Stories from Thursday, December 15, 2016

It was around the year was 730 BC when the prophet Isaiah spoke and wrote as he wandered through ancient Israel. At that time the nation was struggling for its very survival. The northernmost provinces had fallen captive to the powerful Assyrians, and there was no sign that any of the smaller states could withstand their advances. ...

The 2016 Missouri Football Coaches Association all-state team featured several local players from the area. Hayti senior wide receiver Dayon Moore (6-1, 200) and sophomore defensive end Ivory Winters (6-1, 195) was named to the Class 1 first team. Hayti senior quarterback Allen Mills (5-10, 180) and Portageville junior wide receiver Hunter Gates were third team selections...

Representatives from both sides of the lawsuit pitting Missouri’s largest peach grower against the world’s largest seed company are making their case to the public. In the lawsuit served Tuesday afternoon, Campbell’s Bader Farms and its owner, Bill Bader, accuse Monsanto of knowingly marketing its Xtend cotton and soybean seeds without an accompanying safe herbicide. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Four players scored in double figures for the Scott County Central Bravettes during their 64-46 road win over Perryville on Wednesday. Samantha Coffee led all scorers with 14 points and also added seven rebounds. Trinity Thomas added 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals...

(Lilbourn, Mo.) - The office of the old Nesselrodt-Campbell Gin Company was destroyed Wednesday night. The Lilbourn Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire at 9:45. The business is located on the south end of Lilbourn's Main Street, which is also State Highway D. or Third Street of the City...

The St. Eustachius Catholic School Warriors participated in the Southern Christian Youth League Tournament on December 3, 2016. St. Eustachius Warriors won First place in the tournament and they also went undefeated in the regular season.

SIKESTON -- There's really no getting around it. The Scott County Central Bravettes didn't play well against visiting Puxico on Thursday. Turnovers caused a slow start and more turnovers limited their chances at making a second half comeback during their 57-44 loss to the Indians at Scott County Central High School...

CLARKTON, Mo. -- Nathan Burnett dropped a game-high 27 points to lead the Risco Tigers over Portageville 61-47 and into the championship game of the Clarkton Holiday Tournament Thursday. The second-seeded Tigers also got 18 points from Drew Fortner and nine more from Morgan Ludwig during its semifinal contest...

Students from Immaculate Conception School in New Madrid will perform "Special Delivery: Wrapped in the Father's Love" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Dixie Theatre in New Madrid. In rehearsal since October under the direction of Janey Kennett, the students ranging from preschool through eighth grade will portray how the young angels prepared for the birth of Jesus...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Sue A. McMikle, 92, died Dec. 15, 2016, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home.

NICEVILLE, Fla. - John Edward Higgerson, 93, formerly of New Madrid County, died Dec. 12, 2016, at his home in Niceville. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of services at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid, Mo. Burial will follow in the Mounds Park Cemetery...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Andrew Patrick "Andy" Matz, 95, died Dec. 15, 2016, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee. Born Dec. 4, 1921, in Waynesburg, Penn., he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during World War II. He worked as a butcher for A&P Stores for 25 years, worked at Burger King in Sikeston for five years, was a butcher for Ward Food Mart in Jackson and a butcher for Benton Bestway in Benton before retiring. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Myrtle "Sisser" Goodin Austin, age 77, died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at her home in Charleston. Sisser was born on Oct. 7, 1939, in Cairo, Ill., the daughter of Sam Cox and Jane Mulkey Goodin. Sisser is survived by her sister, Dorothy Anne Goodin Brink (Charles L. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Michael Glen Bowers, 32, died Dec. 12, 2016, at his home. Born Jan. 5,1984, in Sikeston, to Glen Robert Bowers of East Prairie and the late Alice Mae Franks Bowers, he lived all his life in Mississippi County, where he worked for ADM in Mounds City, Ill...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Vivian L. Watson, 94, died Dec. 14, 2016, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Nov. 7, 1922, in East Prairie, to the late G.M. "Pete" and Bessie Hockersmith Allen, she and her husband had been the owners of Watson Furniture in East Prairie. She was a member of the Church of God in East Prairie...

CHARLESTON, Mo. - Myrtle Goodin "Sisser" Austin, 77, died Dec. 14, 2016, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home.

SIKESTON -- Filing for school board offices began Tuesday with several races already forming locally. In the Sikeston R-6 School District, filing on the first day were John Graham, Stephanie W. Poindexter and Amy Blanton, according to Sikeston R-6 Board Secretary Bryan Nickell...