Stories from Tuesday, July 21, 2020

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Eleven teams are ready to embark on Hillhouse Park starting Wednesday for the Senior Babe Ruth State Championship Tournament. In the community, everyone is looking for ways to stay afloat financially and with teams made of players from different parts of the state, it could surely be a plus...

SIKESTON — Steven Lamar Turk, 49, died July 7, 2020 in Toledo, Ohio.  Born May 5, 1971, in Sikeston, on May 5, 1971, the son of Sandra Turk and Matthew (Shirley) Marshall, he was educated in the Sikeston Public School System and earned his G.E.D. and he had attended Westend Baptist Church...

VAN BUREN, Mo. — Laurinda Joy Morrison, daughter of the late Charles R. Hammock and Glouria Dell (Whited) Hammock was born February 17, 1958 in Sikeston, Mo., and departed this life on July 19, 2020 at her residence in Van Buren, Mo. She had attained the age of sixty-two years, five months and two days...

DIEHLSTADT, Mo. — Roy Lee “Chip” Taylor Jr., 58, died July 19, 2020 at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 18, 1961, at Sikeston, to Roy Lee Taylor, Sr. and Reta Lou Stinson Taylor, he had lived in Diehlstadt most of his life, was a U.S. Navy Veteran, had been employed with Aaron Sales and Leasing in Cape Girardeau and also was a D.J. ...

Is Cape Girardeau County’s COVID-19-related face-covering order an order or a suggestion? Enforcement would seem to be key to answering the question. So: Is anyone enforcing the order? According to the county’s top health department official, that falls to the county’s prosecuting attorney...

WAPPAPELLO LAKE -- A day of boating and swimming on Wappapello Lake ended tragically Sunday when a Puxico man drowned. The victim has been identified as Jerry L. Pennington, 55. He was pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m. by Wayne County Coroner Gray Umfleet and is the fourth drowning in Troop E this year...

Police have released photos of three suspects in a homicide committed early Monday morning in the 400 block of Sheridan Drive. The photos were captured by a surveillance system at the scene of the homicide, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad, and police are requesting public assistance in identifying the three suspects...

SEARCY, Ark. — More than 800 students received diplomas and will be recognized as Harding University graduates during a virtual ceremony on Aug. 15. Graduates include students from the College of Allied Health, College of Arts and Humanities, College of Bible and Ministry, Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration, Cannon-Clary College of Education, Carr College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Sciences, and the Honors College...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Southeast Missouri State University has announced its spring 2020 graduates. Local graduates were: Demi Parker of Matthews, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in middle school education. Alisha Johnson of Dexter, graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing with a major in nursing...

Training began Monday, July 13, and continued through Wednesday, July 15, for new teachers in the New Madrid County R-1 School District. The new staff members practiced social distancing throughout the training to ensure their safety and the district is continuing to work on its plans for the opening of school, according to Dr. Sam Duncan, superintendent. According to Duncan, the district will release its initial opening plan on July 24...

Does Black Lives Matter only pertain to white people? Because Blacks are killing Blacks.

Missouri reported a record single-day increase in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the state saw an increase of 1,138 new confirmed cases, topping the previous single-day record (958) set Saturday...

On Saturday, July 11, Mrs. Laurie Mitchell held her second annual “Stop the Violence” program at the Spread Hope Now pavilion at Branum and William Street in Sikeston. Hundreds of people came to this event in remembrance of her son, Marcus Dixon, who was murdered at this location just a short distance from Laurie’s home...