Stories from Wednesday, April 26, 2017

HAYTI, Mo. -- T.J. Davis got on base four of his six times at bat and drove in four runs as the Scott County Central baseball team was edged by one run by Hayti in the high-scoring 30-29 slugfest that saw a total of 41 walked batters committed among both teams...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. – Last Thursday, USDA Rural Development Area Director Phyllis Minner announced a Water & Waste Disposal Loan of $3,000,000 to the City of Portageville. The funds are being used to construct a new treatment plant to handle additional flows and meeting future regulations...

The March students of the month for Ross Elementary are, front, from left, Patience Davis, Allie Sheckell, Emma Wrather; back are, Evan Durbin, Ethan Ferrell, Madison Ritcheson, and Locke Whitaker.

SIKESTON -- Coming off a hard-fought, double overtime loss to Marion, Ill., on Monday night, Sikeston soccer coach Gabe Dement wasn't sure how his girls would respond in Tuesday's home game against Perryville. The Lady Bulldogs responded in a big way, dominating the visiting Lady Pirates to the tune of a 3-0 win...

It is an honor to serve the thirty counties which make up the 8th Congressional District in southeast and south central Missouri. The best part of my job is getting to spend time with the hard-working families, farmers and business owners who make our district the greatest place to live in the world. ...

Conservation agents are licensed peace officers of the State of Missouri who are charged with enforcing the rules of the Wildlife Code of Mo.

Seeds for the upcoming SEMO Conference baseball tournament were voted on and released Wednesday morning. Poplar Bluff (14-5) earned the top seed after finishing conference play with a 6-1 record and winning the regular season championship outright. Jackson (17-6) is the second, Sikeston (9-2) is third and Notre Dame (10-6) is fourth after all finished with 5-2 conference records...

SIKESTON - Sikeston residents could soon see higher electrical bills, but local officials emphasize the rates will remain among the lowest not only locally but nationwide. Board of Municipal Utilities General Manager Rick Landers presented a request for across-the-board rate increases. ...

BENTON, Mo. -- Nearly 260 third graders in Scott County learned about the importance of agriculture during Tuesday's 15th annual Farm Day. Organized by the Scott County Women in Agriculture, the event was divided into two-hour morning and afternoon sessions at the St. Denis Parish Center in Benton...

SIKESTON -- A musical lineup that includes a Grammy Award-winning band, a fun zone for kids -- and, of course, crawfish -- make up this weekend's Eighth Annual Crawfish Boil. The crawfish boil, which is the Sikeston Jaycees' second-largest fundraiser (with the rodeo being first) is set for 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A New Madrid man who sexually assaulted a child will spend at least the next two decades in jail. Christopher Jenkins, 53, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to felony statutory rape. He was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Sharp to 23 years in the Department of Corrections...

SIKESTON - Street improvements will get underway soon in Sikeston. During Monday's special city council meeting, Apex Paving of Cape Girardeau's low bid of $399,394.70 was accepted for the overlaying of Davis Boulevard from North Street to Wakefield and on Ruth Street from the BNSF Railroad to New Madrid Street. The proposal also includes replacing the storm sewer on Davis Boulevard south of Baker Lane...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A New Madrid man who sexually assaulted a child will spend at least the next two decades in jail. Christopher Jenkins, 53, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to felony statutory rape. He was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Sharp to 23 years in the Department of Corrections...

Rachel Maddow, the darling of the left, opened my eyes last week with her spot-on analysis of the riots in Venezuela. Despite the fact that Venezuela has experienced social and economic unrest for years, Maddow blames President Trump for the upheaval now underway there...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Allen Keith Malcolm, 77, of Springfield, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at his home with family by his side. He was born on Feb. 5, 1940, in Sikeston, to Pleasant Matthew Malcolm and Virginia Fern Malcolm (Sharp), both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Virginia Anne Malcolm and Martha Jane Bullard...

BERTRAND, Mo. -- Charles B. Samons, 70, died April 26, 2017, at his home in Bertrand. Born July 21, 1946, at Charleston, son of the late Bural and Ann Marie Helms Samons, he had lived in Charleston most of his life. For 29 years he was employed with Gates Rubber Company at Charleston until his retirement. After retirement, he was employed at Scheffer Printing until ill health forced his retirement...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Linda "Lucy" England, 82, died April 25, 2017, at her home in Dexter. Born June 20, 1934, in Idalia, daughter of the late William Henry and Silva Irene Triplett Harper, she had lived in Dexter all of her life and worked as a side seamer at Elders Manufacturing for 42 years until her retirement...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Jonjo Bryant, 78, of East Prairie, died April 25, 2017, at his home. Born May 20, 1938, in Dorena, to the late William Cullen "W.C." and Lucy Wright Bryant, he attended the University of Missouri, served in the U.S. Army and was a landowner and farmer. ...

DEXTER, Mo. - David Griggs, 22, formerly of Anniston, died April 22, 2017, in Stoddard County. Born Feb. 28, 1995, in Sikeston, to Daniel Griggs and Michelle Carter Griggs Sr., who survive of Anniston, he was employed as a line worker for Tyson Foods...

The Christian Academy in Sikeston has named its students who displayed Christ-like character in February. The word of the month was forgiveness, which is defined as "excusing someone who hurt you or your feelings; excusing a mistake, letting go of blame." Pictured are front row, from left: Kale Leggett, Addison Proffer, Kylee Owens and Riley Hill; and back row: Hannah Munday, Braden Frazier, Cambrie Duncan, Jade Housley and Breanna Beardsley...

Students at Matthews Elementary School in Matthews who miss "zero" days during MAP and Benchmark testing are honored weekly. In recognition of their efforts the winning student receives a board game. They include (left photo) second grader Violet Daniels and kindergarten student Eli Waltrip who missed "zero" days. ...

Richland sixth grader Elizabeth Arnold entered an essay contest entitled "The Sky is the Limit" hosted by Representatives Tila Hubrecht and Holly Rehder. Arnold placed first in the contest and as a result, she and her parents will get to spend a day in Jefferson City at the Capitol shadowing Hubrecht. This was the first year for the contest. Hubrecht shared that the reasoning behind this contest was to encourage students to dream big and to set goals...