Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCAPE GIRARDEAU (KFVS) - A truck crashed into a bank on Monday morning Emergency crews responded to the Southern Bank in the 3100 block of William Street after a Ford Ranger crashed into the main entrance According to Patrolman Bobby Newton with the Cape Girardeau Police Department the fire department inspected the building and did not find any structural damage Crews on the scene told us there was no official cause of the crash yet By Amber RuchPublished: May 2025 at 2:38 PM CDT|Updated: 11 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCAPE GIRARDEAU (KFVS) - Two people were arrested after responding to a report of a weapon violation in downtown Cape Girardeau was charged with felony receiving stolen property misdemeanor possession of intoxicating liquor by a minor and misdemeanor driving while license revoked felony unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor possession of an intoxicating liquor by a minor They are each being held on $20,000 cash-only bonds officers responded to the north downtown parking lot around 10 p.m They say the suspect vehicle left the area before officers arrived Officers later found the vehicle in the area of S Park and Independence Street and pulled it over They say there were two adults and two juveniles in the vehicle The driver of the vehicle was identified as Daso Police say he improperly identified himself to officers multiple times They used a fingerprint scanner to positively identify him Thompson was a front passenger in the vehicle They say she was seen drinking alcohol while in the downtown parking lot and pointing a gun at a juvenile police say they found two bottles of alcohol and a .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine They say the gun was loaded and capable of deadly force Officers later learned the gun was previously reported stolen from another jurisdiction Old Town Cape’s annual Vacancy to Vibrancy open house showcased 15 downtown Cape Girardeau properties, connecting potential business owners with available spaces.Christopher BorroBrad and Lauren Bauman showed off a trio of adjoining properties Thursday they aim to turn into commercial spaces during Old Town Cape's Vacancy to Vibrancy open house The event connected interested business owners with available commercial locations downtown Christopher Borro ~ cborro@semissourian.comChris Cole owner and broker at Lorimont Commercial Real Estate had several properties to showcaseduring the Vacancy to Vibrancy event Thursday There were a record number of properties for potential business owners to learn more about.Christopher Borro ~ cborro@semissourian.comBudding business owners took stock of what downtown Cape Girardeau had to offer Thursday during Old Town Cape’s sixth annual Vacancy to Vibrancy downtown commercial property open house said the event has seen around a 50% rate of properties being sold within a year over the last three years “We have a record-breaking number of properties this year and I would say this whole event is just to encourage people to get out to see what’s available downtown,” she said There were 15 properties available for viewing this year from Broadway to Main Street and throughout downtown Lorimont Commercial Real Estate broker and owner Chris Cole was among those who showcased the available buildings His company had several buildings ready for viewing He said he had been displaying buildings for as long as the downtown open houses have been put on and it’s good getting people in the community out They start touring these properties and think of business ideas and I think it does spur some businesses to form,” he said stationed themselves on Main Street to showcase three adjacent properties they planned to turn into commercial properties and luxury apartments on the upper floors “We actually got a tenant out of [last year’s] event people walking around has been really great,” Lauren Bauman said Go to www.semissourian.com/newsletters to find out more Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom: We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Karen Cannon created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne (KFVS) - The Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission has released its 2025 Endangered Buildings List The list features buildings that the commission determines to have historic value and are believed to be at risk of deterioration and/or imminent demolition For the full list that includes more information about each location the Surety Savings and Loan Association Building on 318/320 Broadway Street has been added to the Endangered Buildings List this year the commission says the ornate two-story building was originally known as the Cherry Florist building It was later purchased by the Surety Savings and Loan Association which changed the text on the vertical sign from “CHERRY” to “SURETY” It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Broadway and North Fountain Streets Historic District the building is sandwiched between the KFVS skyscraper and the River Radio building allowing water to enter the building and cause damage These are signs of a building lacking proper maintenance making the building less likely to be rehabilitated in the future The following buildings were also added to the Endangered Buildings List in 2025: The following buildings were added to the Watch List in 2025: Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - The results are in for the 2025 Muddy River Marathon in Cape Girardeau Jeremiah Gibbons of Cape Girardeau was the first to cross the finish line for the full-course marathon--under three hours Will Witham of Columbia claimed third place Illinois got fourth and Cooper Thompson of Galatia Benjamin Schnurbusch of Jackson came in first with a time of 1:20:35 The half-marathon relay winner was the SEMO Running Club with a time of 1:40:13 13.1 Is Too Far in fourth and Toe Jam in fifth You can check the full results as they come in here. Missouri lawmakers are weighing an $11 million funding boost for Cape Girardeau’s Haarig District redevelopment, aiming to revitalize the historic area with new housing, retail and a police substation. J.C. ReevesA project to redevelop the Haarig Commercial Historic District could receive $11 million from the State of Missouri Southeast Missourian fileA project to redevelop Cape Girardeau's Haarig Commercial Historic District could receive significant funding from the State of Missouri One of the Legislature's appropriations bills — House Bill 19 — has $11 million earmarked for "the planning construction and/or renovation and project management of a comprehensive redevelopment project in the historic commercial district in a city with more than thirty-six thousand five hundred but fewer than forty thousand inhabitants." The bill overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives 144 to 5 on April 17 The bill has been referred to the state Senate Appropriations Committee The project would see Scott and Lisa Blank partner with the City of Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri State University to renovate the area independent retail businesses and a mix of apartments mixed-use spaces and single-family dwellings" to complement the River Campus Scott Blank said his plans haven't