Stories from Thursday, May 11, 2017

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation will focus its efforts on preservation of the state’s transportation system – a $54 billion asset that carries a $125 billion replacement cost. That’s the central theme of  the draft 2018-2022 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or “STIP,” which was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission yesterday...

The New Madrid County Relay for Life event will is set for Saturday, May 20. this year, it will be held at the Scott Street Walking track from 12 noon to 10 p.m. The New Madrid County Relay For Life will be held as a traditional-style event. "Last year we had it at the Matthews City Park -- and it was beautiful -- but we think because it was farther out in the county, we didn't have as many participants,"...

The Psalmist reflects upon the joy of the Levites who were chosen to serve as ministers in the Temple saying, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple” (Psalm 65:4, KJV). The Levites were the only ones who could enter the sacred room of the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence resided...

As the Missouri House comes down to the final days of the 2017 legislative session, legislators have seen several of their top issues cross the finish line, but continue to wait for several other bills to receive approval from both chambers. To date the House has sent several of the legislative priorities of the House to the governor to become law, including bills that will:...

Switzerland-based ARG International AG is working to get one pot-line back in production this fall at the long-idled, 263,000 mt/year New Madrid primary aluminum smelter, which has been renamed Magnitude 7 Metals, in southeastern Missouri, a spokesman for the smelter said Wednesday...

The top two students of the North Pemiscot Mustang graduating Class of 2017 are Isaac Flores, Valedictorian, and Kennasja Whitaker, Salutatorian. Commencement exercises will be held Saturday, May 13 in the Ross Gymnasium, beginning at 4 PM. isaac Flores is the 2017 North Pemiscot Valedictorian. ...

The Portageville graduation class of 2017 heard speeches from both Valedictorian Emily Brown and Salutatorian Tayler Morefield. After a brief introduction by High School Principal Jeff Bullock they each delivered their speeches. Speeches are below: Good evening, and thank you all for joining us in celebrating the graduating class...

DESLOGE, Mo. -- Bryce Bays cranked a solo home run, ended with two RBIs and two hits but it wasn't enough to lift the Sikeston baseball team past North County on the road Wednesday losing 6-4. Sikeston led 4-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning but surrendered four runs. A two-out double by Sean Pruneau began the downslide then six-straight walks from reliever Nate Self made it 6-4 in favor of the Raiders...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Sikeston's 14th win of the season was a record-breaking one. The girls soccer team defeated Fredericktown 3-0 Thursday on the road during their regular season finale and broke one school record while tying another in the process...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - A fall trial date is set for two people accused in the murder of a Kansas man. New Madrid County Judge Fred Copeland has set aside three days, starting Oct. 25, for the trial of Ronnie Robinson and Elsie Coleman Robinson, according to New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Lawson. The husband and wife, who are charged with first degree murder, robbery, kidnapping and tampering, are accused in the June 27, 2016, death of Larry Weaver...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A Charleston woman is in custody after a shooting Monday afternoon. According to a release from the Charleston Department of Public Safety, officers received a call of gun shots being fired in the 700 block of Gail Street at about 12:15 p.m...

The landscape at Cotton Ridge Development, located just behind the Sikeston Walmart Supercenter, is rapidly changing. Work has begun on the new Hampton Inn, located at the south end of the development. The four-story, 92-room hotel is expected to be completed by December, according to developer Mike Bohannon. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- For Mary Fish of Sikeston, this Saturday's commencement will mark the final step towards a 10-year dream. Fish will graduate May 13 from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. "When I graduated high school, college just wasn't in my plan at that time," Fish said. "I got married and had my two daughters. When they graduated high school, I thought I should go too. I realized it's important, and it was something I wanted to accomplish."...

SIKESTON -- Two local senior citizens were recently honored for their service to others, and both credited their parents for their generous ways. Suellen Fenton of Charleston and Barbara Haubold of Bertrand were two of 61 winners chosen for the Lieutenant Governor's Senior Service Award. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A day after announcing Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson had been removed from office, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley visited the Mississippi County Jail Thursday to see the site where an inmate, Tory Sanders of Nashville, Tenn., died during an altercation with law enforcement last week...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Gilbert Michael "Mike" Hester, 61, died May 10, 2017, at his home in rural Dexter. Born June 3, 1955, in Poplar Bluff, son of the late Gilbert Christman Hester and Mary Elizabeth Gray Hester, he was a businessman and a 1974 graduate of Campbell High School and attended Arkansas State University...

SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. -- Glen Arthur Gipson, 94, died May 6, 2017, at the Parkwood Assistant Living Center at Surprise. Born Jan. 17, 1923, in Parma, Mo., son of the late Bert Truman Gipson and Lucy Ann Hickson Gipson. he was a veteran of the United States Army and served in World War II. He later became a farmer...

SIKESTON -- Shirley Ann Newton, 74, died May 9, 2017, at Cotton Point Living Center in Matthews. Born June 22, 1942, in Flint, Mich., she was the daughter of the late Roy and Marjorie Lee Alsup. On June 20, 1961, in Sikeston, she married Earl Newton, who survives of the home...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Treeca Kay Curd, 65, died May 10, 2017, at her home in Bloomfield. Born Aug. 19, 1951, in Flint, Mich., daughter of Cotus and Roberta Jean Higgins James of Dexter, she had lived in Michigan until moving to Bloomfield in 1982. She had worked as a waitress at area restaurants and attended the Mount Pisgah General Baptist Church near Aquilla...

WARDELL, Mo. -- Mary Arbuckle, 89, died May 10, 2017, at Gideon Care Center. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.