Stories from Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Thomas "Meatman" Bankston "Missouri Powerball stocks plummeted after hearing the passing of Thomas Bankston, he kept the wheels hot, getting his weekly tickets, his lucky lottery numbers came up and he was picked to meet his heavenly Father.” Thomas lived a great life. ...

SIKESTON — A funeral Mass for Andrew Alexander Ormsby Jr., 74, who died Sept. 15, 2018, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston with the Rev. David Dohogne officiating. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — Jimmy Wayne Young, 74, died Oct. 15, 2018, at his home in Morehouse. Born April 22, 1944, in Lauderdale, Tenn., son of the late James and Dolly Herron Young, he worked for Missouri Department of Transportation as a field mechanic for 24 years until his retirement in 1999...

SIKESTON — Mary Laverne Burton, 90, died Oct. 15, 2018, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 30, 1927, in Benton, daughter of the late Ora and Flossie Davis Clinton, she was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and had been a shoe factory assembly worker before retiring...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Those who have driven by the northbound and southbound “Welcome to Portageville” signs along Interstate 55, may have noticed the conditions of the signs. Installed in panels, the signs slowly began to peel away with every storm and big wind that came through the area. Both signs were repaired Oct. 2...

JEFFERSON CITY – Eight days before Missouri’s annual statewide earthquake drill, more than 448,000 people are already registered to participate in the Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” on Oct. 18. A total of more than 2.6 million people are registered in the 14 central U.S. states that could be impacted by a New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake...

The Charleston High School Marching Band takes part in the Sikeston Marching Band Competition held Saturday at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium. The event featured many junior high and high school bands from across the area.

SIKESTON — Donna Jean Dirickson-Smith, 61, died Oct. 15, 2018, at her home in Sikeston. Born March 22, 1957, in Sikeston, daughter of Wanda Ford Dirickson of Blodgett and the late Wilbur Gene Dirickson, she had been a lifelong resident of the Blodgett and Sikeston area. She had been employed by DeWitt Nursery and later as a cook for Sikeston Public Schools.  She was first married to the late Riley “Gene” Hampton and from that union were two daughters and sons-in-law Nikesha (Chris) Holt of Sikeston and Natasha (Ross) Ganus of Lilbourn; and one son, J.J. Morin of Blodgett; and five grandchildren, Nicholas Whelan, Alexis Ganus, Kylie Senn, Emily Ganus and Kristen Jean Holt. She later married Frederick Smith on June 5, 2014, at Benton, and he survives of the home.  Other survivors include one stepson, Frederick Smith Jr. of Cape Girardeau and one stepdaughter, Fredericka Fleming of Baltimore, Md.; and four stepgrandchildren.  In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilbur Gene Dirickson Jr. and Ricky Lee Dirickson. 

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Bertha Allene “Poobie” Hedge, 76, died Oct. 12, 2018, at her home in Charleston. Born Sept. 25, 1942, at Charleston, daughter of the late George and Rita Sisk Vinson, she had lived in Charleston her entire life. On July 1, 1961, she married Melvin Curtis Hedge, who preceded her in death on July 27, 1992...