changed from last year "We continue to work on properties in this area of Cape Girardeau," he said "We have the property at 629 Good Hope St under construction for a police substation This facility will open within the next couple of months and will be a difference maker for this area allowing the City to operate a police substation without a rental fee for the City This will better serve this area of our city and allow the police department to provide community policing." John Voss said the university will serve as the recipient of the funds while the Blanks will provide matching funding and the City would provide infrastructure upgrades in the area "We (the city) are heavily invested in the South Cape area," city manager Ken Haskin said Blank said one phase of the development process would likely be akin to that of the River Campus Cultural Arts Center at 340 S which the Blanks constructed earlier in the decade (SEMO) facilities management came down there and provided oversight We gave them progress updates every couple weeks and built it to their specifications and I assume it would be the same as it was before,” he said Blanks said he has been in discussions with SEMO’s Board of Governors and that they were kept abreast of funding-related developments conversations would switch to the university’s role in developing the Haarig District SEMO vice president for Marketing and Communications said the university's role has not been determined "Any investment in Cape Girardeau is an investment in the university SEMO does not have enough information about how the requested state resources will be invested to develop the Haarig Commercial Historic District or what expectation there is for SEMO’s role in the project Wells said the university had not been involved in advocacy efforts regarding the project "The project was not one of the university’s capital priorities presented to legislators at the university’s legislative briefing prior to the start of the legislative session or in the university’s capital budget requests submitted to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development last summer," she said Voss said the state often participates in investments in higher education institutions and that the renovations could impact a "really disadvantaged portion" of the community "The south side of Cape has had some challenges," Voss said "I think it has one of the highest-concentrated levels of poverty in our state Anytime that we can try and help a part of a community anywhere in the state improve itself I think we should take a hard look at that." who was chair of the House Budget Committee but said it wasn't connected with the project "No matter what action that a governing body takes there will be controversy because not everyone will agree with it," Voss said "That's part of our democratic process We don't elect people with 100% of the vote if they're opposed rarely do we see anything here that has 100% unanimous support." Jamie Burger declined to speculate on whether the line item will remain in the budget long-term but said he is in favor of it "This is something they've been working on for years with SEMO I'm definitely supportive of it," Burger said "When you talk about the Haarig District that's an area that's been depressed for years This could breathe life back into that community." Southeast Missourian reporters Christopher Borro and Nathan Gladden contributed to this article longtime educator and Cape Girardeau resident She is remembered for her dedication to teaching close family ties and enduring partnership with her late husband.Betty CruseBetty Varnon Cruse of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Friday morning Betty was the fifth of 10 children born to John Sam and Pauline Varnon of Morley and Scott City She was the widow of Robert "Bob" Cruse Betty attended Morley public schools until Morley consolidated to create Scott County Central High School in 1959 Betty graduated from Scott County Central High School Betty completed her Bachelor of Science in Education in Math from Southeast Missouri State University she completed her master’s degree at Webster University in Webster Groves Betty and Bob were career teachers with the Hazelwood School District of St Betty and Bob were each other’s best friends They both enjoyed their students and their teaching careers Sue Stacy and Nita (Toby) Roodman of Cape Girardeau and Patt Sharp of Kennett; brothers Tony (Janet) Varnon of Cape Girardeau and Richard (Suzanne) Varnon of Germantown Deborah (Gary) Anderson of Cape Girardeau; brother-in-law Matt Varnon and Neil Sanders; and great-niece Betty was also preceded in death by her sister Michael Varnon and John Varnon; and brothers-in-law at Ford and Sons Funeral Home on Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau with a memorial service following at 3 p.m Key moments from May 5 in Cape Girardeau history include uncertain funding for a new vocational school in 2000, a Lutheran Home expansion in 1975, dairy show preparations in 1950, and city council debates in 1925.Sharon SandersThe Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.Southeast Missourian file2000 JEFFERSON CITY – Although it isn’t as much as school officials had hoped for $1 million for the new Cape Girardeau vocational-technical school remains in a state capital-improvements spending bill following Thursday night’s key committee action; however the money isn’t guaranteed; some lawmakers warn that the money for he school Mel Carnahan and top officials of the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Natural Resources were in Cape Girardeau yesterday as three methamphetamine cleanup trailers were handed over to members of three Southeast and south central Missouri drug task forces; the trailers designed to transport hazardous waste found at clandestine meth labs were unveiled during a press conference in a private hangar at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport The critical need for proper home facilities in this area is evident by the rapid growth of the Lutheran Home for the aged pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church told a large crowd gathered yesterday to dedicate the new east wing of the Lutheran Home at 2825 Bloomfield Road; the home was first dedicated in 1972 and rapid growth made expansion soon necessary; the 60-bed addition doubles the capacity of the home Cape Girardeau county sanitarian Marvin Campbell is instructed by the County Court to contact the State Milk Board to request permission that he be allowed to continue to take samples of dairy products that are sold in the county; the action is prompted by the board decision last month not to renew its milk inspection contract with the county because of the closing in November of Sunny Hill Dairy Co.; instead High-bred Holstein dairy cattle from six top district herds leave in the afternoon for Kansas City where they will be shown in the second annual American Dairy Show the spring counterpart of the annual fall exhibition for beef cattle; taking the herd of 17 head are four dairymen: L.C.Blattner and Raymond Schonhoff of Cape Girardeau Schuhart of Morehouse and Paul Borchelt of Gordonville who will show the animals during the week; herds represented are those of Schonhoff Dairy Acreage along Bend Road south of the