Stories from Friday, August 6, 2021

Would somebody answer me. We have mostly minimum wage people living in town. You tell me how people can afford these houses that are over $100,000 to $200,000 all the way to $800,000? I don’t understand it. Who keeps buying all these houses? You keep building them and ya’ll keep raising the prices up. How can you afford this high payment, $3,000 or $4,000 a month. We don’t have that many good jobs around here.

LILBOURN, Mo. — Ruby Bush Davidson, 97, of Lilbourn, passed away Aug. 3, 2021, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Missouri. Ruby was born May 1, 1924, in Dardanelle, Arkansas, to the late Joe and Kitty Simmons Farmer. She was married to R.C. Bush, and he preceded her in death in 1979. She later married Leroy Davidson, and he preceded her in death in 1993. Also preceding her in death were her parents, husbands and 15 siblings...

SIKESTON — Barbara Sue Maddox Shrum, age 71, of Sikeston, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Jan. 29, 1950, in Illinois, to the late Ralph Maddox and Alberta “Bea” Webber Maddox Tanner. She had lived in Sikeston a number of years where she had been employed a Green Meadows Retirement Home and Lil’ Bulldogs Childcare Center...

Sikeston will be joining communities across the state Tuesday celebrating Missouri’s bicentennial. Known as Missouri Statehood Day, Tuesday marks 200 years since the Missouri territory became the 24th state to enter the Union. To celebrate, ice cream socials will be held throughout the state...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Depot Museum and Cultural Center has been awarded a grant to support its annual interactive program that teaches the town’s history to Sikeston fourth graders. The Depot will receive a $2,350-grant fro the Missouri Humanities Council in support of the its project, “Fourth Grade Historical Interpretative Tour.”...

Two Southeast Missouri legislators reaffirmed Thursday their opposition to vaccine mandates in the wake of a new letter signed this week by six GOP state senators, including Holly Rehder (R-27-Scott City), asking Gov. Mike Parson to call a special session of the General Assembly “to protect Missouri workers from vaccine mandates, whether they be from the public or private sector,” in the words of the missive...

Joining Gov. Mike Parson and a chorus of other public officials advocating for COVID-19 vaccinations, Southeast Missouri State University president Carlos Vargas has added his voice as the school prepares to receive students for the fall 2021 semester later this month...

As a forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jennifer Behnken typically works with community groups and governments in the region to promote the advocacy and care of trees. Recently, however, Behnken’s job has taken her much farther than Missouri...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Dena Bertha nee Siebert Kamp, age 93, passed away Thursday, August 5, 2021, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau, where she received loving care the past 3 years.  By God’s grace, Dena entered the face-to-face presence of the Holy Triune God and all His saints.  With them, she awaits the resurrection of the body, as Job proclaimed, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”  (Job 19: 25 – 27). ...

SIKESTON — Mary Alice Magee passed away at her home on Aug. 6, 2021, at age 82. She was born Sept. 14, 1938, in Decaturville, Tennessee, to the late Floyd and Druie Butler Welch. She was a member of Temple of Faith of Sikeston. She retired after 30-plus years from Missouri Delta Medical Center...

SIKESTON — A late change has been made to the entertainment at the 69th Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. On Saturday, Aug. 14, T.I. will perform in place of FloRida. According to the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Board of Directors, FloRida is unable to attend the rodeo due to a scheduling conflict and the cancellation is not due to COVID-19...

SIKESTON — The 69th Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo officially kicks off Wednesday but there are plenty of events before and during to celebrate the annual event. On Saturday morning, the annual rodeo parade begins at 10 a.m. Starting at the Sikeston Kindergarten Center, the parade will go west on Salcedo Road, then south down N. Kingshighway all the way to the Downtown Sikeston Depot Museum...