Stories from Friday, December 6, 2013

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Help-Portrait is a charitable event all about photos, fellowship and smiles. The international event is held in more than 2,000 locations across 62 countries. This is the fourth year local photographers will come together in Cape Girardeau to provide free professional photos to those who might not otherwise be able to afford them...

KENNETT, Mo. (SMNS) --A merger involving the parent company of the hospitals in Kennett and Poplar Bluff is another step closer to reality. The Securities and Exchange Commission has completed its review of the proposed merger between Community Health Systems (CHS) and Health Managements Associates (HMA), owner of Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Police on Wednesday arrested a teenager suspected of breaking into several apartment buildings, defecating in hallways and stealing money from coin machines in laundry rooms. Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said someone identified the suspect from surveillance images...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The charges against a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man identified by the street name "Suavee" and accused of shooting another man multiple times recently were dismissed. Ryan Harvey, who was facing the Class A felony of first-degree assault and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action, had his case moved to Cape Girardeau County in August for trial. He was supposed to appear in court there Monday for a review of his case, but the state dismissed the charges Nov. 20...

Dexter's Parents as Teacher annual "Breakfast with Santa," scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, has been postponed until next Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9 until 11 a.m. The event is for preschool youngsters and is held at Southwest Elementary School.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A dangerous mix of snow, ice and sleet hammered southern Missouri for a second straight day on Friday, causing numerous accidents, including a wreck that killed a small-town mayor. Missouri was among many states under winter storm and ice warnings, and the state was getting a slippery mix of precipitation...

Executive Director of the United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN) Melody Melloy, at left, is shown accepting a check for $2,317 from Altrusa President Kathy White. The money was raised during the Altrusans recent first-ever auction, with proceeds going to the local PAT program and UCAN...

Albert Lee Mace, Sr., son of the late Austin William and Cozetta Layton Mace, was born in Bloomfield, on April 21, 1945, and died at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Poplar Bluff on Dec. 5, 2013, at the age of 68. He had lived in the Puxico area all his life and worked as a farm hand. He was of the Baptist faith...

The freezing rain and sleet ended in Stoddard County Friday morning and converted to snow with approximately six inches predicted to fall by the end of the day. The precipitation overnight Thursday was mostly in the form of sleet, and did not coat trees and power lines like it did in 2009...

Long before Thursday night's storm hit Stoddard County, emergency personnel were in place at the County Ambulance District (SCAD) board room, preparing for the worst. Kent Polsgrove, in his position as director of the county's Emergency Management Agency, faced his first potential ice storm since taking on the position. Under his direction, the Emergency Operations Center was placed in action at 3 p.m. Thursday...

The Missouri Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association released its all-region football team today. Three Dexter players were selected to the Class 3 team. Dexter senior D.J. Dowdy was selected as a first-team all-purpose offensive player. Dexter senior offensive lineman Drew Mason was selected as a second-team offensive player...

Ross W. Moore, son of the late Allie Moore and Nina Hollingsworth Moore, was born on May 11, 1932, in Neosho, Mo., and died on Dec. 4, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 81. Mr. Moore retired from H. W. Gossard Company as a sewing machine maintenance operator. He was a resident of Bernie and the current president of the Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop...