forced it and many other businesses to temporarily close. It reopened in May, on Fridays and Saturdays, giving customers an opportunity to blow off steam by smashing everything from beer bottles and china plates to computer monitors and keyboards. According to Breakroom owner Terri Robinson, the pandemic has kept the business from turning a profit. The Breakroom will remain open, by appointment only, on Fridays and Saturdays, through the end of the month. Breakroom sessions can by scheduled by calling (573) 803-1618.

Flourish magazine is your source for women’s fashion available right here in Cape Girardeau. Subscribe for free at www.semissourian.com/flourish.

Impact From Page 3A During the pandemic, Turner said she saw “an uptick in people hiking our trail, fishing in the kids’ fishing pond and hiking conservation areas” throughout the region. “We’ve been doing online programs since June and will continue to do virtual programs before we slowly introduce in-person programs that can be done outside, like hiking, canoeing and kayaking, but they’ll still be very limited on the number of people that can participate,” Turner said. Even guided hiking programs will be restricted. “We could take more people, but if they’re going to be 6 feet apart, we can only talk so loud,” she said.

Employee staffing When it comes to matching employees with employers, Talent Force customer service manager MaKenya Owens told the Missourian the pandemic has resulted in a “supply and demand” issue. “We’re just not seeing a lot of people looking for work,” she said. “Not at all.” The Talent Force office in Cape Girardeau works with companies as far south as Sikeston and as far north as Perryville, many of which want to hire workers. “We have a lot of openings,” Owens said, and attributed the lack of job seekers to the federal government’s $600-a-week supplemental unemployment payments, which, for some people, have made it more attractive to remain unemployed than to resume work. “Hopefully, now that (those payments) are coming to a close, there will be more people out in the workforce trying to find jobs or to go back to their jobs, so we’re hoping it will pick up very, very soon,” she said.

Pest control Chris Horrell at Bug Zero said his pest control business has benefited from the pandemic. “A lot of people are working from home, so we’re getting a lot more activity on the residential side,” he said. “And a lot of our services are outside only, which has been a benefit to us for sure.” During the summer months, Horrell said Bug Zero has been focusing a lot on mosquitoes and other outdoor pests “because people have been ‘vacationing’ at home this summer and are outside more on their decks and around their pools.”

Tourism When asked whether local tourism was rebounding, Brenda Newbern replied, “Oh, heck yeah!” Newbern is the executive director of Visit Cape, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Tourism is doing well and the hotels in our area are holding very firm and strong,” she said, and attributed much of the visitor activity to sports tournaments throughout the area, including the Cape Girardeau SportsPlex. “We are fortunate and blessed to have tournaments every weekend starting in June. Local hotels over the weekend were “booked solid,” Newbern said, thanks to an 80-team basketball tournament and a large family reunion. While tournaments such as the one over the weekend draw hundreds of people to Cape Girardeau, Newbern said she has observed overwhelming compliance with face mask requirements and “social-distancing” guidelines among spectators and participants — when they’re not on the court. “I’ve attended them to see how we’re doing with masks and everything,” she said. “They’re taking temperatures, they’re sanitizing, everyone has to wear a mask when they’re not playing and, of course, spectators have to wear them all the time. It’s been great.”

10A

REGION

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Cape man allegedly holds child hostage on I-55 BY BEN MATTHEWS

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Felony charges have been filed against an armed man who stood in the middle of Interstate 55 while holding his 11-month-old son hostage. Alonzo Jones Jr., 34, of Cape Girardeau is charged with one Class B felony of first-degree domestic assault, one Class D felony of unlawful possession of a firearm, one Class E felony of unlawful use of a weapon and one Class D felony of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to an arrest warrant filed by Cape Girardeau County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Angel Woodruff and signed by Judge Frank E. Miller with a $100,000 cash-only bond. A probable-cause statement signed by Cape Gi-

rardeau police patrolman Brian McCain stated the incident occurred about 4:11 p.m. Thursday near mile marker 98.8 in Cape Girardeau. “Jones then used his son as a hostage and in the process of doing so, choked his son, with his arms wrapped around the child’s neck, while telling officers he was going to kill him,” according to the probable-cause statement. “Jones only let go of the child after being tased by officers.” According to the arrest warrant, Jones took a substantial step toward causing serious physical injury to his son by choking him, and created a substantial risk to the child’s life and body by standing in the middle of the interstate while holding the child and pointing a gun at other motorists.

Cape Farmers’ Market This Week: Fried Pies, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Sweet Corn, Blackberries, Green Beans, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Purple Hull Peas, New Potatoes, Greens, Onions, Baked Goods, Doughnuts, Meats, Honey, Soap, Plants, Flowers and BBQ

THURSDAYS WALK THRU MARKET Noon-5 pm

West Park Mall Parking Lot Cape Girardeau

Know where your food comes from, support local farmers.

Gordonville Elementary welcoming students back ahead of classes BY MARYBETH NIEDERKORN

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

Gordonville Elementary teachers and staff are making videos to welcome students back after being out of the building since March, ready to learn again later this month. Joseph Moore, music teacher at Gordonville Elementary who also teaches at North Elementary and Millersville Elementary, wrote an upbeat, cheerful song for his students. “I wanted to get them back in the spirit to be back in school and be excited,” Moore said. “COVID-19 robbed them of last school year, and we’ve been out of school so long. I just wanted them to have a moment to be excited about school.” Moore acknowledged the uncertainty around starting school, “but it’s not a scary place. It’s a place where we are going to come together. We’re ready to learn again.” He put together the song and video after a message from building principal

On the ball Catch all the sports scores and info at semoball.com

Retrieved from Facebook

Joseph Moore, music teacher at Gordonville Elementary, is seen in a screenshot of welcome-back video for students. Christine Zirges in May, encouraging all faculty and staff to think about doing a welcome-back video ahead of the face-to-face school year beginning Aug. 24. “As an administrative team in the district, we knew we would need to get creative with ways to engage

our community in the coming year,” Zirges said. Welcoming new students was also part of the goal, especially since the usual faceto-face open house at the beginning of the year won’t be held this year — kindergarten will be by appointment only, and first- and second

grades will hold a Zoom session to welcome students and families. “This is something I wouldn’t have thought about last year, but our teachers have jumped in with the technology, spent the summer learning more about it. They’re way more comfortable,” Zirges said. Everyone from the school’s cook and administrative assistant, instructional aides and other teachers have put together videos, now up on the school’s Facebook page, Zirges said. And, she said, teachers were able to develop a different kind of connection with students while teaching remotely. “Students met family and animals of the teachers, and teachers got a glimpse into the lives of students, too,” Zirges said. “We just want the kids to be able to get that glimpse into our lives in order to build connections and be relatable as connection is the building block of relationships, which are essential for learning.”

S.T.A.N.D. PROTEST AT CAPAHA PARK

Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center Back to School Immunization Clinics School is almost here! Are your child’s immunizations up-to-date? Immunizations by Appointment Only

Appointments spaced to provide for social distancing August 5th August 8th Drive-through (8th and 12th grade only) August 10th August 17th August 19th

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Arena Park** 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Please remember to bring your child’s insurance or Medicaid card, their immunization record and our consent form to the appointment.

Call 573-335-7846 for your appointment 1121 Linden Street Cape Girardeau

BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com

Mckenzie Eston reads the names of victims of police brutality during a candlelight vigil Sunday at the corner of Broadway and West End Boulevard in Cape Girardeau. About 50 attended the vigil, which was held as part of an all-day “S.T.A.N.D. Protest” event co-hosted by Midwest Council for Civil Rights and Missouri Social Activism. Sunday marked six years since Michael Brown Jr. was fatally shot by Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. Photo gallery

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Cape County firearms business robbed SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Authorities are searching for “multiple suspects” who burglarized a Cape Girardeau County firearms business late last week. A news release issued Monday by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office said JSE Surplus on Highway 74, west of Cape Girardeau, was entered at about 5:30 a.m. Friday. “Once inside the business, the suspects began to steal multiple firearms,” according to the sheriff’s

office. “During the burglary, the owner of JSE Surplus, who happened to be in the building, was alerted to the break-in, confronted the suspects, and fired multiple rounds from a shotgun in their direction.” According to the news release, “the suspects subsequently fled the business, dropping most of the firearms, yet still getting away with several.” It is not known whether anyone was wounded in the incident.

The suspects were last seen heading west on Highway 74 toward Dutchtown, according to the statement from the sheriff’s office. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting with the investigation. When asked for any additional details about the incident, JSE Surplus issued a statement saying, “We are just going to defer to the sheriff’s office at this time. We don’t want to do anything to interfere in the investigation.”

