The Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium Inc. based in Sikeston, Missouri, hosted an invitation-only meeting Oct. 8 at the Drury Lodge Convention Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Among attendees was John “Tony” Lowden, who was recently appointed by President Donald Trump as executive director to lead the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry. ...

SIKESTON — Scott County Health Department Administrator Barry Cook doesn’t remember the first time he heard of coronavirus-19, but he remembers when it began to hit Missouri in mid- to late March — and the world hasn’t been the same since, especially for those who work in public healthcare...

Mike Backfisch Jr. and Donnie Keifer are both candidates for 2nd District Scott County Commissioner on the Nov. 3 ballot. Backfisch is a Republican while Kiefer is a Democrat. The following is a Q&A with each candidate. In 100 words or less: Describe your experience/background?...

Scott County R-4 “Kelly” school bus driver Dina Wilkerson delivers meals to a parent in the district Thursday at the Benton City Hall. Since Oct. 9, the district has been educating all of its students virtually after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and had been in close contact with many of the other staff members. ...

SIKESTON — The Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame has announced its first inductees, and among them is a Southeast Missouri native. Inductees require a Missouri connection, honorable military service and contributed exceptionally to the community, the state and/or the nation...

Temporary speed bumps are currently in place on Salcedo near the intersection with Columbine. Several individuals in the area have made multiple requests for the city to install the speed bumps at the location and Sikeston’s Traffic Committee has previously considered but denied this request. ...

MATTHEWS, Mo. — A pedestrian was injured after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of a truck stop late Thursday in New Madrid County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred at 9:30 p.m. in the Love’s Truck Stop parking lot in Matthews as the northbound vehicle driven by John M. Riley, 39, of New Madrid, Missouri, was backing from a parking spot and struck a pedestrian, Ernest D. Howden, 79, of Lake Michigan, Michigan...

SIKESTON — There will be a Thanksgiving meal offered to the community this year; however, it will be different than ever before due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re making drastic changes this year,” said longtime event organizer Marlene Stevens of Sikeston. “We’re still going to have a meal, but we will not be delivering or directly serving the food. All the meals will have to be ‘to-go,’ and we feel like that’s the best way to do it to keep everyone safe.”...