Stories from Friday, August 16, 2019

VAN BUREN, Mo. — A state trooper and sheriff’s deputy were injured after being struck by gunfire early Friday in rural Carter County. According to Sgt. Jeff Kinder with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 9:51 a.m. Friday, officers from Patrol were assisting the Carter County Sheriff’s Department at a residence in near Van Buren. After attempting to contact the occupant, a male suspect began firing from inside the residence...

Sikeston DPS Director Mike Williams was relieved of his duties Friday evening.

SIKESTON — Moore Avenue between Wakefield Avenue and College Avenue in Sikeston is closed to through traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 due to a water main break. Sikeston's Board of Municipal Utilities will perform the work. All motorists and residents in the area are asked to use alternative routes to avoid this site and are encourage to use caution when in the construction areas, according to the City of Sikeston...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Farm Credit Southeast Missouri President & CEO Bob Smith has announced that Ashley Cobb has joined the Portageville Office staff as Risk Management Specialist. Cobb has a Bachelor’s Degree in Ag Business with an emphasis in Plant & Soil Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — A closed East Prairie, Mo., bank is being auctioned online. The former Regions Bank building in East Prairie will be auctioned to the highest bidder, regardless of price, during an online only auction. The bid deadline is Aug. 28 at 11 a.m...

NEW MADRID, Mo. —Four New Madrid County residents are recipients of the Hope Exchange Scholarships. Maisie Hall, Mason Palmer, Tanner Stanfield and Zarria Taylor received the 2019 scholarships which are available to area high school seniors. To qualify, students much have had a cancer diagnosis in their immediate family prior to the scholarship deadline...

“I always had an affinity for animals,” observes Brenda Collier of Dexter. “I guess I got it from my dad because he was forever bringing in squirrels, racoons, rabbits — whatever he found that needed help.” On her mother’s farm in rural Dexter, Collier, with help from her husband Kevin, cares for a variety of animals. Some were purchased, but many have been rescued — saved from dire situations of neglect or imminent death. Others have simply appeared...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. — The Mississippi River Commission has scheduled its annual low-water inspection trip for Monday on the Mississippi River in Missouri. The public meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in Caruthersville, Mo., at the City Front. Commission members will meet with local partners, stakeholders and residents and hear their concerns, ideas and issues...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. —Southeast Missouri State University is one of the best colleges in the Midwest according to The Princeton Review. The education services company lists Southeast in the Best in the Midwest section of its “2020 Best Colleges: Region by Region” website feature posted at https://www.princetonreview.com/bestMWcolleges. Southeast is one of 159 schools and one of only six public institutions in Missouri named a “Best in the Midwest” school...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Changes will be coming to Briggs & Stratton’s location in Poplar Bluff, bringing more than 200 new jobs over time and a $15 million investment. Company officials told the Daily American Republic Thursday morning they are certain they will hire for 130 new jobs in Poplar Bluff over the next 12 months, with around 140-150 additional jobs in year two...

PORTAGEVILLE - “With recent shootings that have occurred, all the more reason to have these type of trainings in the school,” said Portageville Superintendent Michael Allred. The training referred to by Allred was an active shooter training in the Portageville School District conducted Tuesday at the Portageville Middle School...

PORTAGEVILLE - “With recent shootings that have occurred, all the more reason to have these type of trainings in the school,” said Portageville Superintendent Michael Allred. The training referred to by Allred was an active shooter training in the Portageville School District conducted Tuesday at the Portageville Middle School...

SIKESTON — William Causey, 85, passed away Aug. 15, 2019, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 15, 1933, in Bethel Springs, Tenn., to the late Lonie and Graple Cecelia (Moore) Causey, William was a member of First Assembly of God, had worked as a brick mason and had worked for the Standard Democrat for 28 years before retiring...

Legalizing marijuana is stupid I think it is so stupid for the government to pay people smokin’ legal marijuana standing out on the street. I don’t see any difference in taking opioids and stuff like that a doctor prescribes then getting high on marijuana so people can make money. That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. People will do anything for money. Thank you...

To the editor, I live on Irene St. in East Prairie, Mo. I have a neighbor that is a junk man/recycler. For those that don’t know what this consists of, let me tell you… There are one dozen recycle bins (5’x5’x5’) in this man’s back yard. They are full. Over the top. Each bin has different metal. But most of them have aluminum cans. These cans have juices in them that attract cockroaches...