Stories from Thursday, May 14, 2020

SIKESTON – Southeast Missouri Food Bank was awarded a $50,000-grant to increase the food provided to children participating in summer feeding programs in Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid and Pemiscot counties. Feeding America awarded the grant, and funds were provided by Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation and The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund. ...

SIKESTON — Betty Dixon, 75, of Sikeston passed away May 12, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born Jan. 26, 1945, in Avert, Missouri, to the late Elsie Hasty and Fanny Fitzgerald Hasty. On Sept. 26, 1964, at Garden Ridge General Baptist Church, she married Johnie Dixon, who survives of the home. She was a member of the Garden Ridge General Baptist Church.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson announced on Wednesday a series of testing priorities designed to detect and rapidly contain potential COVID-19 outbreaks as the state gradually reopens its economy. “One of our primary focuses during this pandemic is testing. It helps protect the safety of Missourians as we begin to reopen our economy and get Missourians back to work,” said Parson. “Testing capacity gives people the confidence needed to get back to normal.”...

SIKESTON — While many local businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, some have used the pandemic as a time to change or explore new ideas. “I knew right away that we needed to change, adjust and plan differently,” said Brooke Buchanan, owner of Personal Expressions. “I love our employee family and customers and didn’t want anyone to get lost in the changes.”...

SIKESTON — If Sikeston R-6 voters approve an $18.6-million bond issue next month for new construction in the school district, they will not realize the tax increase until fall 2021. “The school board and the school district wanted to be sensitive to what was going on in our community and the impact COVID-19 has had economically and try to allow time for the economy in our area to improve and not put an immediate increase on our community,” said Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Dr. Tony Robinson...

SIKESTON — For the second consecutive year, all students of the Sikeston R-6 School District will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at no cost to them. During its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education approved the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program to continue in the 2020-2021 school year...

It’s never too late to earn a college degree, and with time, often comes perspective and the understanding you’ve found your calling in life. Such is the case for Southeast Missouri State University student Kathleen Ellison of Sikeston, Missouri. After graduating from high school in 2008, she attended Southeast for three years while pursuing an education degree. But when her first son came along, she put those plans on hold...

The Scott County Health Department reported one new case on Thursday afternoon, giving Scott County 84 positive cases of COVID-19. There are 15 active cases with 63 recovered and six deaths. Of the positive cases in Scott County, 23 of those testing positive have been over the age of 80 and 52 of those testing positive have been female...