Stories from Friday, September 13, 2019

SIKESTON— The Sikeston Department of Public Safety officer who on Wednesday made anti-Islamic posts on a public Facebook account resigned from duty, effective early Friday. “Late yesterday evening, the officer gave me a verbal resignation and then said he would turn in his equipment this morning,” said Sikeston DPS Chief James McMillen in a news release on Friday. “A few moments ago, the officer did as he said and returned department property...

PORTAGEVILLE — An alcohol ordinance has been a hot topic in Portageville for the last four months and will continue to be until next April. At the September monthly meeting of the Portageville City Board of Alderman held Sept. 3, the alderman voted three to one to place the topic on the municipal election ballot in April 2020...

PORTAGEVILLE — An alcohol ordinance has been a hot topic in Portageville for the last four months and will continue to be until next April. At the September monthly meeting of the Portageville City Board of Alderman held Sept. 3, the alderman voted three to one to place the topic on the municipal election ballot in April 2020...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - The Portageville Chamber of Commerce the 72nd Soybean Festival has been scheduled for Oct. 7-12. The theme for this year is “Through the Eyes of a Child - Favorite Storybooks of all Time”  “For us, the Soybean Festival is a very big deal,” said Clint Klipfel, president of the Portageville Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual event. ...

JONESBORO – Graduating students who received their diplomas from Arkansas State University during the 2019 summer commencement ceremony Aug. 2 in the First National Bank Arena have been announced. Chancellor Kelly Damphousse conferred degrees upon students representing A-State’s seven colleges and Undergraduate Studies, including the College of Agriculture; Neil Griffin College of Business; College of Education and Behavioral Science; College of Engineering and Computer Science; College of Liberal Arts and Communication; College of Nursing and Health Professions; and College of Sciences and Mathematics.. ...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Vickie Marie Johnson, 57, died Aug. 30, 2019, in St. Louis. Born in November 1961, she was the daughter of the late Willie “Bill” and Lou Ella Henderson. On Feb. 23, 2003, she married Lawrence Johnson, who survives of the home. Other survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Ronterreal and Rodena Henderson of St. ...

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Grover “Rick” William Riddle Jr. passed away Aug. 29, 2019, in the comfort of his home in Palm Harbor at the age of 82. He is preceded in death by his father, Grover William Riddle Sr. (Doris), Warrensburg, Mo.; his mother, La Veria Mundwiller (Frank), House Springs, Mo.; and his sister, Jeannene Crawford (James), Portageville, Mo...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — Artie Bowling Hatchel, 86, died Sept. 12, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 22, 1932, near Puxico, daughter of the late Everett Leland and Elizabeth (Peck) Scott, she had lived in the Bloomfield area all her life. She had worked at Elder's Manufacturing, the Hat Factory and Purolator Filter for 19 years. She was a member of the Corinth General Baptist Church near Puxico...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Wanda “Gail” McMillen, 78, died Sept. 11, 2019, at Portageville Health Care. Born Aug. 29, 1941, in Saltillo, Tenn., daughter of the late Clara Creasy Alexander and Howard Alexander, she retired in 2014 after 44 years at Portageville School District. She was a member of the Church of Christ...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. — Jean Sullivant, 91, died Sept. 12, 2019, at her home in Morehouse. Born Dec. 19, 1927, in Morehouse, daughter of the late Markey W. and Cora Gaston Sullivant, she had lived in Morehouse most of her life. She was a member of the Morehouse First Baptist Church and had been a member of the Rebekah Lodge 589...

BENTON, Mo. — Scott County chief deputy Ryan Dennis, who is second only to Sheriff Wes Drury in the sheriff’s department, has resigned, effective Sept. 30. Dennis is leaving to take a position as investigator for the Scott County prosecutor’s office. He is scheduled to begin his new job Oct. 1...

DEXTER, Mo. — The 92nd annual Stoddard County Fair will kick off Tuesday with the Stoddard County Fair Parade in Downtown Dexter starting at 5:30 p.m and run through Saturday, September 21. Activity at the fairgrounds begins immediately after the parade and will not stop for the next five nights...

ESSEX, Mo. — Last spring, shortly before the school year ended, Richland R-1 School District learned that it had won the Makerspace contest sponsored by the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA). “The competition was an effort by MSTA to promote Makerspace in schools throughout the state,” explains Lisa Taylor, Makerspace facilitator for the Richland district. “Districts had to produce a video illustrating how they were utilizing Makerspace in their schools.”...

A judge has upheld the impeachment and ouster of the former, elected police chief of Miner, Missouri. Christopher Griggs had gone to court in an effort to get his job back after the Scott County city’s board of aldermen impeached him at the conclusion of a three-hour hearing in March...

SIKESTON — As someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, McLane Barber knows the importance of bringing awareness to the problem. That is why she and other members of the local group Walk Bes;de Me will be taking part in a Suicide Remembrance and Prevention Walk Thursday at the Sikeston Recreation Complex...

SIKESTON — Historic Downtown Sikeston has announced the resignation of its Executive Director Lynn Lancaster, effective at the end of the year. Charlette Vanover, president of the Historic Downtown Sikeston, recently made the announcement. Lancaster, who has served as the executive director for approximately eight years, will mark his last day on Dec. 31...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — The sisters of Beta Sigma Phi will be hosting the 72nd Annual National Soybean Contest for children ages 0-5. It will be held on Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. at the Portageville Elementary School gymnasium. Participants in the Pretty Baby Photo Contest (ages 0-6 months) and the Baby Mr. & Miss Soybean (ages 7-12 months) must have a 5x7 photo (no frame) submitted by Sept. 25. The entry fee is $5...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Karen Elizabeth Bunch passed away on Sept. 12, 2019, at her home in New Madrid at the age of 54 years. She was born Jan. 12, 1965, in St. Louis, and on Jan. 27, 1965, she was adopted by Gallivan and Martha Henry Hunter. She attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and graduated from New Madrid County Central in 1983...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Irene Stringfellow, 91, died Sept. 12, 2019, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born April 8, 1928, in Loretto, Tenn., daughter of the late James David Taylor and Emma Alice Pugh Taylor shebwas a former machine operator for Sports Specialty Shoe Company in Chaffee and member of the General Baptist Church in Chaffee...

Jesus said they’ll hate me before they hate you. I can’t believe the hatred the people has for this president. He’s doing everything he can do to keep us safe and keep the bad people out of our country. He’s protecting religious freedom like no other president has done. If you defend this president in any way you’re called a racist. This mess has got to stop. Someone is going to get hurt bad or even killed. I’d rather have him in the White House than any of them on the left. They hate Israel and despise Christians.