News

SIKESTON — As the Henry Meldrum Post No. 114 of the American Legion celebrates its 100th year, it’s also marking the Sikeston organization’s 75th annual Cotton Carnival, which gets underway Tuesday. The Legion’s annual fundraiser will run through Saturday at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A New Madrid County man and woman are currently being held without bond in connection with a robbery of a Marston man. David Paul Wood of Kewanee is charged with first degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm and Amy E. Babb of New Madrid is charged with first degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence according to online court records. The charges stem from an alleged robbery during the early morning hours of Sept. 17...

When former Sikeston resident Jeff Lester was diagnosed with ALS, he was 27 and given three years to live. Now, 26 years later, Lester has published a book about his battle with the disease. Lester grew up in Sikeston, the son of Dr. Larry Lester, a dentist and Marie Lester Weiskircher. He graduated from Sikeston High School in 1985 before attending Southwest Missouri State University, graduating in 1990...

SIKESTON — Motorists are reminded to share the road with farmers and their equipment as the harvest season is in full swing in Southeast Missouri. “Farming plays a vital role in Missouri’s economy, history and identity,” said Capt. John J. Hotz with Missouri State Highway Patrol. “…Expect to see an increase in farm machinery traffic—especially on rural highways. Please obey all traffic laws and remain vigilant. Farmers and motorists alike are encouraged to be safe, courteous drivers.”...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Although there has been a University of Missouri Extension office in New Madrid County for several years that office now has a new home. It is now located at 330 US Highway 61, next to the New Madrid Fire Department. On Aug. 22, an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony were held...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Southeast Missouri State University has been recognized among the top 100 best regional universities in the Midwest, according to the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Southeast is ranked 78th among the best regional universities in the Midwest, up 12 places from its 2019 ranking. ...

BENTON, Mo. — As participation in youth football declines across the country, Scott County continues to buck the trend. With 120 youth from pre-K to sixth grade taking part in flag football, tackle football and cheerleading taking part in the Scott County Youth Football League, the sport is still appealing to kids...

BENTON, Mo. — A Monday search by law enforcement into the 40-year-old case of a missing Scott County woman resulted in nothing new. On Monday, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office along with FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted further investigation as part of the ongoing search for Cheryl Ann Scherer of rural Scott City, who disappeared on April 17, 1979, according to Capt. Ron Merideth with the sheriff’s office...

SIKESTON — In honor of national Hunger Action Month, Southeast Missouri Food Bank will hold a mobile food pantry starting at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Miner. The mobile food pantry coincides with a Legislative Action Day SEMO Food Bank is hosting for area legislators in conjunction with Hunger Action Month. The food pantry will be held on the west parking lot of the food bank’s office and distribution center at 600 State Highway H in Miner...

SIKESTON— The Sikeston Department of Public Safety officer who on Wednesday made anti-Islamic posts on a public Facebook account resigned from duty, effective early Friday. “Late yesterday evening, the officer gave me a verbal resignation and then said he would turn in his equipment this morning,” said Sikeston DPS Chief James McMillen in a news release on Friday. “A few moments ago, the officer did as he said and returned department property...

SIKESTON — As someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, McLane Barber knows the importance of bringing awareness to the problem. That is why she and other members of the local group Walk Bes;de Me will be taking part in a Suicide Remembrance and Prevention Walk Thursday at the Sikeston Recreation Complex...

A judge has upheld the impeachment and ouster of the former, elected police chief of Miner, Missouri. Christopher Griggs had gone to court in an effort to get his job back after the Scott County city’s board of aldermen impeached him at the conclusion of a three-hour hearing in March...

ESSEX, Mo. — Last spring, shortly before the school year ended, Richland R-1 School District learned that it had won the Makerspace contest sponsored by the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA). “The competition was an effort by MSTA to promote Makerspace in schools throughout the state,” explains Lisa Taylor, Makerspace facilitator for the Richland district. “Districts had to produce a video illustrating how they were utilizing Makerspace in their schools.”...

DEXTER, Mo. — The 92nd annual Stoddard County Fair will kick off Tuesday with the Stoddard County Fair Parade in Downtown Dexter starting at 5:30 p.m and run through Saturday, September 21. Activity at the fairgrounds begins immediately after the parade and will not stop for the next five nights...

BENTON, Mo. — Scott County chief deputy Ryan Dennis, who is second only to Sheriff Wes Drury in the sheriff’s department, has resigned, effective Sept. 30. Dennis is leaving to take a position as investigator for the Scott County prosecutor’s office. He is scheduled to begin his new job Oct. 1...

DIEHLSTADT, Mo. — A Gospel Singing will be held at the Diehlstadt General Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14. The gospel group The Davidson Family will be performing. For more information, contact (573) 427-1405. CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Messiah Choir will begin rehearsals Sept. ...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. — Trinity Assembly of God in Olive Branch, Ill., will be hosting a gospel sing at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 featuring the Bowling Family from Nashville, Tenn. The Bowling Family features Mike’s vocals which are very distinctively similar to those of the late Kenny Hinson. ...

SIKESTON — Located at the corner of Allen Boulevard and Wakefield, Hunter Memorial recently celebrated its 95th anniversary as an active church in Sikeston and is building toward their 100th anniversary in 2024. A part of the Sikeston church community for nearly a century, the original church building was located on Matthews Street before being relocated to its current location, two blocks north of Lee Hunter School...

SIKESTON — From the mound builders to city founder John Sikes escaping hanging to the digging of the Little River Drainage District, fourth graders learned about the history of Sikeston at the annual Fourth Grade Historical Interpretive Tour held at the Sikeston Depot Museum and Cultural Center held this week...

SIKESTON — An officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety has been placed on administrative leave after making inflammatory comments on social media. Sikeston DPS Director James McMillen released a statement Thursday morning saying he had received a complaint from a citizen in reference to a social media post made by an officer...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying an unknown male who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. The FBI said it’s believed the unknown individual known as John Doe 41 may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a male child victim in a sexual exploitation investigation...

SIKESTON — Four people and two dogs were treated following the discovery of a carbon monoxide leak in their home early Tuesday in Sikeston. At 9:25 a.m. Tuesday officers with Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to a residence at 162 Lee St. ...