Stories from Friday, July 17, 2020

SIKESTON — With the start of the new school year just over a month away, many area school districts continue to work on their ever-changing reopening plans and are beginning to share those details with their families. One message emphasized by all school officials: These plans could change at any time between now and the start of school based on community spread and recommendations by state and local health officials...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo will see some changes this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Sikeston Jaycee Board of Directors announced Thursday that in a commitment to help protect rodeo fans, staff and performers, the In the Dirt Band experience will be eliminated this year...

PADUCAH, Ky. — Arlene Garrett, age 88, formerly of Sikeston, Missouri, passed away July 16, 2020 at Parkview Nursing Center in Paducah, Kentucky. Born Sept. 14, 1931, in Poplar, Montana, the daughter of the late Clarence and Mary Brown. Arlene dedicated her life to serve Jesus as a teenager and served Him faithfully the rest of her life. ...

Workers with Lappe Cement Finishing construct a sidewalk along North West Street in Sikeston Friday morning. Due to the construction of the sidewalk, side streets Foust, David Drive and Wakefield may be down to one lane. The partial closures will last through the duration of the project. All motorist and residents in the area are asked to use alternative routes to avoid this site and are encouraged to use caution when in the construction areas...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Billy Joe Ditto, 76, died July 15, 2020, at his home in East Prairie. Born April 28, 1944, near Matthews, Missouri, son of the late Cletis Murrel and Sylvia Pauline Ditto, he had attended Matthews schools. He retired from CSI Waste Management, where he was employed as a mechanic...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Jim Lee Harris, 65, died July 15, 2020, at St. Louis University Hospital. Born Oct. 21, 1954, in Sikeston, Mo., son of the late Grace E. Acord Harris and Hubert Harris, he served as fire chief of New Madrid for many years. He helped with many actives in his community such as the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Cookout and the Santa Comes to Town events as well as the annual Fire Prevention Week at the schools...

After over a week of increased COVID-19 cases, the number of positive cases has lessened locally. On Thursday, the Scott County Health Department reported no new cases and on Friday morning the Mississippi County Health Department reported there had been no new cases reported since Monday, with the number of active cases decreasing from 23 to 11...

BLODGETT, Mo. — Former and current city officials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony of the Blodgett Historical Museum which will be constructed on the original foundation of the 1901 Blodgett Bank building. “I feel the museum will create a restful spirit for all of those that are concerned about the continuing legacy surrounding the rich history of our little city, Blodgett,” Blodgett Mayor David Russell following the groundbreaking on Tuesday...

SIKESTON — James Lonnie “Jim” DeWitt Jr., 59, formerly of Williston, Tennessee, died July 13, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Dec. 6, 1960, in Wyatt, son of James Lonnie and Shirley Long DeWitt of Sikeston, he was a graduate of Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Tennessee. He had lived most of his life in the Oakland, Tennessee, area where he owned DeWitt Trailers and was a member of the Hillside Baptist Church in Oakland. He moved to Sikeston in October 2019...

CHARLESTON — When Kyle Johnson started with the Charleston R-1 School District in 2017 he was given the task of starting the Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) program. In just a short time, Johnson has turned the program into one receiving national recognition...