Stories from Friday, March 31, 2023

SIKESTON — Voters in the Scott County Central School District will consider on Tuesday, April 4 a no-tax rate increase bond issue to upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the elementary building. On Tuesday, voters in the SCC district will be asked to approve Proposition K.I.D.S., or Keep Improving District Schools, which is a general obligation bond to borrow $1 million for the purpose of providing funds to replace HVAC systems districtwide and complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the district as funds are available. ...

SIKESTON — Sikeston Public Schools announced on Tuesday, March 28 Michelle Gilmer will serve as the next assistant principal at Wing Elementary. Gilmer, who is currently the assistant principal at Sikeston Middle School, said she is excited to return to her elementary roots...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — A Chaffee school teacher faces two felonies and one misdemeanor charge for allegedly attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old girl. Mitchell John Dirnberger, an industrial technology shop teacher at Chaffee Junior and Senior High School, was charged Friday, March 24, with the Class C felony of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a Class D felony of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree and the class C misdemeanor of sexual misconduct in the second degree. ...

SIKESTON —A healing and sensory garden will be constructed in Malone Park in Downtown Sikeston. At the end of 2022, the Bootheel Regional Board of Realtors was approved for a $5,000 Placemaking Grant. With the grant money, a healing and sensory garden will be constructed in Malone Park, in Downtown Sikeston, by fall 2023, and is a partnership between the Bootheel Regional Board of Realtors and the Historic Downtown Sikeston Garden Club...

On March 31, 1880, it was decreed that Wabash, Indiana, was the first town in the United States of America to be completely illuminated by electricity. Just think of the difference electricity made in the lives of the residents. No more did evening activities, like reading, or darning have to be done by the weak light of candles and oil lamps. ...

I believe the current elected Congress, which is spending (wasting) most of their time trying to protect a former President, who has been charged with the most presidential crimes in U.S. history, are a disgrace to the American people who elected them. What’s even more shameful is that these same Congress people were elected to support and improve the American way of life, not protect a liar and cheat. They know that the former President has committed many terrible crimes and is attempting to justify his crimes to stay out of jail. The American public has finally recognized these lies and acts of hatefulness and will eventually prevail and get rid of both the Congress and the former President.

10/26/1965-3/24/2023 “Your life is made of two dates and a dash. Make the most of the dash.” — Linda Ellis This is the story of Linda "Grammy" Gail Boyer Hammontree. Gail was a wonderful woman who was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Grammy as she was known to everyone, had nine beautiful grandbabies who were her world: Ahnyia, Isabella, Declan, Mollie, Willa, Jase, Skadi, Gabriella and Valfreyja. Gail was an amazing mom, daughter, sister, fixer of boo-boos, and friend. ...

HERMITAGE, Tenn. — David Roy Way, 70, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Hermitage. He was born on Aug. 19, 1952, in Omaha, Nebraska, to David C. Way and Larie A. (Bucy) Way. David spent his formative years as a farm boy in the Tekamah, Nebraska, area, graduating from Tekamah-Herman High School. ...

MOUND CITY, Ill. — Vickie Dale Litchford Ice, 74, formerly of Charleston, Missouri, died March 31, 2023, at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 4 at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Buddy Walls will officiate.