Stories from Thursday, November 19, 2020

Gov. Mike Parson, fresh off his decisive election victory Nov. 3, was in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday to view the new Patriot Medical Devices facility and to repeat his philosophy of “personal responsibility” for dealing with COVID-19. Once again, Parson said no to the notion of a Jefferson City-imposed requirement for all Missourians to wear a face covering...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Nancy Patterson Long, 69, of New Madrid, passed away Nov. 16, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born Dec. 19, 1950, in Parma, Missouri, to the late Pat Patterson and Gertrude Boyd Patterson. On Nov. 24, 1969, in Marston, Missouri, she was united in marriage to James David Long, who survives of the home...

Local health departments reported four additional deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday, while area counties continue to see an increase in positive cases. Two deaths were reported in Scott County, making 35 since the pandemic began in March. The Scott County Health Department reported 78 new cases, with 673 cases currently active in the county. There has been 1,628 recoveries...

Leslie Sutton and her son, Will, watch as a large crane releases a load of rock onto the bank of the Mississippi River at New Madrid, Mo. The work by the Corps of Engineers will help protect the levee during high waters. Sutton said her son was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the crane and to see the work under way...

SIKESTON — Two races have emerged for positions on the Sikeston City Council as filing ended on Tuesday. There were three positions available as Mayor Steven Burch, Councilman Ward 2 Gerald Settles and Councilman Ward 3 Karen Evans all termed out. Greg Turnbow and John Graham will face off for mayor in the April election while David Teachout will run unopposed for the Ward 3 council position...

SIKESTON — Property tax bills have been mailed, and residents should begin finding them in their mailboxes, if they haven’t already. Scott County Collector Mark Hensley said statements have been mailed and everyone should have received their 2020 tax statements by now...

WYATT, Mo. — Graham S. Fisher, age 76, died Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, at his home in Wyatt. Born March 11, 1944, in Kentucky, to the late James E. and George Frazier Fisher, he had lived in Wyatt most of his life. He was employed with Ralston-Purina a number of years until his retirement and was a member of the United Steel Workers of America.   He served several years in the Missouri National Guard...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Martha Jean Gregory Brown, age 70, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of East Prairie, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 15, 1950, in Cairo, Illinois, to the late William Ralph and Vivian Lucille Stanfield Gregory, she retired in 2013 after working in payroll/accounting for several businesses. She was a member of First Christian Church in East Prairie...