old Peironnet property is being graded in preparation for subdivision into building lots; the ground will be graded to a level approximately 18 inches above Bend Road and will provide 17 or 18 lots Cape Girardeau city officials plan to take action against proprietors of meat markets and grocery stores which transact business on Sunday following complaints made before the City Council yesterday; the names of 11 proprietors who are alleged to have been operating their establishments for at least a part of the Sabbath were given to the council; the police are ordered to make an investigation The Jackson City Council last night failed to make any appointments for the offices of street commissioner although it was in session until nearly midnight; the big thing before the council is the sewer project; all seem to agree that some kind of sewer system must be installed and that it should be done now; but as to the mode of procedure Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column She also writes a weekend column called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper Senate approval advances funding for Cape Girardeau’s new vocational-technical school, while Jackson School District faces financial challenges. Historic local milestones from 1925, 1950, and 1975 are also highlighted.Sharon SandersCape Girardeau Fire Department's fleet of trucks in 1925 was purchased that year and was tested for the first time at the Fairground Park lagoon on May 4.Southeast Missourian archive2000 JEFFERSON CITY – Efforts to earmark additional state money for Cape Girardeau’s new vocational-technical school passed another hurdle Wednesday but the largest obstacle to secure the funding remains; an appropriations bill for capital improvements that includes $1.8 million for the project won full Senate approval; the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill must be worked out in a joint conference before it can the sent to the governor for his signature Jackson School District could be dissolved or taken over by the state if financial concerns aren’t addressed within the next three years say school officials; the district has overspent its budget for the past two years; more deficit spending; school administrators say the district needs more funding to hire staff Sixty-eight Cadette Girl Scouts are honored in afternoon ceremonies in Academic Hall auditorium on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University as they receive First Class Out Awards the highest award given in Girl Scouting; Nancy Lyons a television reporter and a former Girl Scout “It was one of the most warmest feelings I have ever had,” says Dr Scully following a round of events recognizing his 19 years of service to Southeast Missouri State University and the area; Scully calls it a “heartwarming day” in reflecting on the dinner dedication ceremony for the building named in his honor and reception; more than 300 persons gather on the south lawn under sunny skies in the afternoon as the Education-Psychology Building is rededicated the Mark F pastor of the Church of God in Marble City Heights died of uremic poisoning last night at the family home on Middle Street; Shirrell had been pastor of the church since 1922 when he established it; he preached his last sermon at the church he built – and rebuilt after last year’s tornado – on Nov being stricken just five days later; in the interim One of the large circular windows in the dome of Academic Hall at State College campus has been temporarily patched with boards and is awaiting more permanent repairs; the old dome lost a window when it crashed to the ground; it is believe a strong wind caused the window to give way is instantly killed when he is struck by a northbound Frisco passenger train three miles north of Neelys Landing at 4:20 a.m.; Casper was sitting on a motor speeder at the side of the track but arose and ran in front of the train as it approached; rail officials have no explanation for his actions except that he may have been blinded by the lights of the approaching train and didn’t know that it was so close Cape Girardeau’s new fire truck is given a four-hour pumping test at Fairground Park in the morning and apparently withstands the test in excellent shape; the suction hose is laid to the lagoon and the pumper is operated at high pressure – 200 pounds per inch – from 8 a.m to noon; the city plans to operate the new truck reserving the larger truck for major blazes Edward C. Hackett is named the first secretary of Cape Girardeau’s Chamber of Commerce, marking a key step in the organization’s long-term plan for local business and community progress.Sharon SandersEdward C 1925Southeast Missourian archiveCape Girardeau has had a commercial club/chamber of commerce since around 1888 speaking to a Southeast Missourian reporter in April 1933 a group of civic-minded men “got their heads together and decided Cape Girardeau needed an organization which could lead it to progress.” Those men were Flentge several members decided to run for City Council Other campaigns followed which brought a railroad and industries to town and built a street car line Not every campaign was wildly successful and “Sometimes the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has been sleepy but it never fell down completely on anything it attempted to do.” the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club became the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce with 363 members and enough money socked away the organization hired its first secretary: Edward C for several years secretary-manager of the Chamber of Commerce at Hutchinson will be in Cape Girardeau to serve as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce June 1 according to a telegram received today by K.A This information was received with the greatest satisfaction by the directors of the Chamber who have been hunting for several months for a secretary Many applications were received and several men came here for conferences Kansas City and other cities were asked to aid in securing the proper man for this place which keeps in close touch with local Chambers Several organizations have declared Hackett to be one of the most reliable substantial and constructive secretaries in the business and consequently the directors of the Cape Chamber are elated over the message saying that Hackett accepts the place Hackett was city editor of a daily newspaper at Rochester the city of 20,000 made famous by the Mayo doctors The Mayos persuaded him to take charge of the Chamber of Commerce He held that position there for eight years and when he left for Hutchinson he was given a testimonial dinner attended by several hundred men and women He has been at Hutchinson for three years and was recently elected for a fourth year with a raise of $800 is not married and lives with his mother who is now well along in years He told the directors here that the only reason for his leaving Hutchinson is that his mother fears another summer of hot winds and consequently he decided to leave regardless of future connections Hutchinson is a city much larger than Cape Girardeau It is a great salt-producing center and is known as one of the most modern and enterprising cities of that state The Chamber there has about 900 memberships at $24 each per year and