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REGION / FROM PAGE ONE

County clerk, staff guide virus-era election, prepare for November BY TYLER GRAEF

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

ast Tuesday began for Kara Clark Summers like most Election Days: at 3:30 a.m. Though by her own admission “not a morning person,” the Cape Girardeau county clerk and her team would spend the next 20 hours or so doing, well, just about whatever it took to shepherd another pandemic-year election to an accurate and orderly end. Her first stop was City Hall in Cape Girardeau — the only one of the 29 precincts in her purview that had yet to be assembled in the preceding days — to ready the site before election judges arrived at 5 a.m. For the second election cycle this year, much of that assembly was aimed at coronavirus-proofing the voting procedure from start to finish. The measures went beyond just face masks and hand sanitizer. Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that Congress passed earlier this year, Cape Girardeau County received about $69,000 to conduct elections with additional personal protective equipment. So barriers were erected, physical-distancing guides marked in duct tape on the carpet, and a small contingent of auxiliary staffers, armed with spray bottles and washrags, were charged with tailing voters throughout the day to constantly sanitize all identifiable touch-points. Clark Summers, who is quick and insistent when ascribing credit to the office’s staff, reserved special praise for the colleagues who shouldered this latter task, noting that, “We paid them to work, but that’s a long day, especially when they’re putting themselves out there. Ten dollars an hour is not a lot when you’re asking someone to come in and sanitize after every voter.” One such worker, Chris Walley, would later cast the day’s work as a matter of civic duty; a responsibility he felt to help his neighbors and strangers alike engage in local government. “It’s something we have to do,” he said. “We can’t keep people from voting. A little old lady just told me it’s welcoming now to walk into a place and smell alcohol when it’s not a bar. Because you know it’s clean. So we’re gonna keep cleaning so people can vote and we’re gonna be okay.”

The unexpected When the polls opened at 6 a.m., Clark Summers began her custom of visiting as many polling locations as possible to address or prevent any potential problems. She said the county was blessed this cycle to have avoided any malfunctions in actual voting equipment, as can happen on occasion. But problems inevitably surface once the polls open and those problems are seldom obvious.

TYLER GRAEF ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers stands for a portrait between rows of lockers containing election tools and paraphernalia in the lower level of the county clerk’s office Friday in uptown Jackson.

TYLER GRAEF ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Election officials Amy Hester, right and Caitlin McCready perform verification tasks necessary for the results of the August election to be verified at the Cape Girardeau County Clerk’s Office on Friday in uptown Jackson This election, for instance, had seen the polling place at St. Andrew’s church on Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau relocated from its customary spot in the church to a nearby building in the weeks before Election Day, and although voters were sent notices reminding them of the change, enough confusion transpired at the far end of the parking lot that one poll worker had to be stationed outside to direct traffic. “There was just a lot going on there,” Clark Summers said, keeping most, if not all, traces of exasperation from her voice. The problem, she explained, was eventually solved through an impromptu shuttle service using a golf cart on loan from the City; yet another example of the cooperation for which Clark Summers was grateful. “We have such a great staff and a very generous community,” she said, which came in handy considering the higher-than-normal voter turnout of last week’s election.

The preparations Meanwhile, in-person polling places are only one part of the equation. The election Aug. 4 saw roughly three times the normal amount of votes cast by mail, Clark Summers said, so much so that a portion of the county

From Page 1A

No place like home Covering a community is more than following crime and controversy. It’s about telling the stories of people who make your hometown special. The Southeast Missourian is your local news source.

The count Seven hours later, Clark Summers was back at the county offices in uptown Jackson to oversee the count and offer that small prayer common to election officials —

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Ballfields Fox said he has been impressed by ballfield complexes he has seen in Ellisville and O’Fallon, Missouri, as well as Martin, Tennessee. Meyer said the city will not overspend its budget. “Whether we have four fields or eight fields, we will not go over the allotment,” Meyer said. “If we have to buy property, that will chew up some of the money,” Fox said, “but if land was donated, we could put more funding into making really nice ballfields and amenities.”

offices had to be rearranged in anticipation of the increased volume. “We knew it was going to be like that,” she explained, citing the similarly hectic 2016 primary election as instructive experience for both the elections held so far this year and the hurdles anticipated come November. And although her team of around 180 people was able to handle last week’s election, she said November’s will likely require at least 275, plus sanitation workers. “We’re going to need a lot more people in November,” Clark Summers said, especially urging young people to apply, since some older or at-risk election judges have withdrawn due to coronavirus concerns. Other judges, however, such as third-year election judge Lisa Elfrink, expressed high confidence in the safety measures put in place by the county. “The county has done an excellent job of keeping voters safe,” she said at around noon Election Day at City Hall.

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the one for wide margins. The polls now closed, the ballots were extracted from their sealed dropboxes and sent off to a lower-level room in the county building, where a tabulation machine unconnected to the internet rendered the unofficial results. Those results were then simultaneously uploaded to the county’s webpage for the general public, as well as stapled to a corkboard in the next room, where a small gaggle of county employees, journalists and campaign staffers squinted over one another, scanning the results for surprises or early trends. Under Missouri law, Clark Summers and her team have 14 days to certify the election results, but only after completing a sequence of proofs designed to ensure total accuracy. At least two precincts are drawn at random, one large and one small, to undergo a manual recount of all ballots. The counts are amended to reflect any absentee ballots not immediately available on election night. The ballot boxes themselves undergo fidelity screenings. “That’s why results are unofficial,” Clark Summers explained. “Until they’re official.” And in this case, even before Aug. 4’s results were certified, Clark Summers and her staff already have one eye trained on November. “Elections don’t just start 10 weeks before Election Day,” she said, encouraging anyone interested in helping conduct that November election to contact her office for more information.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

11A

Suspect arrested in Cape homicide, 1 still at large SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Four of five suspects in the July 20 homicide of Anthony Miller are now in police custody. Jaden T. Young, 20, of Cape Girardeau w a s Jaden T. b o o k e d Young into the Cape Girardeau County Jail on Friday on an active warrant for second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree attempted robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. He is being held on a $1

Taxes From Page 1A This month the county received $184,434.42 from its use tax, $34,788.23, or 23.25%, more than it generated in August 2019. So far this year, the county’s usetax receipts are running almost 37.8% ahead of this point last year, totaling

million cash-only bond. The fifth suspect in the case, 28-year-old Clarence “C.J.” Smith of Cape Girardeau, is still at large. An active warrant for Smith’s arrest was issued Clarence J. July 23. Smith Anyone with information related to the investigation may contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department via its business line at (573) 335-6621, its anonymous tip line at (573) 339-6313 or by texting “CAPEPD” to 847411.

$1,216,819.05. That’s nearly twice the $637,728.84 the use tax generated at this point in 2016 and almost as much as the tax raised in all of 2018 ($1,238.000.57) or 2019 ($12,291,487.12). 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.

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We’ve got spirit Tired of all the negative news? Make sure to pick up a copy of the weekend’s newspaper. The Good Times section will leave you smiling.

NATION / WORLD

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Pandemic wrecks Class of 2020’s first job BY KELVIN CHAN

LONDON — British fashion school graduate Phoebe St. Leger’s dream of landing a job at a design label is on hold. Like many others in the global Class of 2020, the pandemic is clouding her career ambitions. The coronavirus forced the cancellation of her university graduating class’s final-year fashion show, removing the chance to show her knitwear collection to people in the industry, some of whom might have liked her work enough to offer her a job. Instead, St. Leger, 23, returned to her family home in Winchester, southern England, and submitted her classwork online. She has applied for about 40 jobs and received only rejections. “All the jobs have all dried up — everywhere,” she said. She knows graduates from previous years who have been fired or furloughed and is prepared to get a job at a bar. “It’s still hard to be hopeful when you’re not seeing anyone doing well at the moment.” Around the world, young people armed with new degrees, diplomas and professional qualifications are struggling to enter the workforce as the pandemic pushes the global economy into recession. COVID-19 has thwarted hopes of landing first jobs — important for jumpstarting careers — as employers cut back graduate recruiting plans or even revoke job offers. The latest U.S. job numbers Friday underscored the murky outlook: 1.8 million jobs were added in July, a sharp slowdown in employment growth from the month before. It means the world’s biggest economy has regained just 42% of

DOLORES OCHOA ~ Associated Press

Dr. Maria Jose Casco adjusts her hair Wednesday as she walks near her home in Quito, Ecuador. Around the world, young people armed with new degrees, diplomas and professional qualifications are struggling to enter the workforce as the pandemic pushes the global economy into recession. Casco, a newly qualified doctor, hasn’t found work after graduating in Ecuador in April. Casco, 24, said she’s been searching for health-related jobs as well as work in other industries. jobs lost to the coronavirus. U.S. careers website Glassdoor said the number of jobs advertised as “entry level” or “new grad” was down 68% in May from a year ago. In Britain, companies plan to cut student recruitment by 23% this year, according to a survey of 179 businesses by the Institute of Student Employers. The wave of delayed employment will ripple out through the economy, says Brian Kropp, chief of HR research at consultancy Gartner. Many grads will have student loan debts they won’t be able to start paying off until they find a job, he said. “If you can’t get an entry level job today, that means that you don’t move out of your parent’s house, you don’t develop real work experience, you don’t buy your first home until later, and

you don’t get married until later.” Michael Welch, 22, has been scouring LinkedIn, Monster and Indeed for postings and connections after earning a University of Connecticut engineering degree. He hadn’t planned to start his job search until after graduation. “That plan was disrupted because I was planning to go into a good job market,” he said. “Suddenly I was in one of the worst job markets in recent history.” Welch, who moved back home with his parents, worries about online interviews and starting a job remotely. “Remote jobs are great for someone who doesn’t have to commute and already has a job,” he said. But “for someone entering the job market it is a scary prospect. It’s difficult to learn technical skills when you’re

