Stories from Thursday, September 19, 2019

SIKESTON — Motorists are reminded to share the road with farmers and their equipment as the harvest season is in full swing in Southeast Missouri. “Farming plays a vital role in Missouri’s economy, history and identity,” said Capt. John J. Hotz with Missouri State Highway Patrol. “…Expect to see an increase in farm machinery traffic—especially on rural highways. Please obey all traffic laws and remain vigilant. Farmers and motorists alike are encouraged to be safe, courteous drivers.”...

The movement of local foods continues to grow in American and here in the Midwest it is becoming of a very important way to illustrate the importance of local foods to our economy and our food system. In a continuing effort to increase people’s awareness of this effort in a fun...

COLUMBIA, Mo.–Student loan debt is like a hammer.   “You can either build something like a great career, or you can hit yourself on the thumb a lot,” says Andrew Zumwalt, University of Missouri Extension state financial planning specialist.   As high school seniors start the school year, many are looking ahead to next fall and their first year of college. They and their parents are probably also thinking about how to pay for it...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Although there has been a University of Missouri Extension office in New Madrid County for several years that office now has a new home. It is now located at 330 US Highway 61, next to the New Madrid Fire Department. On Aug. 22, an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony were held...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Donnie Ray Jennings, 51, died Sept. 13, 2019, at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems in Hayti. Born  Oct. 13, 1967, in Hayti, son of the late Ollie J. Fisher Jennings and Jimmy Jennings, he was a member of the Church of God in Christ Church and attended School in the Portageville School System. He worked  several jobs in the Portageville area including the Federal Compress  and The Cotton Gin.  ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Matthew Wilson Chisholm, 44, formerly of Cairo, Ill., died Sept. 16, 2019 at his home. Born July 14, 1975, in Darlington, S.C., son of the late James Carol Chisholm and Ernie Lee Starling of Society Hill, S.C., he worked in construction and had served in the United States Marine Corps...

MALDEN, Mo. — Opal Colbert, 93, died Sept. 18, 2019, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born April 1, 1926, in Quoita, Okla., daughter of the late Charles Samuel Jolly and Mary Elizabeth Sears Jolly, she was a member of First Baptist Church of Portageville...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Southeast Missouri State University has been recognized among the top 100 best regional universities in the Midwest, according to the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Southeast is ranked 78th among the best regional universities in the Midwest, up 12 places from its 2019 ranking. ...