each year the number of memberships has increased President Brumback hopes to have a dinner meeting early in June at which all the members of the Chamber will have the opportunity of meeting the new secretary The directors of the Chamber will hold their regular monthly evening meeting Tuesday Reports from various committees will be received It is announced that in the past two weeks several delegations and members of committees have been in St Chicago and other points in conference with men regarding a most important problem for Cape Girardeau It is stated that while the outcome of each is not known still no end of work is being done to work them out and at the general meeting in June it is probable that some public announcement will be made Girardeans pledge support to plan for greater town at gathering of C Members of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce at an enthusiastic dinner meeting Monday night at the Hotel Idan-Ha heard reports of the activities of the organization during the past few weeks pledged themselves to a continuation of an active program for city advancement and formally welcomed Edward C Hackett as the new secretary of the organization More than 150 members attended the gathering Touching on various phases of Chamber of Commerce work speakers outlined the organization’s plans for the future and the members pledged their support to the intensive three-year program of work Negotiations which the transportation committee has been carrying on with a trunk line railroad for the purchase of the Cape Girardeau Northern Railroad to give this place another railroad who declared that indications are extremely favorable for the entrance of another line here reviewed the campaign to secure subscriptions of the $10,000 a year for a three-year period and declared that the drive for new members will be continued in an effort to get everyone who will be benefited to subscribe The organization now has a membership of 362 and $10,168.50 has been subscribed to carry on the work Leming discussed the offer of the Miles Packing Co to erect a $100,000 meat-packing plant in Cape Girardeau and recommended to the members that they buy stock in the new enterprise He explained that it is hoped to sell $100,000 in stock with which a new packing plant will be erected in South Cape Girardeau The packing company in 1924 – its first year – made 12% net profit He said that the business so far this year is much greater than in 1924 outlined a plan for a boulevard drive around the city of Cape Girardeau a plan that was given the hearty endorsement of the members When the state highway commission surveys the route for the primary highway west of here Bergman proposed that the Chamber of Commerce sponsor a movement to widen the highway to 100 feet and eventually extend this boulevard around the entire city He said that such a project can be worked out without subscription of funds He asked the aid of the members in securing right-of-way for such a highway a member of the citizens’ committee sponsoring the erection of a new hospital in Sunset Terrace in West Cape Girardeau declared that the committee is now negotiating with a religious organization for the erection of a hospital and will have a final report within a week Barks discussed the present municipal improvement program pointing out that the city has a $100,000 paving program underway with contracts for more to be let this week and a new sewer system under contract to cost $40,000 He also pointed out that residents of the south side are also demanding a new sewer district and a promoter of a plan for the establishment in Cape Girardeau of an amusement park which he declared would bring between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors to Cape Girardeau during the summer months His plan would be to make such an amusement park a meeting place for all Southeast Missouri and he said he would have 30 or 40 picnics each year for the district His proposition is to be submitted to the board of directors at an early date presided and in the opening address spoke in a general way of the work of the organization and said that he had come highly recommended for the place was received favorably by the members and he was given flattering applause In his address he discussed no specific city problem but explained in a general way what a Chamber of Commerce can do for a city “The question foremost in my mind is ‘what is the vision of Cape Girardeau?’” Hackett began ‘what is this vision and what is the job ahead?’” He explained that some might believe that the vision of the city is for increased payrolls the primary function of Cape Girardeau as a city is based on supplying the needs of its tributary population We must be mindful that a city and the tributary community are dependent on each other “First of all there can be no sound or sane industrial development until we know what we have that the other fellow wants; until we know the legitimate purchasing power of our trade territory; until we know our advantages in transportation Industry will not locate here simply because you have a good town and fine folks Industry has got to know what you can offer that will reduce waste cut production costs or supply raw material the first step in an industrial program should be an industrial survey and this survey should furnish the foundation for an intelligent constructive and sane industrial program.” that an industrial program should not be confined to new industry the new secretary declared that “no city has a right to invite or anticipate new industry that does not give its support to those industries already established.” He also asked for better cooperation with the farmer and asked a sane agricultural policy which will tend to unite the farmer and the city man “Our job is to break the barrier between the farmer and the man in town so that the farmer will take his place as a businessman in the promotion of the entire community,” he declared The speaker pointed out that industries might be secured fine buildings might be erected and the city might have fine streets but without citizenship you cannot prosper,” he declared He paid a glowing tribute to the public schools declaring that every cent in taxes paid is an investment in the future and he urged that the city be made more attractive so that these children public recreation and declared that “we must concern ourselves with the soul of the city.” a definite program and always keeping in mind that we are building ahead “And as we go forward building a city and a soul may we not dedicate ourselves to the task that is given us to do that Cape Girardeau may become a city where living is pleasant not worshiped; where worth and not wealth give standing to men; where the power of character lifts men to leadership where the people of all the earth can come and be blended into one community life where each generation will vie with the past to transmit to the next a city greater Hackett remained with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce only two years In August 1927 it was learned that Hackett had been offered a job as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Springfield 17 on the acceptance of Hackett’s resignation by the Chamber’s board of directors Cape Girardeau welcomed the new Chamber secretary – Leory