McDonald’s sues ousted CEO, alleging employee relationships ASSOCIATED PRESS McDonald’s says it’s suing Stephen Easterbrook, the CEO it ousted last year over an inappropriate relationship with an employee, alleging Monday he covered up relationships with three other employees and destroyed evidence. The company now wants to reclaim millions of dollars in compensation paid to Easterbrook. “McDonald’s does not tolerate behavior from employees that does not reflect our values,” said McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski, who was promoted following Easterbrook’s departure, in a message to employees Monday. The lawsuit puts a spotlight on a years-long reckoning over sexual harassment at Chicago-based McDonald’s and its 39,000 restaurants. In the U.S. alone, more than 50 workers have filed separate sexual harassment charges against McDonald’s with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or in state courts. Leaders with Fight for $15, which supports higher wages and unions for fast food workers, said Monday that McDonald’s should use

U.S. employers post more jobs in June, ease hiring ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

any money it recoups from Easterbrook for worker-led programs that combat sexual harassment. In his message to employees, Kempczinski said he is committed to making sure that employees are “encouraged and comfortable coming forward with information about any behavior that doesn’t align with our values.” McDonald’s also told workers Monday it is conducting a global survey and listening sessions to assess the current state of its corporate culture. The assess-

ment will be completed and shared with employees in November, McDonald’s Chief People Officer Heidi Capozzi said in a message obtained by The Associated Press. McDonald’s fired Easterbrook last November after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee. Easterbrook told the company that there were no other similar instances. An initial search of his cellphone confirmed that.

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in a remote setting.” Noah Isaak, a 2019 grad and newly certified teacher, has been applying for jobs in the Chicago public school system and has done a few interviews, but they didn’t lead anywhere. Most of the people he knows from his program are having trouble, too. Now he’s considering applying for minimum wage jobs at Target, Costco, coffee shops and Amazon. “I’m stressed,” said Isaak, 23. “Nothing is really going how we expected it to go. It’s comforting that it’s not a personal flaw and other people are going through the same struggle. But it is difficult not knowing.” One important long-term effect for young graduates who take longer to find good first jobs is lower pay over the course of their careers, experts said.

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers advertised more jobs in June compared with the previous month, but overall hiring fell, painting a mixed picture of the job market. The number of jobs posted on the last day in June jumped 9.6% to 5.9 million, the Labor Department said Monday, a solid gain but still below the pre-pandemic level of about 7 million. And employers hired 6.7 million people in June, down from 7.2 million in May, a record high. The figures suggest that restaurants, bars, retail shops, and entertainment venues — businesses that were subject to shutdown orders in April — continued to bring back workers at a healthy pace. Job openings in those industries also rose. But outside those categories, employers remain reluctant to bring on new workers, a trend that could weigh on the economy in the coming months. Hiring slowed sharply in manufacturing, construc-

tion, and health care services in June. The government has previously reported that the nation gained 4.8 million jobs in June. That figure, however, is a net total, while Monday’s report, known as the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, provides gross hiring figures, without subtracting layoffs or quits. On Friday, the government said employers added a net 1.8 million jobs, a solid gain but far below June’s increase and below the 2.7 million added in May. Employers slashed 22 million positions in March and April, and so far 42% of those lost jobs have been regained. The number of people quitting their jobs, meanwhile, rose by one-quarter to nearly 2.6 million, a huge gain that is unusual in the depths of the recession, when workers typically try to hold onto their jobs. Many workers may be reluctant to remain in jobs that they believe put their health at risk.

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BUSINESS / 3A

Coming attraction Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In to bring new life to old venue

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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WIND WORRIES

Death toll reaches 35 from fires up and down West Coast

‘TAKE BACK OUR STREETS INITIATIVE’ AT RANNEY PARK

$1.3M spent defending marijuana permits ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com

From left, Jack Elwood Clark II crumbles a clod of soil while working with 1-year-old King Money and Bankole McCrae to plant a red maple tree during a “Take Back Our Streets Initiative” event Sunday at Ranney Park in Cape Girardeau. The event was organized by the Southside Coalition for Community Outreach and featured music, food, local art and vendors.

Jackson plans sewer system smoke tests BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Jackson’s Public Works Department will conduct smoke tests of the city’s sanitary sewer system starting Monday and continuing through October. Smoke testing is performed to find leaks that allow stormwater into the system, according to Jackson

public works director Kent Peetz, who said people may observe smoke coming from plumbing vents on the roofs of homes and buildings — which is normal — or from the ground, which could indicate a broken pipe or missing clean-out cap. Pink door-hanger notices will be distributed by city crews throughout testing areas before testing begins.

Peetz said the smoke used during the tests is nontoxic, harmless and creates no fire hazard. Any smoke inside a home or commercial building could be a sign of defective plumbing or dry drain traps. Residents and businesses in testing areas should run water in floor drains, sinks and tubs to make sure water is in all traps in order to prevent smoke from entering

the structures, Peetz said. Most of the testing activity will take place in city streets. However, it may be necessary for public works employees to briefly walk into yards in order to document their observations. For more information about the testing process, contact the Jackson Public Works Department at (573) 243-2300.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri regulators have spent $1.3 million to defend themselves in court against a wave of lawsuits filed by businesses that were denied medical marijuana business licenses. Businesses that didn’t receive permits from the state filed 853 appeals through the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission, and 785 of those cases remained unresolved last week, said Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Senior Services, which runs the medical marijuana division. Cox told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the legal fees are a one-time cost associated with getting Missouri’s program up and running, but critics said it is a reflection of problems in the way permits were awarded. She said the state received 2,270 facility applications but only awarded 348 total licenses. “The number of appeals is not an indication of flaws in the process, but rather the high number of applicants,” Cox said. Lawyer Chuck Hatfield, who represents eight businesses that appealed after

The number of appeals is not an indication of flaws in the process, but rather the high number of applicants.” LISA COX Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services spokeswoman, on the 853 medicalmarijuana-permit appeals not getting state licenses, said the process to review applications for medical marijuana licenses appears flawed because companies received different scores for some of their answers on the form even though they were identical to what other companies submitted. “They answered verbatim the way other applicants answered, because a lot of the applicants shared common consultants on certain issues,” Hatfield said. “And so our answers are identical to the word, to the way other applicants answered, and yet we got a different score.” See PERMITS, Page 6A

Jackson grad, ex-astronaut Linda Godwin discusses ‘Starfleet’ amendment BY JEFF LONG

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Former space shuttle astronaut and 1970 Jackson High School graduate Linda Godwin said recent comments by “Star Trek” original series actor William Shatner may generate more interest in the Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. military. More than 2,400 personnel transferred from the Air Force into the eight-month

WEB:

old Space Force on Sept. 1. Shatner wrote an Aug. 26 op-ed piece for militarytimes.com that lit an internet firestorm when the original Capt. James T. Kirk suggested Space Force use Navy ranks, not Air Force ranks, as designations, as was done in the various “Star Trek” TV series and movies. Space Force is an outgrowth of the Air Force, which labels officers as generals, colonels, majors, et al. The current chief of opera-

semissourian.com

tions for Space Force is Gen. John Raymond. The Navy uses its own way to name personnel: admirals, captains, ensigns, et al. Shatner wrote that using Naval ranks make “better sense when talking about a spaceship.” Shatner has endorsed the so-called “Starfleet” amendment sponsored by Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, directing Space Force to adopt the ranks used on

Local History

Linda Godwin, Jackson High and Southeast Missouri State University graduate, poses for a photo before her final space shuttle journey in 2001. File

WEATHER

Photo gallery Southeast Missouri State University’s stage combat class is being held outside at the River Campus this semester to help with social distancing. See photos in a galley at semissourian.com.

INDEX

Business .......................3A Classified...................... 5B Comics .......................... 4B

Garret B. Kremer-Wright takes a look at the Holmes family farmland near Riscoe, Missouri, in the 1920s and ’30s. Read about them at semissourian.com/features.

