Stories from Thursday, June 25, 2020

FRIEDHEIM, Mo. — Orville Ray Blyzes, 65, died June 23, 2020, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. Born May 23, 1955, in St. Louis, son of the late Thurman and Mandy Hammontree Blyzes, he was a self-employed wood hauler and of the Baptist belief. Survivors include: two sons, Dino (Misty) Giardina of Perryville, Mo., and Michael (Lindsy) Blyzes of Friedheim; two brothers, Thurman Michael Blyzes and William “Willie” (Donna) Blyzes of Friedheim; one sister, Mary Belle Wright of Perryville...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Betty Fowler Sweet, 85, died June 24, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born May 9, 1935, in New Madrid, daughter of the late Pearl Fowler and Burl Wilson, she had been employed at Wal-Mart for 15 years until her retirement...

Missouri saw another one-day high in positive COVID-19 cases Thursday, however, local counties are reporting few new positive cases. On Thursday the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 553 new positive cases Thursday, along with seven deaths, giving the state 19,421 positive cases with 982 deaths. The state has seen a 9.5% increase in positive cases in the last seven days...

VANDUSER, Mo. — While many Fourth of July celebrations have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual celebration is Vanduser will go on as planned. The Sixth Annual Vanduser Betterment Committee Independence Day Celebration will be Friday and Saturday at Graviett’s Memorial Ball Field in Vanduser...

SIKESTON — On Saturday, Expanding Small Businesses is hosting the Bootcamp Fitness for Men and Women. The event will be at noon at Lincoln Park in Sikeston and instructor Anthony Quinn is looking forward to helping people aim for a healthier lifestyle...

America has a race problem, and the first step to addressing it is to acknowledge it, said three pastors who held a roundtable discussion Tuesday night at Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau. Pastor Gary Brothers of Cape First, Apostle Adrian Taylor of Lighthouse Ministries in Cape Girardeau and Bishop Calvin Bird of New Covenant Church in Sikeston, Missouri, spoke of the importance of listening to understand, and acknowledging real problems that exist in America today, including racial unrest and white reluctance to accept responsibility, or even to acknowledge the experiences of Black people.. ...

The contract of Southeast Missouri State University president Carlos Vargas was extended through June 2023 by the university’s Board of Regents on Monday. Vargas became Southeast’s president in 2015 following the long tenure of predecessor Ken Dobbins...

Between an expected lower enrollment and state withholding of funds, the Three Rivers College budget in the coming fiscal year works to account for anticipated drops in revenue. The TRC Board of Trustees approved a $25.6 million budget Wednesday for the 2020-21 fiscal year...

LILBOURN, Mo. — Elizabeth Nesselrodt, 94, died June 23, 2020, at her home in Lilbourn. Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Lilbourn, where services will be at 1 p.m. Friday. Burial will follow in the Mounds Park Cemetery near Lilbourn...

SIKESTON — Jimmy Dale Alcorn, 82, died June 23, 2020, at the Clearview Nursing Center. Born Dec. 6, 1937, in Sikeston, son of the late Dale L. Alcorn and Elma Ann Hueiser Alcorn, he had lived in Sikeston his entire life.

SIKESTON — Richard Merrell Burton, 56, died June 23, 2020, at his sister’s home near Sikeston. Born Dec. 3, 1963, at Sikeston, son of Barbara Jean McClellan Burton and the late Alfred Merrell Burton, he was a 1983 graduate of Sikeston High School and had been employed with Plaza Tire a number of years.

SIKESTON — Michael Wayne Street, 61, passed away Wednesday June 24, 2020, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Jan. 8, 1959, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to the late Curtis Wayne Street, and Nadine Griggs Street Wallace who survives of Sikeston.