Stories from Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Jaxson Cooper works on a craft at the Summer Reading Program “The Universe Stories” held at the Sikeston Public Library Monday afternoon. The program, for children entering kindergarten through second grade, included stories, games and crafts.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Highway Patrol reported 12 traffic fatalities and three drownings over the July Fourth holiday counting period that began at 6 p.m., Wednesday and ran to 11:59 p.m., Sunday. Overall, troopers worked 376 traffic crashes which included 139 injuries while making 160 DWI arrests and 110 drug arrests over the holiday weekend. Troopers also worked 11 boating crashes which included five injuries and made 12 BWI arrests and 28 drug arrests...

SIKESTON — Hot and very humid conditions are expected to continue throughout the area over the next several days. Afternoon peak heat index values Wednesday will be well into the 100 to 105 degree range, from around 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as highs reach into the lower to mid 90s with high humidity, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky. ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Matilda Belle Heppe Smith, 72, died July 4, 2019, at East Prairie Nursing Center.  Born Dec. 31, 1946, in East Prairie, to the late McClellan Dewey Heppe and Lou Bertha Catherine Pearl Heppe, she had been a factory worker and a member of St. James General Baptist Church in East Prairie.                         ...

SIKESTON — Pauline Williams, age 89, of Sikeston, Missouri, died Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born July 22, 1929, in Monette, Arkansas, to the late Samuel Franklin and Jo Esther Brown Eaton. She was a founding member of Temple Baptist Church until it disbanded. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Robert Wayne Hicks of Portageville, Missouri, passed away June 17, 2019, surrounded by his wife and sons in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Bob was born May 21, 1940, in Holland, Missouri, to the late Helen (nee Watkins) and Anderson Hicks. He married Deanna Pikey on Oct. 18, 1963. He was preceded in death by their infant son, Sean Pikey Hicks; his brother, George Hicks; his half brother, George Hicks; and hjs half sister, Dorothy Cope...

SIKESTON — Bobby "Jack" Burns Sr., 69, died July 6, 2019, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 28, 1949, in Sikeston, son of the late Thomas and Ethel (Hawkins) Burns, he was a member of Smith Avenue Church of God and had worked for Mission Missouri...

SIKESTON — Erma Jean Applewhite, 68, died July 7, 2019, at the Miner Nursing Center in Miner. Born June 15, 1951, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Fred and Elizabeth Peet Barnhill, she attended Matthews Public School in Matthews. Her husband, Joseph Applewhite, preceded her in death on July 30, 2017...