H At the time he was serving as the secretary of the Hammond An article published in the Southeast Missourian Oct noted Hackett was “manager of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce when the campaigns for the (Mississippi River) traffic bridge the Marquette Hotel and other important projects were put over…” Sharon Sanders is the librarian at the Southeast Missourian (KBSI) – A vehicle crashed into Southern Bank on William Street © 2025 KBSI FOX23 News Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News Cape Specialty Entertainment Group’s aerial musical “Alice in Wonderland” returns May 9-11 featuring young local performers and free shows for area schoolchildren at Southeast Missouri State University.The Editorial BoardLily Applegate-Adams performs in "Alice in Wonderland" last year at Bedell Performance Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus Cape Specialty Entertainment Group will present its aerial adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" from Friday The production will feature young performers from Encore Dance Academy and The Edge Aerial Arts Company.Alyssa Lunsford-Stevens ~ alunsford@semissourian.com fileOne of the great things about the arts scene in Cape Girardeau is that it’s not just for adults From festivals and exhibititions to ongoing educational and training opportunities young people can learn about and develop skills in many artistic endeavors One example is set to return to Southeast Missouri State University’s Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus later this week Cape Specialty Entertainment Group will again present its aerial musical adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” This production features aerial acrobatics and choreography performed in conjunction with students from Encore Dance Academy and The Edge Aerial Arts Company including a free performance for area third and fourth graders from Cape and Jackson public schools Congratulations to all those involved with this effort and temperatures staying in the low to mid 70s Some scattered storm chances starting Wednesday Mostly cloudy skies in the morning and gradual clearing by the evening time © 2025 KBSI FOX23 News Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. but secured the #3 seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament SEMO initially led 2-0 before TSU's Jace Jackson hit a two-run homer and a walk-off three-run homer for the win SEMO had a strong comeback in the first game The Redhawks will compete against the winner of the #6 TSU and #7 Tennessee Tech matchup on May 7 SEMO will face a critical matchup against the winner of the TSU vs Winning this first playoff game is crucial for advancing to the next rounds Despite a disappointing series loss to TSU SEMO’s strong performance in the regular season has positioned them well for the OVC Tournament The team's ability to recover during games will be essential as they head into postseason play The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy and visitors filled the streets of downtown Cape Girardeau Saturday morning for the annual Muddy River Marathon a growing event that continues to spark the community and fuel the local business “It’s great to be out here and part of the Cape Girardeau community and run this race,” said Philip Francis “I talked to a guy that came in from near Nashville This race brings the masses into Cape Girardeau It’s already the economic epicenter of southeast Missouri and the marathon just helps put it on the map.” which has become a staple in Cape Girardeau is not just a perfect opportunity for runners but also a major boost for businesses in the area Restaurants and shops reported a noticeable uptick in customers throughout the day but then we were absolutely inundated after around 11:30,” said DeWayne Schaaf chef and owner of local restaurants Celebrations and Ebb & Flow Just getting people downtown and having stuff to do is absolutely fantastic.” but just getting people to see the area makes a big difference.” Schaaf also discusses the importance of challenging misconceptions about safety in the downtown area “The few things that do happen usually occur very late at night when no one is around.” noting the crowds and full parking lots made the downtown area feel more alive than ever “There was no parking,” he said with a laugh “I had to get more steps in after the race just to get to my after race meal A lot of businesses benefited from the number of people who came into town.” activities like the Muddy River Marathon are more than just a one day bump in sales they’re a way to breathe life into the city “I’d go for this every weekend if I could,” he said the benefits for local business are worth it.” The Muddy River Marathon continues to grow as a signature event showing everyone Cape Girardeau’s beauty and strengthening the bond between its community and local businesses some scattered rain showers east of Missouri Temperatures staying in the low 70s throughout this week Some rain and storm chances starting Wednesday Northeast winds will be gusting to around 20 mph throughout Sunday fighting for SEMO's international students higher education and freedom of speech.Photo by Taylor SlavensPeople gather for the "Defend Our Students" protest Friday evening.Photo by Taylor SlavensThe SEMO College Democrats hosted a student led protest on Friday May 3 higher education and freedom of speech.Photo by Taylor SlavensThe SEMO College Democrats hosted a student led protest on Friday May 3 Immigration and Customs Enforcement and demanding protection for the students facing their student visas being revoked putting them at risk for deportation and loss of legal status Dozens of students and community members gathered at the Academic Terraces at 5 p.m. where they heard from multiple different student speakers before taking their march to downtown Cape for the “Defend Our Students” protest Fri The protest started with a speech from sophomore musical theatre major Parker Cobden they have the right to assemble and protest for the affected students We have a constitutional right to freedom of speech and a right to peaceful assembly We have a duty as Americans to exercise those rights in this situation,” Cobden said in his speech attendees also heard from a few different student voices including sophomore acting major Anne Helmer-Larsen “It’s quite awful to watch my friends being scared of ‘am I going to be able to finish my degree here Am I going to be sent back to my home country I have here?’ A lot of people have worked really hard to be here and their families have worked really hard for them to be here,” Larsen said Senior microbiology major Teal Barkheimer also spoke before the march speaking about how students need to be loud about what is going on feeling like there is nothing we can do to change what has happened We have gathered today because we refuse to be silenced to resist our current administration We need to be loud and we need to get organized,” Barkheimer said Also in attendance was Chairperson for the Cape Girardeau County Democrats One of the protestors who participated in the “Defend Our Students” march was junior historic preservation major Bailee Porteous Porteous talked about how important it is for students to get together and stand up for those who can’t themselves “It’s important for students to protest because we have the right we are constitutionally given the right to protest and have our free speech and we need to stand up for the things that we believe in We need to stand up for the students around us who cannot stand up for themselves without the fear of deportation We need to be here for the students who cannot be here for themselves,” Porteous said the group marched down Pacific to Broadway and continued down to the Riverwalk and back (KBSI) — The Cape Girardeau Riverfront Flea Market opened May 3 featuring over 90 vendors selling a variety of items The Cape Riverfront Market will be held every Saturday and Bailee Porteous will give a preservation demonstration For more information on demonstration and music opportunities Welcome Tent or email caperiverfrontmarket@gmail.com (KBSI) — Authorities arrested two people after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a stolen gun and alcohol Officers responded to a report of a weapon violation in the north downtown parking lot around 10 p.m but officers located it and conducted a traffic stop 18-year-old A’Tyren Daso of Murfreesboro was charged with receiving stolen property possession of intoxicating liquor by a minor and driving with a revoked license 18-year-old Abigail Thompson of Cape Girardeau unlawful use of a weapon and possession of intoxicating liquor by a minor Both are being held on $20,000 cash-only bonds Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInJACKSON (KFVS) - Former Cape Girardeau County Coroner Wavis Jordan received four years’ probation and will pay a fine for providing false information on three death certificates and stealing money from a dead man’s wallet Judge Fred Copeland gave Jordan a Suspended Imposition of Sentence during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday if Jordan completes the term of his probation the three felony counts Copeland convicted him of in March will be removed from his record Copeland did sentence Jordan on the misdemeanor stealing count ordering him to pay a fine of $250 and restitution of $20 A total of 11 people spoke on Jordan’s behalf This short statement by Brandi Ray summed up the role several Cape Girardeau County families played in the end of the criminal case against former Coroner Wavis Jordan A total of nine people gave victim impact statements Wednesday at Jordan’s sentencing hearing “He had to listen to that,” Ray says of her statement he will forever have to hear exactly how he made me and my family and everyone in this room feel.” Dan Rose addressed the court right after his wife Robin did both sharing the story of their daughter Scarlett And frankly everybody today was just so remarkable,” Dan Rose said Lauren Westrich stood by her aunt Dana Mueller’s side as Mueller talked about her sister and Lauren’s mom And I’m trying to make eye contact with everybody See the pain that we have been feeling this whole time,” Mueller said Everyone in the courtroom Wednesday also heard the youngest member of the group speak And other officials to know watching this go on that they’re not above the law That you can’t just disregard your job duties and think you can just walk away,” Audrey said And that point is not lost on everyone here Dan Rose points to something Jordan’s attorney said directly to the Judge before he announced his decision “She guaranteed the judge that he would not run for any public office going forward he really won’t be able to run for anything And that’s what I intend to hold him to,” Rose said Ray tells me she also hopes Jordan’s supporters most of whom had not appeared before sentencing this won’t be the last time you hear from them We will continue to fight for what’s right And we will continue to hold people accountable And I have never been more proud to stand with anybody as I have this group,” Ray said (KBSI) — Gage McMullin has been appointed airport manager at the Sikeston Municipal Airport McMullin brings nearly three years of airport management experience to the role most recently serving as FBO supervisor at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport A graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s aviation management program McMullin is pursuing a master’s degree in airport management from Purdue University Global including the Titan Aviation Fuels’ Platinum ACE designation Enjoy the warm and pleasant weather Tuesday A few scattered showers move in early Wednesday and try to stick around through Friday afternoon But don’t worry—Mother’s Day weekend is looking beautiful with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures temperatures in the low to upper 40s for all of us Temperatures in the mid to upper 70s under mostly sunny skies (KBSI) – Southeast Missouri State University’s Presidential Ambassadors recently hosted a Q&A session and meet-and-greet with Liz Haynes Haynes said she was inspired by the students’ passion for the university and the community (KFVS) - In north Cape Girardeau on Saturday morning kids used gravity to meet their need for speed The 26th annual Soap Box Derby qualifier rolled down N “It feels like--sometimes it feels like you have been in there for 10 minutes And you are thinking of every single thing that someone has told you about racing and every single thing you have to think of And it all goes out the window,” said racer Parker Pylate The following were the top racers of the Stock division: The following were the top racers of the Super Stock division: The first-place winners of both divisions will head to the weeklong meet in Akron They have a whole hill that is just for racing And instead of racing two at a time you race three you need to beat two to advance to the next round,” explained racer Emma Pylate Since 2000, the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau has sponsored the race. According to the website it is an officially licensed local race of the All-American Soap Box Derby This race includes stock and super stock divisions “This is our club’s main fundraiser so we are able to raise funds from our sponsors who support us And we use that money to give back to the community,” said Cape Girardeau Rotary member Tracey Glenn “When different organizations come to our club and they are seeking money to support the causes they have this is how we are able to give them donations and give back to our community.” According to the event website anyone between the ages of 7 and 20 years old was eligible to compete (KBSI) — The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has confirmed a case of measles involving an out-of-state resident who visited the St The individual visited the aquarium on April 30 between 1 p.m potentially exposing others to the highly contagious virus The department warns that unvaccinated or immunocompromised individuals who may have been exposed should consider post-exposure prophylaxis by May 6 Anyone who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and report to their local public health agency if symptoms appear Those who believe they have measles should isolate and contact their healthcare provider before seeking testing to prevent exposing others (KBSI) — Missouri’s Local Government Week is being celebrated May 4-10 Sikeston City Hall is highlighting its departments starting with the Municipal