Stories from Friday, August 23, 2024

SIKESTON — As many local schools began the new year this week, some have also implemented new cell phone policies. On the first day of school for Oran R-3 School District, which was Tuesday, Aug. 20, the phone pouch system through the brand, Yondr, was implemented for students in seventh through 12th grades to help the district enforce their cell phone policy...

SIKESTON — A Missouri State Highway Patrol officer faces six felony charges of invasion of privacy in New Madrid and Scott Counties. David Lee McKnight, 39, of Sikeston is charged with with a total of six counts of felony invasion of privacy — five in Scott County and one in New Madrid County, according to online court records...

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith visited Duff Farms in Sikeston Thursday, Aug. 22 as part of his annual Farm Tour. The farm is owned by Sikeston brothers, Tristan and Hunter Duff, who grow wheat, corn and soybeans and also raise beef cattle and hogs. Every year, Smith participates in a Farm Tour to highlight the diverse types of farms, ranches and agriculture businesses across Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District. ...

I just read in the Aug. 17/18 Standard Democrat about a group of nuns whose mission is to force changes in big companies through somehting called investment activism. The nuns invest what I assume is money they receive from charitable doantions in companies whose views and opinions do not align the nuns’ views and opinions on things like abortions, gender identity and issues involving LGBTQ+. Then the nuns force those companies to change their legal views, opinions and policies to conform to the views and opinions held by the nuns. I assume some of those changes negatively impact the companies’ bottom lines. In turn, that likely negatively impacts their investors’ investments, many of which are likely college and retirement funds. Some of those negatively impacted are likely members of the Catholic church. I wonder if the Biden/Harris Internal Revenue Service is looking into the nuns’ 503C tax exempt status? I doubt it. This investment activism is consistent with the overall Biden/Harris plan to redistribute wealth by taking it from the working class – promising to give it to the poor – but actually giving it to the far left, Democrat elites.

Dear Editor: Racial genocide were multi-settlers mostly who had been barred from inheriting land in Europe, came here, hungry for Indian land and the resources from it. “Stolen land.” Did you know Europeans enslaved Native Americans? In the 15th Century, the Spanish people used warfare to introduce chattel slavery. Between 1492 and 1880, an estimated 2 to 5.5 million Native Americans were slaves...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. — Carolyn Jan Cobb, age 80, passed away on Aug. 21, 2024, at Country Place in Scott City. She was born on April 12, 1944, in Sikeston, Missouri, to the late Claudius Harold and Dorothy May Johnson Clark. On May 24, 1963, in New Madrid, Missouri, she married Decalvis “Dee” Cobb, who preceded her in death on April 6, 2019...

SIKESTON — Jerry Leon James, age 75, passed away Aug. 21, 2024, at his home in Sikeston. He was born Oct. 30, 1948, in Sikeston, son of the late Otis M. James and Irene Mae Greer-James. Jerry was owner and manufacturer of Jerry James Trailers since 1983 and the owner of Jerry James Melons since 1970...

SIKESTON — As most area school districts, including Sikeston Public Schools, headed back to class for the new year this week, motorists were reminded to pay attention and be aware of their surroundings, especially in school zones. “We wanted to remind everyone to plan for increased traffic in the city due to student drop off and buses picking up students,” said Sgt. ...

For the second consecutive year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) rollout will be delayed. Unlike last year when the Dec. 30 release of a new, simplified form was met with multiple technical issues and Student Aid Index (SAI) errors, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) hopes to release the 2025-26 FAFSA form Sunday, Dec. 1, with full functionality...

SIKESTON — Over the past 13 years, the wine festival in Historic Downtown Sikeston has grown to be one of the community’s most popular events. Every year, the event attracts not only Sikeston residents but also people from all over the area. “This will be the 14th Annual Fall in Love with Downtown Sikeston Wine Festival and we are excited for this year’s event,”  said Charlette Vanover, president of Historic Downtown Sikeston. ...

A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle around 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 on South Main Street in Sikeston. Emergency crews responded. Further information was unavailable.

“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, ‘whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’” - Proverbs 9:1-4...