Dear Abby ...................8A Entertainment ...........8A Opinion ........................5A

H:83 L:58 Mostly sunny

Sports............................ 1B TV listings ....................8A

Volume 116 • Issue 286

ships at sea. Godwin, who last visited Cape Girardeau County this summer, is an adjunct instructor at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Godwin, a 1974 Southeast graduate, flew on four shuttle missions from 1991 to 2001, and is a self-described “Star Trek” fan and proclaims herself neutral on the issue of ranks. Yet she sees some merit in Shatner’s idea. See GODWIN, Page 6A

Monday, September 14, 2020

Business FROM THE (HOME) BUSINESS DESK ...

JAY WOLZ ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

SARAH YENESEL ~ sarahy@semissourian.com

Jonny Tosarello, left, and Chuck Stratton pose for a photo in front of the concrete drive-in projection screen of the former Montgomery Drive-In in Dutchtown. The two are behind the project to create Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In on the site of an old drive-in theater that has been closed for many years.

Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In to bring new life to old venue BY JAY WOLZ

Montgomery, family who agreed to lease the drive-in property to them. For several weeks now, the 12-acre tract has been a beehive of activity as crews cleared trees and brush that have cropped up in the four decades since Montgomery Drive-In, also known as the drive-in theater at Blomeyer, closed in 1980.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

nearly forgotten remnant of a bygone era is being reincarnated as a family-friendly entertainment venue a few miles south of Cape Girardeau. A month ago, it was easy to overlook the site once known as Montgomery Drive-In on an overgrown piece of property along Highway 25 between Dutchtown and Chaffee, Missouri. In fact, it took a keen eye to spot the former drive-in’s weathered screen, encrusted by vines and obscured by the trees surrounding it. But in a few weeks, the property will become Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In, showing classic movies and new releases with a state-of-theart 40,000-lumen digital laser projection system. It will also use a low-wattage audio transmitter to pump movie soundtracks directly to FM radios in each vehicle instead of relying on old-style detachable drive-in speakers hanging on poles next to each parking space. Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In’s opening date hasn’t been announced, but project developers are shooting for mid-to-late October as long as the weather is favorable for ongoing renovations. The developers — Jonny Tosarello and Chuck Stratton — also have plans to host live concerts at the site and eventually add amenities such as an arcade,

A blessing in disguise SARAH YENESEL ~ sarahy@semissourian.com

The original marquee of Montgomery Drive-In sits in the corner of the property. Tosarello says there are plans to refurbish it for Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In, one of many improvements and refurbishments for the site. batting cages and mini-golf. “Our plan is to show good, wholesome movies at a very affordable price, with great concessions, great food and very clean, brand-new bathrooms,” Tosarello said. “We’re building something for our community. That’s our motivation.” Stratton and Tosarello have known each other for years through their wives, who are cousins. Tosarello grew up in the Chicago area and has worked in the live entertainment industry for the past 25 years, specializing in lighting and visual design. Tosarello and his family live in Jackson. Over the years, he has worked with various artists such as Def Leppard, Paul McCartney, Metallica and Kid Rock.

Since 2010, he has been the lighting, video and set designer for the legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Stratton is originally from Bollinger County but now lives with his family in Chaffee, where he started Stratton Express, a car and truck shipping business, 10 years ago. He is also a professional bass fisherman, competing in tournaments across the country. Both Stratton and Tosarello are members of the Cape Shrine Club. “He and I talked on and off for years about the Shriners Circus and we used to talk about doing a ‘Shriner palooza’ here,” Tosarello said. Those conversations eventually led Stratton and Tosarello to contact the

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many touring bands, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, have canceled their performance schedules, which has given Tosarello time to develop the project. “Skynyrd hasn’t had any shows since March, so I’ve been home the last six or seven months,” he said. “Usually, I’m gone 250 days a year, give or take, so it (the pandemic) has been a blessing in disguise.” And, in regard to the pandemic, Tosarello and Stratton say the drive-in format lends itself to social distancing. “We’re planning on spacing out the cars so everything is socially distanced,” Tosarello said. “Initially, we’ll have a parking spot and, next to that spot, we’ll have a tailgating spot, and if you want to stay socially distanced inside your car with your windows closed and your radio on, you’ll be fine.” See DRIVE-IN, Page 4A

Masked Men — SoutheastHEALTH president and CEO Ken Bateman, left, meets with Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications, prior to the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee gathering Friday at the Century Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center. SoutheastHEALTH and the Southeast Missourian were among sponsors of this month’s chamber breakfast.

From possibility to reality F

riday was supposed to be “presentation day,” the day when members of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cape Class of 2020 presented their ideas for various civic-improvement projects at the JAY WOLZ chamber’s monthly From the mem(Home) Busi- bership ness Desk ... breakfast. is a weekly But column by because business of the editor Jay COVID-19 Wolz. To pandemic, submit news, which reach him at kept jwolz@semis- group sourian.com. members from formulating their projects, presentations have been postponed until next year. So instead of new project presentations, the chamber took a few minutes Friday to highlight some of the dozens of Leadership Cape projects that have been adopted in Cape Girardeau over the past two decades. Here, in chronological order, is a recap of some of those projects: 1999 — A downtown revitalization proposal helped plant the seeds for the creation of Old Town Cape. 2000 — A proposal to create a “family aqua plex” led to the opening of Cape Splash Aquatic

Center 10 years later. 2001 — It was suggested by one Leadership Cape team Cape develop a skateboard park. Today we have two such facilities. 2004 — An outdoor family cinema project eventually led to “pop-up movie” programs in Capaha Park and at the Shawnee Park Center. It was also in 2004 that a Leadership Cape team proposed hosting a minor league baseball team in Cape Girardeau. Fifteen years later, in 2019, the Cape Catfish baseball team of the Prospect League had its inaugural season here. 2005 & 2012 — In both years, Leadership Cape teams recommended creation of a dog park for canines and their humans. In 2013, the city created the Dogtown Dog Park in Kiwanis Park. 2006 — The concept of a “children’s museum” was presented to chamber members, and four years later, Cape Girardeau’s Discovery Playhouse opened in the former Walther’s Furniture building, 502 Broadway. 2009 — Two of the projects proposed in 2009 — Melania’s Magical Playland and a downtown farmers market — eventually became reality. The downtown farmers market on Spanish Street has become a popular Saturday morning destination and Melania’s Magical Playland opened in Cape County Park North in 2013, followed three years later by Levi’s Adventure Trail in Cape County Park South. See DESK, Page 4A

BUSINESS NOTEBOOK

Sales, use tax revenue exceed expectations; Shawnee picks president BY JAY WOLZ

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

ape Girardeau County’s latest sales tax data, released last week by the county treasurer’s office, continue to exceed expectations, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a spreadsheet distributed by Cape County Treasurer Roger Hudson at Thursday’s County Commission meeting, the county received $807,608 this month, primarily on the basis of retail sales in the county during August. That was 10.12% more than the county received in September 2019 As of this month, the county has received $5,915,778.01 from its sales tax, 4.86% ahead of last year and more through the first nine months of the year than any year on record. Although county officials aren’t certain what’s driving the county’s strong retail

sales, they theorize it has a lot to do with the county’s positioning as the largest retail hub in Southeast Missouri, with several major retailers in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. The county’s use tax, which is generated by out-of-state sales, including purchases made through online retailers, is also setting revenue records. This month, the county received $144,154.59 in use-tax receipts, mostly as a result of online purchases made by county residents over the past month. That amount was 30.1% more than the use-tax revenue the county received in September of last year. Through the first nine months of 2020, Cape County’s use tax has generated $1,360,973.64, almost 37% more than the county received in use-tax revenue by this point last year. For all of 2019, Cape County received $1,291,487.12

through its use tax. August sales-tax revenue in Scott County was down about 9% compared to August last year, but for the year to date, the county is running about 2.6% ahead of last year’s pace, according to Scott County Treasurer Joe Bill Davis. As for Scott County’s use tax, through the eight months of this year, Davis said it generated $461,137.61 for the county, significantly exceeding the county’s usetax total of $378,438.53 for all of 2019. Meanwhile, Bollinger County Treasurer Scott Minson reported last week the county’s year-to-date salestax revenue is running about $11,500 ahead of sales-tax revenue at this point last year. However, he said the county’s sales-tax revenue is about $4,800 behind 2018’s pace. As of Friday afternoon, the Perry County Treasurer’s Office had not responded to

the Missourian’s request for sales-tax data.

Shawnee College names new president

ULLIN, Ill. — Tim Taylor has been selected to be the ninth president of Shawnee Community College. His selection was announced last week during Tim Taylor a meeting of the college’s board of trustees and followed an extensive search. Taylor most recently served as campus president of Oakland Community College in Southfield, Michigan, and was chief operating officer for that college’s two largest campuses in Auburn Hills and Farmington Hills, Michigan. Taylor’s service as Shawnee Community College’s president began last week.

semissourian.com/business

He succeeds Kathleen Curphy, who has been SCC’s interim president since the departure of former president Peggy Bradford.

