News

CHARLESTON, Mo. — The dogwoods and azaleas in Charleston are in full bloom and on display for visitors to the town’s 53rd annual festival which kicked off Thursday and ends Sunday. Francine Halter, co-coordinator of the Molly French Garden Club’s plant sale, said she and the rest of the town were excited and ready to open and share their town with each other and visitors...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri's COVID-19 vaccine dashboard reported Friday that one-third of all Missourians have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  "One-third of all Missourians have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, proving that we continue to make great progress in administering vaccines to residents across the state,"  Gov. ...

On Monday, newly elected Sikeston mayor Greg Turnbow will officially take his seat at the head of the Sikeston City Council. While it may be his first time as mayor, Turnbow is not unfamiliar with a leadership role...

DEXTER, Mo. — The City of Dexter has a new city administrator and chief of police. During a special Dexter Board of Alderman meeting Monday night, Trevor Pulley, who was serving as Dexter’s police chief, was named the new city administrator. Pulley takes the position after former city administrator, Mark Stidham, died in December. A special committee was formed to assist the board with the search...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — At 5:22 a.m. Thursday, the Portageville Fire Department was dispatched to the 500 block of Payne Street after police officers on scene reported flames and smoke coming from rear of a residential structure. A crew made their way to the rear of the home where they found heavy fire in the kitchen area...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Charleston has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle its part in a lawsuit brought by the family of a Black man who died in jail after having his neck pinned down for several minutes by the knee of a white sheriff. A federal judge said Wednesday she would likely approve the settlement between the mother, widow and nine children of Tory Sanders and the City of Charleston and several of its police officers, the St. ...

BENTON, Mo. — Wearing face masks in the Scott County R-4 “Kelly” School District is now optional. The Kelly Board of Education revisited the district’s mask policy during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday at the district office in Benton. The Board decided wearing a mask at school is optional, and it became effective across the district on Wednesday...

SIKESTON — A large crowd gathered under sunny and blue skies early Thursday at the grassy lot located at 315 Baker Lane in Sikeston. The lot, which housed the original Lee Hunter Elementary, is ready to host the future and brand new Sikeston R-6 school by the same name...

SIKESTON — Sikeston R-6 School District announced Thursday Crystie Ressel will be the next head principal at Sikeston Junior High. The district began the task of searching for a new head principal after the recent transfer announcement of current head principal, Frank Staple...

LILBOURN, Mo. - Two people died when a motor home apparently caught fire. New Madrid County Sheriff Bud Cooper reported deputies conducted a wellness check on Tuesday at the request of family members of Bryant Akridge after they had not heard from him in three days...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston R-6 Board of Education said goodbye to a retiring member, welcomed a new member and reorganized during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting in the Sikeston High School cafeteria. Glen Cantrell’s and Matt Tanner’s three-year terms on the school board expired early this month. Cantrell did not seek re-election while Tanner and Renee Grimes were the only two candidates to file for the positions so an election wasn’t needed on April 6...

SIKESTON — City officials and community members gathered in Legion Park Wednesday to cut the ribbon on the Depro Fountain. First envisioned years ago by lifelong Sikeston resident Bob Depro, who died in 2016, the fountain was officially a reality Wednesday when Sikeston councilman Gerald Settles cut the ribbon. After the ribbon was cut, those in attendance watched as the fountain was turned on...

SIKESTON — Plans are underway to have Sikeston High School’s class of 2021 outdoor graduation next month as scheduled. Sikeston High School Principal Doyle Noe briefed the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education on graduation procedures during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting in the Sikeston High School cafeteria...

ST. LOUIS - Michael Gurnow admits many of his classmates from New Madrid County Central High School might not recognize him today. While growing up in New Madrid, Gurnow said he was always underweight. As far as athletics, he wasn’t even good at dodgeball...

SIKESTON — Sikeston R-6 announced Wednesday Alexa Pulley will be the next Dean of Students at the Fifth and Sixth Grade Center. The district began the task of searching for a new dean after the retirement announcement of current dean, Russ Dial. “We are excited to have Mrs. ...

Employees with Fronabarger Concrete of Oak Ridge work on new guttering along Waters Street in New Madrid. With the completion of repairs to the city’s waterworks complete, the work is now underway to rebuild the street.

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Ronnie Adams still recalls his first day as Portageville police chief. He walked in the office and there sat Joe Moore, who had retired from the job. Moore looked up at Adams and asked, “Do you know what you got yourself into?” After Adams assured him he did. Moore shook his head and said, “No, you don’t.”...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - A retirement reception will honor two long-time law enforcement officers. A drop-in retirement reception is scheduled from 1-3:30 p.m. April 17 at the Portageville Community Center, 105 E. Main St., in honor of Portageville Police Chief Ronnie Adams Sr. and Portageville Police Captain Freddie Hill. Adams has served the city for 41 years and Hill for 33 years...

MINER, Mo. — During last week’s election, Miner voters easily passed a new sales tax that will help add funds to the city. It is the latest in positive things happening for Miner. “I’m tickled to death with everything that is going on,” said Miner mayor Frank Tatum. “We’ve got a good board that is working together and the citizens, I have to thank them as well. They passed the half-percent sales tax.”...

For those who want a COVID-19 vaccine and have yet to receive their first shot there will be an opportunity on Thursday. The Missouri Delta Medical Center will be holding a Pfizer vaccine clinic on Thursday. Anyone 16 years of age and older who lives or works in Missouri is eligible to schedule an appointment. ...

SIKESTON – Families that experienced the death of a loved one due to COVID-19 may now be eligible for up to $9,000 in funeral assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Two pieces of legislation recently passed by Congress – the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to families that incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri announced Tuesday that it is “pausing” administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal health officials began an investigation into potentially dangerous blood clots. Dr. Randall Williams, director of the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services, said in a news release that Missouri was taking the step out of “an abundance of caution.”...

Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities recently broke ground on the site of a new water plant located along U.S. Highway 61 South. This site provides the highest quality of water option by reducing the need for certain treatment equipment and improving efficiencies. ...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - The city of New Madrid will host a dog and cat vaccination clinic from 3-6:30 p.m. April 16 at the New Madrid Community Building, 1199 Mill St. The Malden Veterinary Clinic will vaccinate dogs and cats for $10 per animal, payable by the pet owner at the time of the vaccination. Other immunizations will also be available at a reduced charge...

Members of the crew of the American Duchess keep an eye out on the walkway as the river cruise boat takes on drinking water at New Madrid on April 7. Passengers on the boat were not able to disembark due to problems caused by the high water. The next boat is expected to bring visitors to the town in May...