Stories from Thursday, September 6, 2018

NEW MADRID, Mo. – A Dunklin County man was convicted of two counts of first degree murder during a jury trial in New Madrid County. William “Josh” Carter was found guilty after the jury deliberated for just 36 minutes. The verdict stems from an incident in June of 2016 when Carter intentionally struck his estranged wife, Heather Carter, and her friend, Aaron Campbell, with his SUV, killing them...

Seventy-three years ago this week, Americans were eagerly waiting for the end of World War Two. It was a painful war for Missourians, especially those who fought on all fronts and at all levels of the military to secure an Allied victory. Our greatest generation answered the call to serve our country when she needed them most – and unfortunately some of our heroes are still waiting today for their proper recognition...

SIKESTON — A standing room only crowd filled Sikeston City Hall Thursday evening as officials with the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities attempted to answer questions about a proposed rate increase. Last week, Sikeston City Council members were presented with recommendations from the BMU to consider a three-year cumulative rate increase for utilities provided by BMU. It is the latest in significant increases since 2014, the most recent being a 10.9 percent increase implemented in June 2018...

WEST MONROE, La. — Mr. and Mrs. Ferrel Stephen Austin, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Annette Austin, to John Hunter Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Edward Taylor Jr. of Natchez, Miss. A 2010 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride earned a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Mississippi State University. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Jean D. Harrell, 92, died Sept. 5, 2018, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born April 30, 1926, in Chaffee, daughter of the late Frank and Pearl Moore, she was a retired machine operator for Chaffee Shoe Company. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Chaffee and Chaffee Order of Eastern Star 48...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston area could see severe weather in the coming days as remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon move through. Thunderstorms were in the forecast for Thursday afternoon with the majority of the rainfall expected to begin engulfing the area on Friday...

SIKESTON — Betina Marie Ott, 35, died Aug. 26, 2018, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Memorial service will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael E. Long tosses out the questions. Why does love change so quickly from passion to disinterest? Why are some people diehard liberals and others hardcore conservatives? Why do winners cheat? Why do kids at Christmas play with the boxes more than the toys?...

SIKESTON — The corn harvest is underway across Missouri, and so far, there are mixed ratings on its condition. Corn dented reached 91 percent which was 3 percentage points ahead of the prior week. Corn matured reached 49 percent, 24 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested progressed to 2 percent this week. Corn condition was rated 20 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 24 percent good and 5 percent excellent...

It was announced in a news release Thursday that President Donald Trump will be stopping in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, Sept. 13, to speak at a rally at the Show Me Center. Trump will be giving his support to fellow Republican Josh Hawley, who is running for the U.S. Senate against Claire McCaskill...