Stories from Monday, October 5, 2020

BENTON, Mo. — An investigation is underway after a woman’s body was found in a ditch Monday morning in Scott County. According to Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury, at 10:39 a.m. Monday, deputies responded to County Road 266 outside of Chaffee to the report of a female body lying in the ditch...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — The New Madrid County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in locating Freddie Akridge II and Bobby Dale Murphy. Both have active felony warrants in New Madrid County. Akridge is wanted for failure to appear on a charge of first degree statutory rape. Murphy is wanted for failure to appear on a charge of child abuse/ neglect...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Ruby Jean Wade, 81, died Oct. 2, 2020, at New Madrid Living Center in New Madrid, Missouri. Born April 14, 1939, in Silva, Missouri, daughter of the late Leonard and Clara Evans White, she was of the Pentecostal belief and had lived in Lilbourn, Missouri, for over 50 years...

SIKESTON — Linda Saiki, 69, died Oct. 4, 2020, at Woodland Hills Care Center in Marble Hill, Misouri. Born Nov. 12, 1950, in Seattle, Washington, she was the daughter of the late James and Joyce Yamano Saiki. Survivors include: her husband Rick Davis of Sikeston; one son, Brennan Smith of Seattle, Washington; two stepdaughters, Harmony Griswald of Morton, Washington, and Sasha Davis of Negril, Jamaica...

The 76th American Legion Cotton Carnival Parade was held on Saturday in Sikeston.

The 5th Annual Fall Craft Fair was held Saturday at the Sikeston Outlet Stores. Over 25 booths were on display with everything from fall décor to hand-made soaps, hand-sewn items, jewelry and much more.

BERTRAND, Mo. — Charles Lee McKinley, 86, died Oct. 4, 2020, at his home. Born Sept. 29, 1934, in Bertrand, son of the late Walter and Christine McKinley, he lived all his life in Bertrand and retired from MFA Oil Co., where he was bulk plant manager in 1996. A member of the Sikeston Elks Lodge for 38 years, he also served as mayor of the City of Bertrand for 20 years...

O’FALLON, Mo. — Rowan Thomas Hess, of O’Fallon, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at 20 days old. Cherished baby boy of Angela Dawn Starr Hess and Lee Watkins Hess, dearest brother of Norah Hess, and treasured grandson of Chris and Jeannie Crites Starr and Gary and Jill Brown Hess all of Charleston, Missouri...

PORTAGEVILE, Mo. — Billie Gene “Bill” Estes, 90, died Oct. 4, 2020, at Golden Living Center in New Madrid. Born April 30, 1930, in Portageville, son of the late Susan Welch Estes and Dege Estes, he worked at Noranda Aluminum until his retirement and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Portageville...

SIKESTON — Brenda Joyce Day, 67, passed away on Oct. 5, 2020, at her home in Sikeston. She was born June 2, 1953, in Decatur, Alabama, to the late Vernon and Toy Farley Earp. On July 14, 1973, in Lilbourn, Missouri, she married Dale Day, who survives of the home...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. — Avondale Junior “Man” Gammons, 49, died Oct. 1, 2020, at West Tennessee Healthcare. Born Aug. 11, 1971, in Hayti, Missouri, he was the son of Joyce Kennedy Gammons of Baldwin, Mississippi, and the late Avondale Gammons. On Jan. 16, 2016, in Baldwin, he married Melinda Hedge, and she survives of the home in Caruthersville...