SEMO State foundation adds board members

The foundation at Southeast Missouri State University recently added three members to its board — Jason LeGrand of Concord, California, and formerJason ly of Cape LeGrand Girardeau; Patricia Reinhart of St. Louis; and Ron Wagner of Ferguson, Missouri. Founded in 1983, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation furthers the mission of the university by obtaining and managing financial resourc-

es that allow the university to enhance the quality and extend the range of services proPatricia vided to its Reinhart students and the region. LeGrand is a senior director of principal gifts and strategic initiatives at the University of Ron Wagner California, Berkeley. He graduated from Southeast in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in mass communications and has spent more than 20 years working in university development and alumni relations. See NOTEBOOK, Page 4A

BUSINESS

Monday, September 14, 2020

Drive-in From Page 3A Between now and next month’s reopening, the venue will undergo a face-lift that will include vine removal and power washing of the drive-in’s 80-foot wide by 50-foot tall concrete screen. Among other tasks on the “to do” list are site grading and graveling, utility trenching, and installation of ambient lighting and sound systems that will enhance the movie viewing experience. “We’re going to leave a tree line behind the screen and on either side all the way around the park and light a good portion of it,” Tosarel-

Notebook From Page 3A LeGrand began his fundraising career at Cornell University in 1999 and currently serves the University of California, Berkeley, campus as a senior strategist on transformational gifts of $10 million to $100 million. Now in his fifth year with the University of California, LeGrand previously served as senior director of development for the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Earlier in his career, he led fundraising programs at the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Denver. As a student, LeGrand worked in the university president’s office under both Kayla Stroup and Dale Nitzschke. He was a member of the All-University Judicial Board and spent a summer working in the Missouri House of Representatives as a legislative intern. In addition, he was active in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and after graduation served a two-year appointment on the international fraternity’s staff. In 2010, LeGrand received the Southeast Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Merit Award and is a member of the university’s President’s Council and Horizon Club. Last year, he established the Jason J. LeGrand and Neal E. Boyd Endowment through the university’s foundation to honor his late friend and fraternity brother. Reinhart graduated from Southeast in 1981 with a degree in home economics with a clothing and textiles option and a minor in marketing. She is a retired sales executive, having led sales teams with Brown Shoe, Nestle Purina, Stride Rite and Procter & Gamble. Reinhart was active in student government and the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was frequently encouraged and mentored by faculty members to continue her studies despite her financial challenges and earned 100% of the cost of her education through scholarships and

lo explained and said he’ll apply his lighting expertise to the tree-lighting project. “We’ll code the lights to the movie, so if you’re watching, say, ‘Die Hard,’ and something explodes on the screen, all the trees will turn red. We’re also working with a local audio company that’s getting us surround-effect speakers.” The drive-in’s concessions, restrooms and projection facilities are being fabricated off-site and will be installed in the coming weeks. A stage will also be constructed in front of the screen for live music performances and other events.

A phased development Many of the venue’s amenities — such as an arcade. batting cages and other

campus employment. She is a member of the university’s President’s Council and has established two scholarships. In 2018, Reinhart was keynote speaker at Southeast’s Power of Women Luncheon, and in 2019, she was recognized as an Alumni Association Alumni Merit Award recipient. Wagner graduated from Southeast in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in health management with an athletic training option. He went on to earn master’s degrees from Eastern Kentucky University and Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania and a Doctor of Philosophy in kinesiology from the University of Arkansas. He has served as a faculty member at Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Arkansas and the University of Tennessee at Martin. He is currently an associate professor at California University of Pennsylvania. In 2008, Wagner founded Relearnit, a company that manages online education programs for colleges and universities throughout the United States. In 2015, he established the Dr. Ronald Wagner Endowed Scholarship to support students interested in athletic training. Through his not-for-profit organization, Athleticare Sports Health Foundation Inc., Wagner leads high school students interested in athletic training on trips to Southeast to learn about the school’s athletic training program. He received an Alumni Merit Award from the Southeast Alumni Association in 2018.

CarGO, SEMO launch new transit service

CarGO Technologies and Southeast Missouri State University have launched SEMO on the GO, a new, on-demand food and ride-hailing service. The partnership includes an app allowing users to order ahead or request food delivery from participating restaurants. App users can also schedule ride-hailing services. CarGO and the university

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upgrades — will be added in phases. “For now, in order for us to be open in October, we’re focusing on our primary points of business — the projection; the clean, air-conditioned bathrooms; and really good food,” Tosarello said. A system is being set up for moviegoers to purchase tickets online through the Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In’s website, rocknrolldrivein.com. Pricing will be $30 per car for “classic” double features and $35 per vehicle for “new release” double features regardless of how many people are in each vehicle. “All of our shows will be double features,” Stratton said. The drive-in is working with a movie broker and has signed contracts with

are exploring the potential of adding additional enhancements to their partnership, including an option to order ahead or request food delivery from on-campus dining venues. According to information supplied by the university, carGO hopes to share a portion of sales generated through SEMO on the GO with the university to support a variety of student programs. As an introductory offer, students who download the SEMO on the GO app will receive free delivery on food orders through Sept. 30 and can also take 50% off the base ride-hailing fee when using the app.

McDonald’s honoring area educators with beverages, award program McDonald’s restaurants in the area are recognizing teachers this month with a weeklong free beverage offer and launch of the new Teach it Forward educator awards. From now through Friday, teachers with a valid educator ID may receive a free beverage in the drivethrough of participating McDonald’s locations. The company is also accepting nominations through Oct. 16 for the McDonald’s new outstanding educator awards, honoring educators who “exhibit the ultimate dedication to their students and contribute to the improvement of education in our most challenging times. Winners of the awards will each receive a $100 Visa gift card to use for classroom needs along with a certificate and McDonald’s coupons. For more information about the award program and to submit a McDonald’s Teach it Forward Outstanding Educator Award nomination, visit surveymonkey.com/r/teachitforward2.

Ambulance services receives donation for new equipment PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Perry County Memorial Hospital’s ambulance service recently received a $13,800 donation from the hospital’s auxiliary for the purchase of a Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS). The LUCAS device provides automatic chest compressions according to the latest international guidelines in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The device reduces interruptions that affect the heart’s preload and afterload blood flow. In addition, given health precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of mechanical CPR equipment such as the LUCAS device can help reduce the risk of face-mask leakage and the potential of disease transmission. “Adding LUCAS devices to the PCMH ambulance service will allow paramedics to focus on other lifesaving efforts such as monitoring airways and vitals as well as administering IV and life-support drugs,” said Jenni France, director of the ambulance service.

People on the Move Dr. Bradley Beran has joined the emergency services staff at Saint Francis

Score!

several production companies, including Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney and Pixar, clearing the way for their movies to be shown at the drive-in. “And for concerts, we’ll probably go with a per-car price that will vary depending on where your car is located,” Tosarello said. “If you’re up front center, you’re going to pay more for that then if you’re all the way in the back.” Depending on weather, the drive-in will likely close for the season in January and February. “But we might open up a weekend here or there if the weather permits,” Tosarello said.

One of several drive-ins Montgomery Drive-In

Medical Center. Beran attended Southeast Missouri State University, Bradley earning his Beran osteopathic degree at Des Moines University in Iowa in 2017. Between 2017 and 2020, he completed a residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also became a fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine in July of this year. Longtime marketing and sales executive Steve Schiwinger has been named business and relationship director at Element 74 in Cape Steve Girardeau. Schiwinger In his new role, which he assumed in late July, Schiwinger is responsible for large accounts and business relationships, including government contracts, joint ventures and investor relations. He will also oversee the marketing and sales activities for individual “software as a service” (SaaS) products. Element 74 is located on Rust Avenue in the former McKessen building. Since being acquired by Red Letter Communications in December, Element 74’s staff has grown to 26 and by next year its revenue is projected to be triple of what it was in 2019. Historic preservationist and owner of C.L. Jordan Preservation Carla Jordan has recently contracted to work full time with the Cape Girardeau Carla Jordan County Historical Society’s History Center and the center’s recently-expanded annex in Jackson. Jordan has worked part time for the historical society for six years and has also served as director at the Lutheran Heritage Center in Altenburg, Missouri, the past 16 years.

Chamber Notes The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly business breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Jackson Civic Center. Reservations and face masks are required to attend the free gathering for Jackson chamber members. Social distancing will also be practiced and attendance will be limited to no more than two people from each member organization. The Jackson chamber’s 2020 membership drive, “Mask-erade 2020,” is scheduled for Oct. 30. Chamber members wishing to participate are encouraged to dress in costume. Breakfast and lunch will be included and prizes will be awarded. Those interested in participating in the membership campaign are asked to sign up by Oct. 9 by emailing assistant@ jacksonmochamber.org or by calling (573) 243-8131.

Receive high school scores via text. semissourian.com

opened with a “Gala Easter Program” on April 10, 1955. At that time, there were several other drive-in theaters in the area, including two in Cape Girardeau — one known simply as Cape DriveIn near the Cape Girardeau airport and Star Vue DriveIn on North Kingshighway on a site now occupied by Fountainbleau Lodge. At one time, there were also two drive-ins in Sikeston, Missouri, one in Jackson and one just south of Chaffee, which had its grand opening just four days after Montgomery Drive-In opened. The original screen at Montgomery Drive-In was constructed of redwood shipped from Oregon. That screen, according to Southeast Missourian archives,

Desk From Page 3A 2011 — One of the Leadership Cape groups suggested Cape create something called “A Taste of the Heartland/Rivers Edge Theatre & Dance” event. That suggestion eventually led to creation of the Summer Arts Festival on the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. Also in 2011, a proposal to add free public Wi-Fi in downtown Cape Girardeau was one of the factors that led to creation of the Marquette Tech District and the addition of Wi-Fi access along sections of Broadway and Main and Spanish streets. 2014 — A Leadership Cape group suggested establishment of Food Truck Fridays. That suggestion came to fruition in 2017. 2015 — A project titled “SEMOepicenter” helped spawn creation of several tech-related projects in the Marquette Tech District. 2017 — One of the Leadership Cape projects proposed in 2017 was a music festival titled “Beats on the Bank/ Rollin’ on the River” and inspired creation of the Shipyard Music Festival the following year. All told, about 50 projects presented by Leadership Cape participants over the past 21 years have led to several community enhancements. Although the pandemic short-circuited this year’s program, several businesses and organizations should be recognized for sponsoring Leadership Cape’s Class of 2020: Banterra Bank, the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, the Cape Girardeau Public Library, Commerce Bank, Dogwood Social House, Elite Travel, GlennViewStrategies, Holloway Carpet One, Lawless Harley-Davidson, Notre Dame Regional High School, Service Master, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties, SoutheastHEALTH, The Bank of Missouri and Verdesian Life Sciences. The number of weekly first-time unemployment claims in Missouri appears to be inching up again as the state’s economy recovers from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. For the week ending Sept. 5, the most recent week for which data is available, the Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations reported 10,857 claims, up nearly 400 from the 10,458 filed the week before and about 1,600 more than the number of claims filed the

was destroyed by a windstorm in September 1965 and was replaced with the present concrete screen structure, reinforced from behind by 10 massive I-beams. After closing in 1975, Montgomery Drive-In briefly reopened Friday and Saturday nights during the summer of 1980, but has remained closed, and neglected, since then. When it opened 65 years ago, the double feature at Montgomery Drive-In included “The Black Knight,” starring Alan Ladd, and “The Caine Mutiny,” featuring Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson and Jose Ferrer. Rock ’N’ Roll Drive-In’s first features will be announced in the near future on its website and Facebook site.

week prior to that. Still, the pace of weekly jobless claims remains only about a tenth of what it was during the initial weeks of the pandemic when the number of filings topped 100,000 in late March and early April. A couple of cannabis-related notes ... The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced Friday it is making the first of what is expected to be many fund transfers from the state’s medical marijuana program to the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC). The total transfer amount will be $2,135,510 generated through fees related to facility and patient licensing. When Missourians voted in November 2018 to approve a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana, the amendment included a provision requiring program fees and taxes collected by DHSS, less operational expenses, should be transferred to MVC for health and care services for military veterans. Meanwhile, in Illinois, the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation recently reported record sales of recreational cannabis products. In July, cannabis sales amounted to about $61 million, and during the first seven months of 2020, consumers purchased more than $300 million worth of legal marijuana for recreational use in Illinois. That amount does not include taxes generated by marijuana sales, which can exceed 40% depending on product potency. During the first half of this year, Illinois took in $52 million in marijuana-related tax revenue. Are you working from home these days (like I am)? If so, you have undoubtedly incurred some expenses setting up your home office. According to a recent survey, the typical “work from home” employee in Missouri spent an average of $165 to set up a home office. The national average, according to the survey, is $181, with home workers in New Hampshire spending the most ($350 on average), while people working from home in Montana have spent the least ($50). Nationwide, 85% of “work from home” employees believe their employer should reimburse them for the cost of setting up their home office and 58% of those with home offices want to keep working from home the rest of the year as long as their employers give them that option.

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.

Monday, September 14, 2020

OBITUARY

Nelson Sewing Nelson Fred “Shorty” Sewing, 91, of Friedheim passed away at home Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, the same home in which he was born and baptized. Nelson Born Sept. 8, 1929, Sewing Nelson was the fourth child of Robert Herman and Lydia Clara Grossheider Sewing, and called the family farm his home from his birth to his death. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith at the family home Sept. 22, 1929, by the Rev. John H Deye, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. He was confirmed April 18, 1943, by the same pastor, and was a lifelong member of the Friedheim congregation. Nelson was active in many aspects of congregation life: He served in a variety of church offices; served on the annual picnic committee; sang in the adult choir; helped with Sunday School; and played on the church’s dartball and softball teams. Nelson attended Apple Creek Valley and Trinity Lutheran (Friedheim) Schools, and graduated from Perryville (Missouri) High School in 1948. He served honorably in the U.S. Marines from Dec. 21, 1951, to Dec. 4, 1953, during the Korean War, and thereafter served six years in the Reserves. He was a 68-year member of the American Legion in Perryville. Nelson was a lifelong farmer, and

served on the Cape Girardeau County ASCS committee. He also served as an election clerk in Cape Girardeau. Together with his late sister, Wanda Sewing, Nelson owned and operated Sewing’s Travel Center/Sewing’s Restaurant from 1977 to 2007, retiring from that business after 30 years. During that time, Nelson was also a seed-corn dealer and operated a small engine repair shop. He and Wanda also received the Missouri Century Farm designation in 2017 for their ownership of three of the “Sewing Settlement” farms. Nelson bowled in leagues in Jackson and Perryville, as well as local and state tournaments. Nelson once picked up the 7-10 split, a rare and difficult bowling accomplishment. He also enjoyed attending auctions and collecting antiques. Nelson’s family is grateful to Saint Francis Hospice, Veterans Affairs and independent caregivers for helping with Nelson the last two months of his earthly life. Among the compassionate caregivers were Angie, Bern, Carole, Chris, Dale, Deanna, Gail, Heather, Jeff, Jennifer, Kayla, Kim, Marge, Raunda, Sharon, Sonya and Tammy. Loving survivors include Nelson’s nieces and nephew, Paula Sewing (David) Altschul, Kay Sewing Bolin, Robert Sewing, Sue Sewing (Diana Wolfram) and Margie Sewing; great-nieces and great-nephew, Jennifer Altschul (Conor Byrne), Carole Bolin Moore (Mike) Harvell and

Dale (Denise Cutsinger) Bolin; greatgreat-nieces and great-great-nephews, Cameron Moore (Caleb) Johnston, Dylan Moore, Nathan Bolin, Taylor Bolin, Kaylie Bolin and Mason Bolin; great-great-stepnephews, Thomas Harvell and Jacob Harvell; and a greatgreat-great-nephew, David Johnston. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Herman and Lydia Clara Grossheider Sewing; four siblings, Floyd Sewing, Dorothy Sewing (infant), Wib Sewing (Hunter Jean Call) and Wanda Sewing. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson and from 8:30 a.m. to service time Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Roger Steinbrueck officiating. Burial and military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Dale Bolin, Scott Howe, Mike Harvell, Wayne Hoffman, David Lang, Ken Schmidt, Brad Schwab, Robert Sewing and Randy Zoellner. Memorials may take the form of contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church, 3700 County Road 415, Friedheim, MO 63747, or the Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial, 1172 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Perryville, MO 63775. Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the TRIBUTE WALL tab of Nelson’s personal obituary page at mccombsfuneralhome.com.

OUT OF THE PAST: SEPT. 14 Sharon Sanders Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a blog called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper. Check out her blog at semissourian.com/history.

1995

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission last night unanimously recommended the City Council approve plans for a residential subdivision despite opposition from nearby residents; commissioners said they had no choice but to approve the preliminary plat for the 28acre site at the southeast corner of Sprigg and Bertling streets because it met all city zoning and subdivision regulations; after the meeting, commissioners said it is questionable whether the developer, DeHarder Real Estate of Satellite Beach, Florida, has the finances to proceed with what would be called The Capes Subdivision project. War games staged by the 1140th Combat Engineers, Missouri National Guard, and the Tri-State Truck Pullers competition were held last night, both making their first appearances at this year’s SEMO District Fair.

1970

Arena Park is a hub of activity as work-

ers hurry to repair four large exhibition tents damaged when winds swept across the grounds of the SEMO District Fair last night; tents for livestock, poultry, rabbits and field crops were already secured south of the Arena Building, when two gusts of wind hit the grounds; tent owners are sending repairmen here from Memphis, Tennessee. Nearly $3,000 is taken in a safe burglary at Old Appleton in the morning, after burglars apparently break a tear gas vial designed to protect the safe; burglars break into Appleton Mercantile, operated by L.L. Buchheit, and take about $2,500 of the store’s money plus about $350 from a state hunting and fishing account.

