Stories from Tuesday, January 2, 2018

The operators of two Southeast Missouri soybean farms have filed a class-action lawsuit against St. Louis-based Monsanto Co., alleging their crops were damaged by exposure to dicamba herbicide. The 35-page suit was filed Wednesday in Mississippi County Circuit Court...

DEXTER, Mo. -- He has become somewhat of an institution in the City of Dexter over the years. Those who don't know Joe Weber personally certainly know the Weber name. Weber has had a presence in downtown Dexter at the family business, Weber's Ben Franklin, since the mid- 1950s, and since 2002, has filled the seat of Dexter's mayor...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports there were seven fatalities during the New Year's holiday counting period from 6 p.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Monday. Troopers investigated 229 traffic crashes, which included 77 injuries and five of the seven fatalities...

SIKESTON -- Jeff Williams never imagined his 10-hour drive to Florida for a summer vacation would result in the penning and publishing of his first book, the action thriller called "Dark Justice." But that's exactly what happened for the Sikeston man who self-published his book in November. First available as an e-book for Amazon Kindle, the book is also now available in paperback via Amazon...

MINER, Mo. -- A Miner man faces stealing and tampering felony charges in Scott County. Thomas Wayne Brock is charged with first degree tampering and stealing occurring on or about Oct. 20, 2017, according to online court records. On Thursday, agents with the Missouri Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Department of Revenue and officers with the Miner Police Department arrested Brock following an investigation by all involved agencies, and it is ongoing, according to Miner Police Chief Chris Griggs.. ...

Addison Kate Bilskey, daughter of Alexandra Inman and David Lee Bilskey of Sikeston, was the first baby born in 2018 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born at 9:14 a.m. Monday, Addison weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19.5 inches long...

The Sikeston Kindergarten and Early Childhood Center hosted "Santa night" for families in Sikeston.  Free pictures were taken and books were given to each child who visited, compliments of the Sikeston Kiwanis Club.

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark. -- Billy Gene "Bill" Proffer, 85, died Dec. 30, 2017, in Hot Springs. Born April 15, 1932, in Scott City, son of the late William and Elise Hargraves Proffer, he was employed 43 years at Schering-Plough Corporation, serving in pharmaceutical sales and management. He was also a member of Toastmasters International and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War...

CAMBRIA, Ill. -- Timothy Blake Guthrie, 26, formerly of Mississippi County, Mo., passed away Dec. 31, 2017. Blake was born in Sikeston, Mo., on May 22, 1991. He graduated from Charleston, Mo., High School in May 2009. Blake joined his wife Jenna in a loving union on May 28, 2017. They shared four years together. They are expecting their first child, a son, in February...

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Nancy Maxine Tilley, 71, formerly of Bloomfield, died Dec. 30, 2017, at her home in Bolivar. Born June 27, 1946, daughter of the late Cletis and Roxine Farmer Gaines, she had lived in Bloomfield until moving to Bolivar in 2010. She was a...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Amber Chanelle "Amber Bamber" Johnson, 26, died Dec. 28, 2017, near Charleston. Born June 29, 1991, in St. Louis, daughter of Norris and Audrey Riggin Johnson of Charleston, she was a member of Grand Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church where she sang in the choir and was an usher. A 2009 graduate of Charleston High School, she attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., and was currently employed as an administrative assistant at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Bobbie Lynn Johnson Hodges, 45, died Dec. 31, 2017, at her home in East Prairie. Born Sept. 27, 1972, at Sikeston, to the late Robert Paul Johnson and Paula S. Thurman Meeks, she had lived in Charleston growing up and attended Charleston Schools. A licensed beautician, she had owned the Downtown Style Shop in Sikeston and had attended the Elm Street Baptist Church...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Wayne Underhile, 89, died Dec. 31, 2017, at his home in Dexter. Born April 19, 1928, in French Camp, Calif., son of the late Lester E. and Minnie Lee Busby Underhile, he had lived in California before moving to Dexter in 1993. He had worked as a supervising security officer for Kiser Aluminum in California...

SIKESTON -- Bennie Hesselrode, 96, died Dec. 28, 2017, in Henderson, Tenn. Born Nov. 24, 1921, in Star City, Ark., to the late Robert Ed and Armenta Fundeberk Hesselrode, she was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served as a second lieutenant during both World War II and Korean War, and he was a self-employed farmer...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Alean Noyes Smith, age 89, died Jan. 1, 2018, at Jefferson City Manor Care Center in Jefferson City. She was born April 16, 1928, in Sikeston, to the late Oliver Noyes and Othel Brooks Noyes. She was a lifelong resident of Sikeston until moving to Jefferson City in May 2016. Alean was a homemaker and a member of Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church...

SIKESTON -- Dennis Milton Jr. 64, died Dec. 30, 2017, at his home surrounded by family. Born Sept. 20, 1953, in Chicago, son of the late Dennis Milton Sr. and Maple Green Milton, he graduated from Gideon High School and worked various jobs during his younger years. He was also a farmer. He was a member of One More Chance Ministries...

EADS, Tenn. -- Richard L. Long Sr., 67, died Jan. 1, 2018, at his home in Eads. Born May 27, 1950, in Albertville, Ala., son of the late Henry Clifford and Gladys Croft Long, he had lived most of his life in the Dexter area. He had worked as a rural mail carrier with the U. S. Postal Service and attended the...

MINER, Mo. -- Edwin Ray Groves Sr., age 79, passed away on Jan. 1, 2018, at Miner Nursing Center in Miner. Born July 6, 1938, in Bertrand, he was the son of the late Fred Hillman and Ova Delk Groves. On May 18, 1957, in Charleston, he married Ruth Ann Crews, who survives of the home...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Willis Mac Passley Sr., 74, died Jan. 1, 2018, at his home in Charleston. Born May 1, 1943, at Charleston, to the late Sam Passley and Nellie Murr Passley, he had lived in Charleston his entire life and had been employed with the Mississippi County Highway Department. He was most known for his playing of "Santa Claus" until health forced his retirement. A member of the Church of God of Prophecy, he was a U.S. Marine veteran...