Juvenile division has new leaders, home

Pictured from left, Phillip Warren, chief juvenile deputy, and Kevin Hess, chief juvenile officer, for the 33rd Circuit Court look over a case file Thursday. (Scott Welton, Staff)

SIKESTON -- The 33rd Circuit Court's Juvenile Division has settled into a new facility with new leadership and is ready to face whatever comes next.

At the end of the 2014, the Division's office was moved from 205 North New Madrid in downtown Sikeston to 805 North Main, roughly across the street from Food Giant.

In addition to starting the year at a new location, the Juvenile Division also got a new chief.

Kevin Hess, formerly the superintendent of the Mississippi County Juvenile Detention Center, took the Division's reins Jan. 1 as chief juvenile officer for the circuit.

The former chief juvenile officer, Bill Lawson, along with several other longtime employees of the Juvenile Division retired at the end of 2014.

Also retiring was Barb Smith, juvenile court administrator, and two veteran deputy juvenile officers with 30 years each on the job, Mike Ellis, who was also the the chief deputy, and Lisa Lancaster.

"Within the last year, we lost over 100 years of combined experience," Hess said. "It's a new generation that's moved in which makes it a little tougher because everybody is pretty new."

Phillip Warren was promoted, also effective Jan. 1, to fill the chief juvenile deputy vacancy.

For the full story, see Friday's e-edition.