1945

The Rev. Alphonse Hotze, who was reared at Leopold, Missouri, and who has been interned in China by the Japanese, has been liberated, according to the War Department; he had gone to China as a

teacher about 1937; shortly after Pearl Harbor, he was interned and has been kept in charge by the Japanese; even in captivity, he continued to teach. The first payment of $102,060.21 of the state school fund apportionment for 1945 has been received, and W.P. Caruthers, county treasurer, announces the apportionment to schools, $75,025.30 to city and consolidated schools and $27,034.91 to the rural schools.

1920

Louis Hecht purchases the John Jaeger building, now occupied by the Tallent Barber Shop on Main Street and will remodel it as soon as he takes possession, with plans to open a gent’s furnishing store; the new acquisition adjoins his ladies ready-to-wear store on the south side, and the two buildings will be made into one. The Cape Girardeau County Fair kicks off its annual exposition at a crowded Fairground Park; admission is 50 cents.

Missouri substitute teacher requirements relaxed temporarily ASSOCIATED PRESS JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri is temporarily making it easier for people to become substitute teachers in anticipation of a potential shortage because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Missouri State Board of Education signed off on

Godwin From Page 1A “Our space shuttles were named after sailing ships,” Godwin conceded. “I worry, though, that because of the ‘Star Trek’ connection, people will see Space Force as a fleet of space vehicles and it’s really not,” she added. Space Force is not involved in human spaceflight and does not have its own cadre of astronauts, Godwin said. NASA will continue to be the government agency responsible for launching people into space, but has

Permits From Page 1A State lawmakers are in the middle of reviewing the med-

letting people with a high school diploma or equivalent complete a 20-hour state-approved substitute teacher online training to become eligible. Before, they needed to complete 60 college credit hours for a substitute certificate, the Jefferson City News-Tribune reported. Frontline Education, the

not done so since retiring the shuttle feet in 2011. A private company, SpaceX, successfully put two men into space in May. Although the exact responsibilities of Space Force are evolving, President Donald Trump said he sees the newest service branch as part of the government’s national security apparatus. “Space is the world’s newest war-fighting domain,” Trump said at the Dec. 21 signing ceremony creating the first new branch of the U.S. military since 1947. One job of Space Force will be to protect military systems in space, such as GPS satellites, that provide information to ground-

ical marijuana permit application process, but that investigation has been on hold for several months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The money spent on legal bills comes from fees medical marijuana cardholders

vendor administering the training, said 734 people have participated in the online training as of late last week. The training includes topics such as professionalism, honoring diversity, engaging students, classroom management techniques, basic instructional strategies, supporting students with special

needs and working with atrisk youth. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education proposed offering the new option after consulting with many teachers and administrators who expressed concerns about a potential substitute shortage for the 2020-2021 school year.

based troops.

change these days than the fate of the agency that put her into space.

Relevance of space in the COVID era

“I hope the economy will turn around,” said Godwin, 67, “but in times like this, it can be tough to tell someone (outer) space is important.” In Godwin’s final two shuttle missions, in 1996 and 2001, she did spacewalks, what NASA calls extra-vehicular activity (EVA). “We trained for those in a water tank,” she recalled. “The military budget has always seemed pretty large to me and NASA has not been that big of the piece of the pie,” Godwin said. Godwin said she is more worried about climate

and business applicants have paid the department. Those fees, after covering the cost of running the program, are supposed to be deposited into a new Veterans’ Health and Care Fund. The medical marijuana

Jackson football follower

“I keep up with the Indians,” said Godwin, who played clarinet in the JHS marching band and was on the yearbook staff. A member of the same graduating class as current Jackson public address announcer Dan Stover, she was on hand Dec. 7 at Faurot Field in Columbia when Jackson lost to Carthage in the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 5 final. “That was quite a game,” Godwin remembered, “and a cold one.”

program had generated $19 million as of December, so the legal fees represent a small portion of the money that has been raised. The health department had, as of December, spent another $3.1 million administering the program.

BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com

A bullet hole is seen at a house in the 900 block of College Street after shots were fired early Sunday in Cape Girardeau.

Shots fired on College Street in Cape damage property, cable line BY BEN MATTHEWS

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN An active investigation is underway into a shotsfired incident at 1:32 a.m. Sunday that damaged a cable line and multiple homes in the 900 block of College Street in Cape Girardeau. Officers responded to a report of multiple shots fired in the area and located several homes and items of personal property struck by gunfire, according to Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Joey Hann. Audio of more than 20 sounds resembling gunshots could be heard on surveillance footage captured nearby at the time the incident was reported. At least two homes on the block showed visible bullet holes as a result of the incident, and a resident in the area said cable

ONLINE Video To hear the shots, find this story at semissourian. com and play the video. crews were working in the area the next morning to repair a severed fiber line. Several spent rounds and shell casings were seized at the scene, Hann stated. No one was injured during the incident and no suspects are identified at this time. A police investigation into the incident remains active, and anyone with information may contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department by calling its business line at (573) 3356621, the anonymous tip line at (573) 339-6313 or by texting “CAPEPD” to 847411.

Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship Center to host Halloween festivities BY BROOKE HOLFORD

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN Many are saying Halloween is “canceled” this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship Center in Perryville, Missouri, wants to keep the spooky spirit alive in Southeast Missouri. The center will host A Haunting at the Hope Center 2020 from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 31 to help give the community a sense of normalcy on Halloween, said Kelly Lewis, the center’s program director. There will be a guided walkthrough of a “haunted forest,” an outdoor showing of the movie “Hocus Pocus,” a concession stand and bonfire with s’mores, Lewis said, as well as pumpkin decorating and face painting. Family-appropriate costumes are also encouraged. “The forest is going to be pretty intense,” Lewis said. “But we will have activities for smaller children in the indoor facility.” There will be a minimum $10 donation required per car upon entry, and all donations go to the Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship Center. Lewis said the center have the acreage and ability to social distance, so they wanted to offer something so people of all ages could have a “somewhat normal” Halloween. “Because of everything

with coronavirus, kids haven’t had an opportunity to keep anything somewhat normal,” Lewis said. “We want to offer something for the kids to be able to have a somewhat normal Halloween experience and still be safe, and to make it fun for people of all ages.” Lewis said in addition to the regular Halloween experience, the center wanted to hold an event to help bring the community together. “We were sitting around thinking about how we could reach out to the community during this time, and what we could offer where the community would feel like they still had a safe option to come do something,” Lewis said. “That’s why we put this Halloween event together — we felt like it was something we could offer during this time that would just keep everyone involved.” Lewis said the center has already had large distributors from the community step in and make donations for the event. They are currently taking donations from the community for Halloween decorations as well as prepackaged commercial candy. Donations may be dropped off at Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, 2019 E. Harvest Circle in Perryville. To arrange pick-up at a different location, contact Lewis at (573) 517-6004.

Pavement ends Blogger James Baughn takes you in the woods, on the trails and back in time in his “Pavement Ends” blog at semissourian.com

NATION

Monday, September 14, 2020

Winds a worry as death toll reaches 35 from fires BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST AND SARA CLINE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEAVERCREEK, Ore. — Nearly all the dozens of people reported missing after a devastating blaze in southern Oregon have been accounted for, authorities said over the weekend as crews battled wildfires that have killed at least 35 from California to Washington state. The flames up and down the West Coast have destroyed neighborhoods, leaving nothing but charred rubble and burned-out cars, forced tens of thousands to flee and cast a shroud of smoke that has given Seattle, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, some of the worst air quality in the world. The smoke filled the air with an acrid metallic smell like pennies and spread to nearby states. While making it difficult to breathe, it helped firefighters by blocking the sun and turning the weather cooler as they tried to get a handle on the blazes, which were slowing in some places. But warnings of low moisture and strong winds that could fan the flames added urgency to the battle. The so-called red flag warnings stretched from hard-hit southern Oregon to Northern California and extended through this evening. Lexi Soulios, her husband and son were afraid they would have to evacuate for a second time because of the weather. They left their small southern Oregon town of Talent last week when they saw a “big, huge flow of dark smoke coming up,” then went past roadblocks Friday to pick through the charred ruins of their home. While they are staying farther south in Ashland, known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, she said by text message that the forecast may mean they could be on the move again. “So this isn’t over yet but we just had the car checked so we feel prepared,” Lexi Soulios wrote. Authorities last week reported as many as 50 people could be missing after a wildfire in the Ashland area. But the Jackson County sheriff’s office said late Saturday that four people had died in the blaze and that the number of

JOHN LOCHER ~ Associated Press

Shayanne Summers holds her dog, Toph, while wrapped in a blanket after several days of staying in a tent at an evacuation center Sunday at the Milwaukie-Portland Elks Lodge in Oak Grove, Oregon. “It’s nice enough here, you could almost think of this as camping and forget everything else, almost,” said Summers about staying at the center after evacuating from near Molalla, Oregon, which was threatened by the Riverside Fire.

