Stories from Wednesday, June 4, 2014

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau invites patrons to discover the only university in Missouri with a separate campus dedicated to the visual and performing arts during its 2014-2015 season...

KENNETT, Mo. -- An investigation launched May 21 after the arrest of a Kennet woman in Pemiscot County has led to the recovery of a large amount of personal items taken during storage shed burglaries stretching from Jonesboro to Risco. The arrest of Lisa Williams for burglary started the investigation...

"There's a church in the valley by the wildwood -- No lovelier place in the dale. No spot is so dear to my childhood As the little brown church in the vale."

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Fireworks will return to the Cape Girardeau waterfront this Fourth of July. After previously being displayed at Arena Park, they will be moving back to their original location, the city of Cape Girardeau announced Sunday morning...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Bloomfield Lion's Club is hosting its 13th annual car show on Saturday, June 7, at the Stars & Stripes Museum/Library at Bloomfield. The event is free to all spectators with automotive vendors welcome. There will be music and concession stands, as well as a 50/50 drawing and door prizes...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon came out in opposition Monday to a proposed three-quarters cent sales tax increase for transportation, casting it as the latest example of a misguided tax policy by state legislators. Nixon's formal statement against the sales tax proposal came a little over a week after he used his gubernatorial powers to move up the measure's election date from November to August, which gives supporters less time to develop a public-relations campaign...

Caroline Francis Powers, 15, is the daughter of Chuck and Felicia Powers of Dexter and is The Daily Statesman's June 2014 Calendar Girl. Caroline is active in Dexter High School's FCA, STUCO, Honors Choir, FBC Refuge, Kickin' Cats Dance Team, and is a Varsity Football Cheerleader. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A ruling early Tuesday morning set bond for Donald Lafferty at $750,000 cash only, with a list of 12 special conditions. Lafferty, 69, is accused of having paid a Stoddard County couple to burn down his home while his wife slept on the couch in January 2013...

BERNIE, Mo. -- The Bernie Board of Aldermen instructed City Attorney Robin Northern to prepare an ordinance for requirements for the operation of Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) on city streets. The ordinance will be similar to the one adopted by the city for operating golf carts on city streets...

DUDLEY, Mo. -- Two from Dexter sustained moderate injuries in a wreck Monday night near Dudley when an eastbound pick-up truck stopped in the driving lane of Highway 60 was slammed in the rear by another eastbound vehicle. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 84-year-old Kenneth D. ...

The 2014 Stoddard County Relay is history, and even organizers met this week to recap the annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, to go over totals, and to discuss the pros and cons of the May 2 event. This year's Relay event surpassed the set goal of $75,000 by nearly $5,000, with a total of $79,119.62 raised...