Stories from Friday, February 22, 2019

Columbia, MO – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering grants for promoting public awareness and implementation of Farm Bill conservation activities. State Conservationist J.R. Flores said $800,000 is available in Missouri for partners who can help inform farmers, ranchers and specialty crop growers about NRCS programs. ...

Three Rivers College and Central Methodist University have expanded their partnership to offer a four-year Agribusiness degree and a four-year rodeo team, available to students beginning Fall 2019.   “The idea really started with the students,” said Dr. Wesley Payne, President of Three Rivers College...

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)

ATMORE, Ala. — Mrs. Patricia McGhee Moody, age 63, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, in Atmore. Mrs. Moody was a native of Sikeston, Mo., former resident of Eufaula and had resided in Atmore for the past nine years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Hurley and Nelda McGhee; grandson, Tyler Christopher Nelson; two brothers, James McGhee and Larry Holt and sister, Mable St. Germaine...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Harold Eugene Myers, 49, died Feb. 21, 2019, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Matthews.  Born Nov. 2, 1969, in Charleston, to Virginia Ruth Matthews O’Dell of New Madrid and the late Matthew Harold Myers, he was employed as a manager at Love’s Travel Center in Matthews. He was a member of Elm Street Baptist Church in Charleston...

DEXTER, Mo. — Sherry Hector of Dexter recently claimed a $100,000 prize on a Missouri Lottery “Money Money Millionaire” Scratchers game. Hector purchased her ticket from Tootie’s 225, 13166 State Highway 225, in Dexter. Introduced on June 25, 2018, “Money Money Millionaire” is a $10 Scratchers ticket. Hector claimed one of 14 total $100,000 prizes available in the game. Remaining prize amounts for all Scratchers games can be found at MOLottery.com and on the official Missouri Lottery App...

BERNIE, Mo. — A Kennett man faces burglary and stealing charges for his alleged involvement in the theft of a utility vehicle from a Bernie business. Richard Marcus McCarthy, 30, of Kennett, was arrested and charged through the Stoddard County Prosecutor’s Office. He was charged with second degree burglary, stealing a murder vehicle and stealing, according to Bernie Chief of Police Justin K. Allen...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Regional Chamber held its annual Farmers Banquet Thursday evening and honored an agricultural leader of the year as well as young farmer of the year. Gary DeWitt was honored as agricultural leader of the year. DeWitt, who grew up on a family farm with six brothers and one sister, graduated from high school in Matthews, Mo., and began working for his brother driving a truck and hauling farm equipment...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston R-6 School District Board of Education has secured the services of the Missouri School Board Association to assist in the search for a new superintendent to replace Tom Williams who is retiring June 30. The MSBA consultant working with the Board is Dr. Jerry Waddle, longtime educator in Southeast Missouri and former faculty member at Southeast Missouri State University, according to a news release on behalf of Sikeston R-6 School Board President Matt Tanner...

SIKESTON — A self-published Sikeston author has won a national award for his book about small business. Colby Williams of Sikeston, author of “Small Town Big Money: Entrepreneurship and Opportunity in Today’s Small Town,” tied for the gold medal in the “Entrepreneurship/Small Business” category of the 2019 Axiom Business Book Awards. Williams said he will travel May 28 to New York City to receive the prize...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Staff with the city of New Madrid and the New Madrid County Highway Department are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Memphis District to provide additional flood risk reduction measures along the Farrenburg Levee along Dawson Road...

SIKESTON — Students from Sikeston High School took part in the annual Ron Creed Memorial Youth in Government Day on Friday. High School juniors tackled roles as city council members as well as other city staff members. Part of their day was an opportunity for the student to learn from their real-life counterparts about their jobs...

Yes, I would like for you to maybe ask one of your reporters to call over here to East Prairie, Mo., to a counselor or somebody, superintendent, and ask them why are they still giving young kindergarten, first, second and third grade chocolate milk that is outdated? We have already reported it. I know two kids that got upset stomach from drinking outdated milk. Now they are charging these kids 50 cents for extra milk but these are outdated milks. We need to put a stop to it. Serving outdated milk is no good over here in East Prairie. Throw it out. Throw it out. Parents ain’t gonna stand for it no more. I already reported it once. My grandchild got another outdated chocolate milk. It’s time to stop. You can’t give to a kid free. It’s just sitting on a shelf. That’s a shame.

DEXTER — A project to extend Interstate 57 past Sikeston along U.S. Highway 60 to connect Chicago to Dallas, Texas took another step Friday with the unveiling of the Future I-57 sign in front of a large crowd at the First Baptist Church. “This is a big moment,” Senator Roy Blunt said, “as we move, take another step forward.”...