NEW MADRID, Mo. - Matthews Elementary has a new principal. At the New Madrid County R-1 Board of Education’s July meeting, Christie Kenedy was employed as the principal for Matthews Elementary School. She replaces Angie Hanlin, who has taken a job as superintendent in another school district...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - With the first half of the $3.2 million payment in hand, the New Madrid County Commission already has a list of requests that exceeds the funds. The money is part of the American Rescue Act, passed by Congress earlier this spring. The county’s portion, through the Corona Virus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, is set aside for governments to, among other things, invest in infrastructure, including water, sewer and broadband services...

Century Casinos, which has a pair of gaming operations in Southeast Missouri, located in Cape Girardeau and Caruthersville, has acquired property adjacent to its Caruthersville casino, including an existing two-story hotel the company plans to refurbish and reopen by early next year...

PORTAGEVILLE, -- Dr. Justin Chlapecka has been named Rice Extension Specialist and Assistant Research Professor with the University of Missouri, effective Aug. 1. In this new partnership between the University of Missouri and the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, Chlapecka will lead rice agronomy research efforts, conducting research at both the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, as well as the Missouri Rice Research and Demonstration Farm near Malden...

SIKESTON –– Bootheel Babies & Families (BBF) is partnering with the Missouri Foundation for Health to offer $3.25 million in grant funding to area nonprofit organizations that are working to lower the region’s infant mortality rate. “We are excited to offer this grant funding through our hub partners to Bootheel nonprofits who are making a difference for babies and mothers,” said Tracy Morrow, BBF executive director. ...

COVID-19 is once again spreading in the area as the number of active cases continues to increase. The Scott County Health Department reported 13 new positive cases since Friday while 13 have also recovered. As of Monday afternoon, there were 44 active cases in Scott County. Since the pandemic began over a year ago, 4,163 positive cases have been reported and 4,033 have recovered while there has been 86 deaths...

Work on the new Lee Hunter Elementary building is continuing. The new facility, which will be able to accommodate 450 first through fourth grade students, is being built on the former Lee Hunter Elementary site. During construction, Lee Hunter students are attending the existing Matthews Elementary facility on Elm Street. The new school is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2022 school year...

SIKESTON — Sikeston residents looking to get involved in the community make a positive difference have an opportunity to do just that. The City of Sikeston is in the process of preparing for their annual boards and commissions appointments. The city currently has 32 positions available on 15 different boards. While some terms are up for reappointment, others have expiring terms...