Court Department led by Court Clerk Shelley Carter and Deputy Court Clerk Sherry Givens has jurisdiction over cases within the city limits Its responsibilities include handling motor vehicle and parking tickets minor criminal offenses and municipal ordinance violations 2025 at 1:12 PM CDT|Updated: 12 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCAPE GIRARDEAU (KFVS) - A family-friendly event celebrating your pets is scheduled for September at the Show Me Center Some of the highlights include local vendors and themed booths some of the festivities include a dog and owner look-alike contest a whipped cream eating contest and pet adoptions You can click here for more information – The Tennessee Tech baseball team continues its four-game road stretch with a massive Ohio Valley Conference series at Southeast Missouri this weekend squaring off with the Redhawks at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau Game two of the weekend will feature a 2:00 p.m while the series finale will open on Sunday at 1:00 p.m All three contests are slated to be streamed on ESPN+ In the first match-up of last year's series, the Redhawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead, and the contest played out that way all the way to the bottom of the ninth. Nicho Jordan spoiled things for a moment leading off the ninth with a game-tying home run but the Redhawks answered in the 10th with a three-run shot of their own to take a 4-1 win bursting out of the gates to a 6-0 lead over the first two innings courtesy of a Theo Bryant IV grand slam and a two-run double from Hayden Gilliland The Golden Eagles increased it to a 10-0 advantage before finishing things off for a 10-2 victory to square the series.  The finale took the form of a heavyweight boxing match with a punch-for-punch mentality rolling throughout the contest SEMO took a 1-0 lead in the third before Troy Baunsgard answered with a game-tying long ball in the bottom half of the frame but the Redhawks responded with a round-tripper of their own to tie the game once more in the eighth.  Preston Ford delivered the big upper cut in the bottom of the eighth, smashing a two-run blast to right-center field to push the purple and gold out front by a score of 4-2. SEMO tried to extend the fight in the ninth, scoring once on a two-out rally before Jack Brafa came on for the final out The purple and gold picked up a huge Ohio Valley Conference series win over in-state rival UT Martin over the weekend The purple and gold earned an improbable victory in Friday's opener tying the game in the eighth inning with an unearned run and rallying from a one-run deficit in the bottom of the 10th.  Tech took advantage of two costly errors by the Skyhawks with two outs in the 10th, tying the game on a throwing miscue and walking things off, 6-5, on an RBI single by Riley Black. Mack Whitcomb raced home from second base delivering a perfect swim move to avoid the tag and plate and dent the dish for the winning run UT Martin's Zach Wager tossed a gem for the visitors holding Tech to just two runs over 8.0 innings of work before passing things to the bullpen for a 4-2 win The Cookeville crew swung back in the finale on Sunday again providing a late rally to earn the win Trailing 6-4 heading into the eighth, the purple and gold used a pair of RBI singles to tie the contest before Whitcomb delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly to left-center field. Reece McDuffie finished things off with a perfect ninth on the mound The blast marked the first of his Redhawk career and gave SEMO a 7-0 advantage after the first frame The bullpen shut down the high-powered Racers for the rest of the night as the Redhawks picked up win number 27 on the season.  SEMO swept Morehead State this past weekend in epic fashion as the Redhawks won Saturday's doubleheader with 5-1 and 21-7 victories before clinching the sweep with an 11-10 The sweep marked the first time since 2004 that the Redhawks swept the Eagles in Morehead Earlier this month, on Apr. 14, junior infielder Eddie Garza picked up the first OVC Player of the Week honor of his career after helping lead the Golden Eagles to a three-game sweep of Southern Indiana The second baseman hit .667 with three home runs Back on Mar. 24, senior outfielder Nicho Jordan was recognized as the OVC Player of the Week for the first time in his career slashing .583/.688/.1.417 over four games with three home runs and eight runs scored. After opening Tech's first OVC series at Little Rock 1-for-4 tallying two home runs (including one of the inside-the-park variety) on a 4-for-4 day with five RBI On Feb. 17, sophomore catcher Mack Whitcomb earned his first career OVC Player of the Week nod and five runs in a four-game sweep over Le Moyne on opening weekend He slugged 1.154 while turning in an OPS of 1.625 We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service (KBSI) – Flooding in Kentucky has entered its 31st day with multiple roads closed due to high water 126 is closed at mile marker 4.7 due to water flowing over the road Motorists are advised to check the Kentucky Transportation District 2 Facebook page for updates and to be aware of traffic control signage indicating road closures the Lyon County Highway Maintenance crew plans to temporarily close a section of Ky 810 South on May 5 to replace a cross drain Route E in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane on May 5-8 for pavement repairs Motorists should check for updates and plan their routes accordingly (KBSI) – The New Madrid fault line runs through Southeast Missouri Experts say the New Madrid fault line produces hundreds of earthquakes a year According to SEMA(State Emergency Management Agency) the Southeast Missouri area has seen 9 smaller quakes in 7 days experts are saying this isn’t a cause for concern Starting week of April 29 2025 Earthquake activity recorded for Southeast Missouri area: For more details you can check the Earthquake map Recent Earthquake Activity | SEMA The New Madrid Fault Line that runs through Missouri produced a massive earthquake in 1811 emergency management agencies and earthquake experts have watched for when it could happen again Earthquake Program Manager Jeff Briggs shares details We have in the New Madrid seismic zone; we get well over 200 earthquakes a year on average” says Briggs According to Brigg’s the size of the earthquake is what experts’ watch out for He shares that a magnitude 3 and lower you may not even feel but a magnitude 4 and higher would be noticeable and cause potential damage The Poplar Bluff area saw a magnitude 4 earthquake in 2021 but nothing that strong has been recorded for the area since “In the last 7 days we’ve had 9 earthquakes in the last 30 days we’ve had 17 earthquakes this level of activity is pretty typical for us to see it does not necessarily mean anything in terms of a big one is coming or anything like that This is just the way the New Madrid seismic zone works” says Briggs The New Madrid fault line has the potential to produce a very large earthquake that could cause a massive amount of damage Experts are constantly watching the activity of the New Madrid seismic zone for this reason; however Briggs says this is why preparation for an earthquake is vital “We don’t want people running outside and running around because falling stuff could fall on you and hurt you We want people to fall to the ground wherever they are get under a desk or a table if you can and if not then cover your head with your arms and then hold on to whatever’s covering you or protecting you until the shaking stops.”  