Stories from Tuesday, July 23, 2019

SIKESTON — Gale Hastings, 81, passed on to his next great adventure on April 21, 2019. This man, who never met a stranger and would give you the shirt off of his back, spent his final days surrounded by family and the many friends that he had somehow touched during his memorable life...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. - Bill C. Hager, 82, died July 21, 2019, at his home in East Prairie.  Born Jan. 18, 1937, in St. Louis, to the late Charley O. and Lucille Irby Hager, he was the owner/operator of Bill’s Barber Shop in East Prairie for over 20 years and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War...

SIKESTON – Loretta Szymanski, 97, died July 22, 2019 at La Bonne Maison in Sikeston. Born Sept. 3, 1921, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Joseph and Jennie Robak Walensa, she was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston. On May 27, 1944, in Chicago, she married Matthew Szymanski who preceded her in death on Nov. 1, 1997...

SIKESTON — Glenda Sue Riley, 76, died July 21, 2019, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center.  Born Feb. 24, 1943, in New Madrid, Mo., to the late William and Delcie (Phegley) Helms, she was a life-long resident of this area, a member of the Matthews Missionary Baptist Church and had been a personnel manager at National Lock and office manager at the Sikeston Concrete Plant...

ORAN, Mo. — Clothed in late-1800s fashion and acting as tour guide within a tractor-drawn covered wagon during the Oran Sesquicentennial Celebration on Saturday, Dawn Robert Slinkard said the town’s population has changed only somewhat over the last 100 years or so because “people come to Oran, and they like to stay.”...

SIKESTON — For many the best part of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is the comedy the rodeo clowns provide during the event. But it will be cuteness that will be in full effect during the Dress Like a Rodeo Clown Contest. Held from 11 a.m. until noon on July 27 at the YMCA of Southeast Missouri in Sikeston, the Dress Like a Rodeo Clown Contest gives children ages 2-6 a chance to dress up like a clown for prizes. ...

BENTON, Mo. — Scott County is using the summertime to make some updates to its buildings and security in and around the courthouse. “We’ve got lots of improvements going on this summer,” said Scott County First District Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Ronnie K. Bostic, 59, died July 16, 2019, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born April 22, 1960, in Wyatt, Mo.. to the late Willie James Harris and Marjorie Bostic Clark, he obtained his GED, worked at McDonald's in the maintenance department and was employed with Extended Health Care in Sikeston and Quality Care in East Prairie, Mo...

SIKESTON — James Anthony Oliver, 64, died July 18, 2019, at the Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Feb. 3, 1955, in Sara, Miss.,to the late Sammy T. Oliver and Pamelia Eckles, he was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for many years. ...