Stories from Friday, September 28, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY – Registration is now open for the 2018 Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill on Oct. 18. More than one-half million Missourians participated in last year’s ShakeOut, which teaches people how to protect themselves during an earthquake. More than...

“Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.” Proverbs 3:34

For too many years under President Obama’s tenure, the federal government grew while Americans’ paychecks shrank. Millions watched with disgust as their tax dollars flowed to Washington for wasteful programs and pet projects. Last year President Trump and I reversed course and overhauled the uncompetitive, outdated tax code to prioritize families first and put more money in your pocket. ...

Why does it take a mail man on East Gladys to deliver the mail and sometimes it is 5 o’clock when we get the mail? Thank you.

Fifteen years ago, Beverly Baker gave me the opportunity to take over the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. I have never been sorry that I said yes or more proud that I could be the one whom she chose. Every year I thank God that I have the health and stamina to carry on. I am so blessed to have good volunteers to help; otherwise, I could never make it happen. Last year our numbers decreased from the previous year, but we were still able to feed 738 meals, 668 being delivered into the community by volunteers who cared enough to give up a portion of their holiday to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy a traditional meal they otherwise would not have. These volunteers show up year after year to be a part of this endeavor. We couldn’t serve this community and surrounding area without their help. They are awesome people! My angels in street clothes.

OAK HARBOR, Wash. — Charles Douglas Hayes, 60, died Sept. 11, 2018, in Oak Harbor. Born July 2, 1958, son of the late Charles Rudolph Hayes and Iris Chambliss Hayes, he grew up in New Madrid and spent his early adulthood working on riverboats on the Mississippi River. ...

SIKESTON — Linda Holland, 72, died Sept. 27, 2018, at her home in Sikeston. Born April 7, 1946, in Florida, she was the daughter of the late George and Lady Ruth Ginn Wright. On Nov. 4, 2002, in Taylor, Mich., she married Jerry Holland, who survives of the home...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — The City of Portageville received some bad news last Thursday afternoon. In the August Primary, the City had ask for a ¼-of-one percent sales tax to fund a full-time, certified school resource officer and public safety improvements. Now the Missouri Department of Revenue has now said the election was invalid...

NEW MADRID, Mo. —The professional anglers display their catch weighing 80, 90 and even more than 100 pounds during New Madrid’s annual Fall Festival and Twisted Cat Tournament and always draw lots of interest from the crowd. However, it is the broad grins on the faces of the little anglers as they hold up their fish weighing 1, 2 or even 3 pounds that is Christina McWaters’s favorite moment of the annual event...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way launched its fundraising campaign and welcomed a new executive director on Friday. Shawnna Gerding officially marked her last day as executive director of the local United Way on Friday during the nonprofit’s fundraising campaign kickoff meeting at the Fox Haven Country Club in Sikeston...

SIKESTON — Patients of Ferguson Medical Group now can see which insurance providers will be accepted as the Sikeston-based group changes over to Saint Francis Healthcare System. Following the Aug. 9 announcement of Saint Francis’ acquisition of Ferguson Medical Group, area patients have been concerned whether their insurance would be accepted once the changeover is completed on Jan. 1, 2019...

PUXICO, Mo. — Patricia C. Watkins, 72, formerly of Essex, died Sept. 28, 2018, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Born Sept. 26, 1946, in Charter Oak, daughter of the late Cecil Monroe and  Myrtle Asher Chism, she had lived in Essex before moving to Puxico three years ago. She had worked 30-plus years as a teacher at Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp. Head Start and was a member of the Harvest Assembly Church in Essex. After moving to Puxico, she attended Duck Creek Baptist Church...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Vickie Summers DelRial, 57, formerly of California, died Sept. 27, 2018, at East Prairie Nursing Facility.  Born Aug. 22, 1961, in Sikeston, daughter oof Peggy June Jones Falls of East Prairie and the late Robert Summers Sr., she was employed for seven years at Avery Dennison in California and later at the Community Sheltered Workshop in Sikeston. She had been a member of Calvary Baptist Church while living in California and attended Dogwood Methodist Church after moving to East Prairie.. ...