The Great Shake Out is an earthquake drill held each year to help spread awareness around preparation Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills – Select Your ShakeOut Region — Students and community members rallied together in protest of the Trump administration’s policies that affect higher education institutions The College Democrats of Southeast Missouri hosted the Defend Our Students protest that took place at 5:00 p.m Beginning at the Southeast Missouri State University campus protesters marched through downtown and back People chanted as they marched up and down Broadway Street I think that’s the best we can do right now,” demonstrator Apollo Tosto said Know the rights that affect other people.” Protestors expressed criticism of the Trump administration’s cuts to education and research and revocation of international students’ visas Southeast Missouri State University officials confirmed 24 students and recent graduates had their visas revoked 23 of them were able to get their visas re-instated with the administration’s frequent back and forth decision making students said their concerns are still running high “I’m scared,” Makayla Plunkett said “I have a lot of friends who come from many different countries and I don’t know what’s going to happen to them If there’s any way for my voice to be heard a Norwegian international student spoke at the rally “If any international student can stand here and speak up and maybe get away with it “because I’m a white Scandinavian woman and trump has said very clearly that that’s the kind of person he wants here.” She said it’s important to stand up for what she believes in “Neutrality is not an option,” she said Not when people around me are being told to leave everything that they have built here for reasons as small as traffic violations Not when silence means complicity.” (KFVS) - An Amber Alert issued in Cape Girardeau Missouri has been canceled after the child was reported safe According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol the 5-year-old child was abducted around 7:06 p.m near the 2800 block of Wagner Street in Cape Girardeau The child was reportedly abducted by 35-year-old Markeila Williamson The Highway Patrol said Williamson is the non-custodial mother and she reportedly took the child from her guardians The Highway Patrol says Williamson is now in custody and the child is safe (KFVS) - Several Cape Girardeau County officials have relocated to recently renovated office space The offices have moved into 1908 Courthouse The Public Administrator’s office moved to the first level Human Resources and Road & Bridge offices have moved to the second level and the Clerk’s office are now on the third level The Cape Girardeau County Commission is now conducting regular Monday and Thursday meetings at 9 a.m Collector and Assessor will remain in the Administration building on Barton Square (KBSI) — Community members celebrated the 74th Annual National Day of Prayer with music and prayers at Ivers Square Men from Indiana and Kentucky traveled to the area to carry a 9-foot wooden cross from Capaha Park to Ivers Square said the cross speaks for itself when they take it out “It’s a very humbling experience,” he said “and it brings just a flood of emotions.” Rowe said the true joy came from inviting people along the walk to join them “It’s a blessing to be here in Cape Girardeau,” he said “to pray for our nation and lift up things and see things change in our country.” Community member David Clark said he came out to the service with concerns about the current condition of the United States and the world “I believe it was the best one I’ve ever been to,” he said the prayers seem to be very on spot.” His takeaway was the importance of making a mark on the community “Rather than just going to church and being in our comfort zone we’ve got an opportunity to make a difference and help people overcome the obstacles in their life,” he said Prayers for the country and local communities were given during the event Locals also prayed for the family in Scott City that lost a mother and child in a fire Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY (KFVS) - County emergency management leaders say residents may report flood damage online According to the Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management Agency, residents with water damage to “finished” living spaces in their home, like a lower level or basement, during the recent weather event, may report it to the office here. They ask that you include a brief description, estimate of the damage and photos if available. According to the EMA, this will help them provide accurate information for the disaster assistance reporting process. Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State AthleticsRacers to Face Bradley in Cape Girardeau4/5/2025 5:54:00 PM | Baseball Murray State will play three games against the Braves on Sunday and Monday The family of Allen Edward Lane created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories witnesses stated that during a private event two individuals began verbally arguing when the suspect retrieved a pocket knife and stabbed the victim multiple times before fleeing the scene — According to the Cape Girardeau Police Department officers responded to the 400-Block of Kiwanis Dr./AC Brase Arena for a report of a weapon violation officers made contact with the victim and began treating him for multiple puncture wounds consistent with being stabbed Medical personnel arrived on scene and the victim was transported to an area hospital for further treatment This investigation is still active and ongoing and the Cape Girardeau Police Department — their business line is 573-335-6621 and their anonymous tip line is 573-339-6313 Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: (KFVS) - The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado in Cape Girardeau and had estimated peak winds of 100 miles per hour They say the tornado began near the Dalhousie Golf Club and moved northeast into the southwest side of the city of Cape Girardeau The tornado caused tree damage and minor structural damage to apartments and homes as it moved east into downtown Cape Girardeau The tornado reportedly then crossed the Mississippi River and snapped power poles north of East Cape Girardeau there were no injuries or fatalities reported According to the Cape Girardeau Police Department officers responded to the Mississippi River near the Redstar access area for a report of a body in the water Cape Girardeau PD states that officers along with fire personnel arrived on scene and began retrieval identifying the deceased as 52-year-old Shane Barendregt Scattered showers and storms will be possible on and off for Friday While storms will be possible at any time during the day the better chance will be around mid afternoon (see below) Temperatures will be very close to normal with highs in the middle 70s A few showers and storms may linger into the weekend Storm Alert Team Chief Meteorologist Rusty Dawkins