Stories from Thursday, March 8, 2018

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis surprised many of his fellow office holders, announcing Monday morning he would not run for a fifth term as presiding commissioner. "I didn't feel I was giving the job of presiding commissioner as much time as I should have," Mathis said, citing demands at his business, Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home...

The Charleston boys basketball team visited Charleston Head Start Thursday on their way to the Missouri Show-Me Showdown to be played in Springfield, Mo., today and Saturday. The players were greeted hugs and smiles from the young Bluejay fans before they left for Springfield. The Bluejays will take on Mountain Grove at 6:20 p.m. tonight at the Hammons Center in a Class 3 semifinal game with the state championship game scheduled for Saturday night...

FLINT, Mich.  Carol Ward, 77, died March 4, 2018, at McLaren Hospital in Flint.

SIKESTON  Edna "Kathryn" Higdon, 94, died March 8, 2018, at her home in Sikeston. 

SIKESTON  Ruby Lorene Spencer, age 94, passed away on March 6, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.