Stories from Thursday, December 10, 2020

SIKESTON — Lynn Alan Shy, born July 29, 1953, in Sikeston, to David and Alice Shy, passed away Nov. 23, 2020, at Sikeston Convalescent Center from complications of vascular disease. He was 67 years old. He is survived by his sister, Jane (Nelson) Johnson of Sikeston; his brother, Greg (Melissa) Shy of Indiana; two nieces, Laura (Dale) Hurley of Sikeston and Terry (Scott) McCord of Cape Girardeau; Erich’s children, Matt and Bree. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Two people have died from what is believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning. The Portageville Fire Department was dispatched to a city residence at 10 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a report of two people inside and unresponsive. According to a report on the Portageville Fire and Rescue’s Facebook page, fire personnel put on their full self-contained breathing apparatus gear to enter the home, where they located the two victims, who were deceased...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — John Dee Henry Jr. passed away on Dec. 6, 2020, in Cape Girardeau at the age of 77. John D, as he was most known as, was born in the Higgerson Landing Community in New Madrid, to Almeida (Porter) Henry and John D. Henry Sr. on Jan. 9, 1943. On Jan. 12, 1963, he was united in marriage to Carol (Jackson) Henry who survives of the home...

BENTON — A former Sikeston police officer facing charges for a fatal accident in February was back in court Tuesday and his case was bound over to the circuit court. A preliminary hearing was held Tuesday for Andrew Cooper, who is charged with one Class B felony count of driving while intoxicated and causing a death, one unclassified felony count of armed criminal action, first degree involuntary manslaughter and three Class D felony counts of driving while intoxicated and causing serious physical injury.. ...

JEFFERSON CITY — An audit of New Madrid County found that a failure to file state payroll taxes cost taxpayers more than $50,000 in interest. The findings of the audit were released Wednesday by Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway and detailed how state payroll taxes and required reports were not received by the state for more than five years, resulting in over $50,000 in interest charges...

The demolition of the old Lee Hunter Elementary building is under way. Workers are removing the building in order to make room for a new school. In June, voters approved an $18.6-million bond proposal which includes the construction of a new Lee Hunter Elementary, construction of a new “C” Building on the senior high school campus and the raze of Matthews Elementary, Lee Hunter Elementary and C Building. The new Lee Hunter building is slated to open for students in August 2022...

As a U.S. government advisory panel convened Thursday to decide whether to endorse mass use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, local health departments are seeing a significant number of positive cases. The meeting of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration represented the next-to-last hurdle before the expected start of the biggest vaccination campaign in U.S. history. Depending on how fast the FDA signs off on the panel’s recommendation, shots could begin within days...

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Dennis Marion Johnson went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. He was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Dennis was born Jan. 24, 1943, in McMullin, Missouri, near Sikeston. He was married on Dec. 22, 1966, to Mary Rowell of Morehouse, Missouri. She was the love of his life, and they were married almost 54 years...

DEXTER, Mo. — George “Wayne” Tumbleson entered the gates of Heaven on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. When Wayne arrived at his eternal home, he met his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - face to face. This event transpired due to a decision that he made 60 years ago at a small country church revival, where he gave his heart to Christ...