Stories from Thursday, December 29, 2016

With recent rains hitting the area hard Sunday and Monday, several Portageville residents are concerned if the new drainage system will ever get repaired. As of November, the City of Portageville has filed a law suit against both the engineering firm and contractor. That case will be heard after the first of the year in the New Madrid County Courthouse...

The honor is reserved for those who demonstrate dedication to safety and sustainable logging practices.

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The top-seeded Hayti Indians left just enough in the tank to wear down upset-minded Bloomfield Wednesday night. Trailing by eight in the final period, Hayti turned up the defensive pressure and made things tough for the hosts during crunch time leading the Indians to a 62-58 win during the championship semifinals of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo -- Despite having already beaten Kennett by 22 points once this season, Dexter coach Josh Dowdy wanted his team focused on last year as they prepared for Wednesday's semifinal matchup in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Almost a year ago to the day the Indians erased a four-point deficit going into the fourth quarter and secured a 55-50 comeback win, capturing their fifth tournament title in seven years...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- After winning the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament last year, the Sikeston girls basketball is out of it after two games. The Bulldogs lost 49-42 to St. Charles West in a consolation semifinal Wednesday morning in O'Fallon, Mo. Kiera Steward, Zayteanna Williams and Olivia Nash all scored 10 points for Sikeston, who were behind 32-29 going into the final quarter...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- For the seventh straight year the Sikeston Bulldogs will be playing in the championship game of the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament. Top-seeded Sikeston defeated No. 4 seed Fort Zumwalt West 80-60 on Wednesday in the semifinal to reach the title game. Sikeston will play No. 2 seed Fort Zumwalt South Thursday night at 8:15 for the championship. South defeated third-seeded Timberland 62-57 in the other semifinal...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- When the county's largest employer announced it could not pay its taxes last January and followed by closing its doors, the budgets of the county, the R-1 School District, the Health Department and others took a hit. However, through what county officials call a "team effort," that blow was softened...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday appointed D. Blake Pearson of Sikeston as associate circuit judge for Scott County. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable William H. Winchester. Pearson currently serves as assistant prosecuting attorney for Scott County and has been with that office since 2013. ...

BENTON, Mo. -- After 12 years of service, Rick Walter will officially hang up his hat as sheriff of Scott County on Saturday. Walter, a Democrat who has served as sheriff since 2004, was defeated in the November election by Republican candidate Wes Drury of Kelso. Drury's term begins Sunday, Jan. 1...

SIKESTON -- Police are investigating the burglary at a car wash Tuesday in Sikeston. About 10 a.m. Tuesday a report was made of a burglary at Finley's Autowash, 636 Greer St., according to Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Reportedly a man was walking by the car wash and noticed a large dent to the car wash door. DPS officers made contact with a car wash employee who said there were no dents in the door when he was there on Monday...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday appointed D. Blake Pearson of Sikeston as associate circuit judge for Scott County. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable William H. Winchester. Pearson currently serves as assistant prosecuting attorney for Scott County and has been with that office since 2013. ...

ST. LOUIS -- A state office building in St. Louis will soon bear the name of a Stoddard County native. The late Mike Keathley, a lifelong Stoddard County resident, is remembered in a number of ways. He was a husband, father of two sons, an Eagle Scout who worked tirelessly within the Scouting arena all his life, and an active member of the local community and beyond...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston police caught a burglar in action early Thursday in Sikeston. At 2:33 a.m. Thursday, Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a report of an alarm sounding at Paul's Pawn at 116 North Kingshighway. "An officer turned the corner onto North Kingshighway and saw someone standing in front of Paul's Pawn," said Capt. James McMillen, public information officer with Sikeston DPS. "The male ran when he saw the officer."...

BENTON, Mo. -- Bruce Allen Hamm, 58 of Benton died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at his home. He was born Dec. 8, 1958, in Cape Girardeau, to William Avery and Dorothy Elizabeth Walter Hamm. He married Mary Anna Schweer on Dec. 12, 2009. He previously worked for Luhr Brothers and currently worked as a delivery driver for Auto Tire and Parts...