JOHN LOCHER ~ Associated Press

George Coble carries a bucket of water to put out a tree still smoldering on his property destroyed by a wildfire Saturday in Mill City, Oregon. missing was down to one. At least 10 people have been killed in the past week throughout Oregon. Officials have said more people are missing from other fires, and the number of fatalities

is likely to rise, though they have not said how high the toll could go as they search. In California, 24 people have died, and one in Washington state. Thousands of homes and other buildings

have burned. Barbara Rose Bettison, 25, left her farm among the trees and fields of Eagle Creek, outside Portland, when a sheriff’s deputy knocked on her door Tuesday. They

drove away on a road that became an ominous dividing line, with blue skies on one side and the other filled with black and brown smoke. She took shelter at an Elks Lodge near Portland, where evacuees wrapped themselves in blankets and set up tents out back. “It’s terrifying. We’ve never had any form of natural disaster,” she said. Bettison, a UPS driver, was able to get out with her chickens, rabbits and cats. She hasn’t been back, but neighbors said it is so smoky they can’t see their hands in front of their faces. “I’m hoping there has not been too much damage because it would break my heart,” she said. Farther south in the town of Talent, Dave Monroe came to his burned home, partially hoping he’d find his three cats. “We thought we’d get out of this summer with no fires,” he said. “There is something going on, that’s for sure, man. Every summer we’re burning up.” Numerous studies in re-

cent years have linked bigger wildfires in the U.S. to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas. The Democratic governors of all three states say the fires are a consequence of climate change, taking aim at President Donald Trump ahead of his visit today to California for a fire briefing. “It is maddening right now that when we have this cosmic challenge to our communities, with the entire West Coast of the United States on fire, to have a president to deny that these are not just wildfires, these are climate fires,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” At a rally in Nevada, Trump blamed inadequate forest management, which White House adviser Peter Navarro echoed on CNN’s “State of the Union,” saying that for many years in California, “particularly because of budget cutbacks, there was no inclination to manage our forests.” Firefighter Steve McAdoo has run from one blaze to another in Oregon for six days, seeing buildings burn and trees light up like candles. “We lost track of time because you can’t see the sun and you’ve been up for so many days,” he said. “Forty-eight to 72 hours nonstop, you feel like you’re in a dream.” As he and his team battled the blazes, McAdoo worried about his wife and daughter at home just miles away. They evacuated safely, but at times he could communicate with them only in one-word text messages: “busy.” McAdoo and other firefighters got their first real break Sunday to take showers, shave and check their equipment. And though it’s a faint shadow of its usual self, he can finally see the sun. “It’s nice today to at least see the dot in the sky,” he said. Meanwhile, Oregon’s fire marshal, who resigned after being placed on leave amid a personnel investigation, says he was trying to help a colleague and “didn’t do anything wrong.” Jim Walker told TV news station KOIN in Portland that state police leaders put him on leave after he tried to help a co-worker whose family was missing in a fire zone, saying his superiors decided he had overstepped his authority.

Gunman sought after Calif. deputies shot in patrol car

TikTok picks Oracle over Microsoft in President Trump-forced sales bid

BY CHRISTOPHER WEBER

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Authorities searched Sunday for a gunman who shot and critically wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies who were sitting in their squad car — an apparent ambush that drew a reward for information and an angry response from the president. The 31-year-old female deputy and 24-year-old male deputy underwent surgery Saturday evening, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a latenight news conference. Both graduated from the academy 14 months ago, he said. “They performed in an admirable fashion in spite of grave adversity,” Villanueva said Sunday during a conversation with local religious leaders. “God bless them, it looks like they’re going to be able to recover.” He said the wounded female deputy was able to get help for the male deputy by calling in on the police radio despite having been shot. “They’ve survived the worst,” he added. The deputies were shot while sitting in their patrol car at a Metro rail station, the sheriff said. Villanueva, whose department has been criticized during recent protests over racial unrest, expressed frustration during his Saturday night briefing over anti-police sentiment as he urged people to pray for the deputies. “It pisses me off. It dismays me at the same time,” he said. The department tweeted video of the shooting that shows a person approach the parked patrol car on foot and shoot through the passenger-side window. “The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation,” the depart-

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department via AP

A screen grab from a security camera video shows a gunman walking up to sheriff’s deputies and opening fire without warning or provocation Saturday in Compton, California. ment stated. An extended version of the video reviewed by the Los Angeles Times shows the shooter running away in the direction he came. He turns a corner out of the frame, past a second figure lingering on the sidewalk, according to the Times. It’s unclear if the second person was involved in the attack. A sheriff’s department spokeswoman declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Moments after the shooting, the passenger door opens and a deputy stumbles out, hand on head, according to the newspaper. The driver’s-side door opens soon after. The video sparked a reaction from President Trump who responded on Twitter, “Animals that must be hit hard!” “This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice,” Democratic presidential candi-

date Joe Biden tweeted. “Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished.” A handful of protesters gathered outside the hospital where the injured deputies were being treated. The protesters tried to provoke deputies stationed outside and at one point were prevented from entering the emergency room, Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group told the TV station KABC. “Unacceptable behavior. The hospital should be a sanctuary, we should leave hospitals alone,” he said. Mendez and members of his group gathered nearby in prayer for the wounded deputies. Although the sheriff’s department tweeted that the protesters were blocking emergency entrances and exits to the hospital, video showed only a handful of men outside, some taking video on their phones.

BY MATT O’BRIEN AND TALI ARBEL The owner of TikTok has chosen Oracle over Microsoft as its preferred suitor to buy the popular video-sharing app, according to a source familiar with the deal who was not authorized to speak publicly about it. Microsoft announced Sunday its bid for TikTok was rejected, removing the tech giant from the running a week before President Donald Trump promises to follow through with a plan to ban the Chinese-owned app in the U.S. over spying concerns. TikTok and the White House declined to comment Sunday. Oracle didn’t return a request for comment but has previously declined to comment. Walmart, which had planned to partner with Microsoft on the acquisition, said Sunday it “continues to have an interest in a TikTok investment” and is talking about it with ByteDance and other parties. The Trump administration has threatened to ban TikTok by Sept. 20 and ordered ByteDance to sell its U.S. business, claiming national-security risks due to its Chinese ownership. The government worries about user data being funneled to Chinese authorities. TikTok denies it is a national-security risk and is suing to stop the administration from the threatened ban. It’s not clear whether the proposed acquisition will only cover TikTok’s U.S. business, and, if so, how it will be split from the rest of TikTok’s social-media platform, which is popular worldwide. ByteDance also owns a similar video app, Douyin, for the Chinese market. Any deal must still be re-

Associated Press file

The icon for TikTok is seen Feb. 25 in New York. viewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, a U.S. government group chaired by the Treasury Secretary that studies mergers for national-security reasons. The president can approve or deny a transaction recommended by the panel, though Trump has already voiced support for Oracle as a “great company” that could handle the acquisition. Microsoft said in a Sunday statement ByteDance “let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s US operations to Microsoft.” Microsoft added it was “confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests.” The company said it “would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security, privacy, online safety, and combating disinformation.” TikTok, which says it has 100 million U.S. users and about 700 million globally, is known for its fun, goofy videos of dancing, lip-syncing, pranks and jokes. It’s recently become home to more political content such as the comedian Sarah Cooper, who drew a large audience by lip-syncing Trump’s own statements from public appearances. But the app has also raised concerns because of

its Chinese ownership. The White House has cracked down on a range of Chinese businesses, including telecom equipment makers Huawei and ZTE and messaging app WeChat, over worries that they would enable Chinese authorities to get U.S. user data. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about censorship and children’s privacy. TikTok denies that it has shared user data with the Chinese government or that it would do so if asked. The company says it has not censored videos at the request of Chinese authorities and insists it is not a national-security threat. TikTok has sued to stop the ban, but not the sale order. The negotiations have been complicated by several factors, including Trump’s repeated demands that the U.S. government should get a “cut” of any deal, a stipulation and role for the president that experts say is unprecedented. In addition, the Chinese government in late August unveiled new regulations that restrict exports of technology, likely including the artificial intelligence system TikTok uses to choose which videos to spool up to its users. That means ByteDance would have to obtain a license from China to export such technology to a foreign company. The deal had come together rapidly after the administration ramped up its threats against TikTok this summer, despite TikTok’s efforts to put distance between its app and its Chinese ownership. It installed former Disney executive Kevin Mayer as its American CEO, but he resigned in August after just a few months on the job, saying the “political environment has sharply changed.”