Stories from Friday, December 18, 2020

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Following an hour-long preliminary hearing, George Dawson III was ordered bound over to Division I of New Madrid County Circuit Court for trial on charges of first degree murder and armed criminal action. Judge Zac Horack, who was appointed to hear the case, ordered Dawson to return to court at 1 p.m. Jan. 12, 2021, for an appearance before Circuit Judge Edward William Reeves. Horack also denied a request by Dawson’s lawyers to reduce his bond of $1-million cash only...

LILBOURN, Mo. — Betty Faye Streeter, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 13, 2020, at her granddaughter’s home in New Madrid, Missouri. Born Oct. 5, 1929, in Fulton, Mississippi, daughter of the late Z.A. and Luna D. (Wilson) Truelove, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who took pride in her job as a homemaker, which she considered the most important job she could have. ...

As I mentioned previously, we have worked really hard since August to produce the Quarantine Christmas Comedy. It is super funny, but more than that it makes you understand where is God in this time. As I began thinking about Christmas being a time of giving, I heard that Sikeston Little Theater has not been able to have many plays this year. ...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — John Jay Robinson, 79, passed away Dec. 16, 2020, at his residence with his wife and son by his side. John, the son of Don Edward and Christine (Poet) Robinson, was born Aug. 5, 1941, in Cape Girardeau. He grew up in Sikeston during WWII, where his father was an instructor for pilots at Harvey Parks School. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Charles Ray “Chuck” Hoots, son of the late Donald Hoots and Janet Thompson Pender, was born on Dec. 25, 1967, in Chaffee and departed this life on Thursday, Dec.17, 2020, at his residence in Chaffee at the age of 52 years. Mr. Hoots loved to fish, hunt arrow heads, loved spending time with his children and making people laugh. Mr. Hoots could talk your head off; he never met a stranger...

What the heck has happened to our water bills over here in Morehouse? We used to pay a reasonable amount but this month everything has gone up. And why are we paying more for sewer when we didn’t have no new sewer lines put in. So come on guys, give us a break.

SIKESTON — A new campaign in Sikeston will encourage the use of masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. The City of Sikeston and the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce have joined forces for “Wear Because We Care,” the theme of the public awareness campaign, to encourage those working, dining, shopping and visiting Sikeston to wear a mask...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — In a year like no other, a group of Charleston residents’ efforts to spread holiday cheer and increase positivity seems to be catching on within the community. “There has been so much negativity and so much going on this year, and I’m tired of getting on Facebook and seeing negativity,” said Tiffiny Shankle of Charleston who is a member of the newly formed Charleston Economic Development Group...

SIKESTON — Looking to help others while also encouraging people to give back this Christmas season, a local teenager is hosting a student-led blood drive Monday in Sikeston. The American Red Cross blood drive will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21 in the gym at Shady Acres Church of Christ, 1440 Ables Road, in Sikeston...

Most local counties are no longer fall under extreme risk under the public health warning issued by the State of Missouri, but do still fall under critical risk. Under the warning there are three categories for counties that are based on positivity rate along with the number of cases per 100,000 residents...

The familiar bells of the Salvation Army are a staple at local stores during the Christmas season and despite the challenges of COVID-19, the bell ringers are at it once again this year.

Many homes in Sikeston and the area are decorated for the holidays this Christmas season. Be sure to check out the Standard Democrat’s special Christmas greetings section in Wednesday’s edition, complete with Letters to Santa.

SIKESTON — Kenneth Long, age 81, passed away on Dec. 17, 2020, at Miner Nursing Center in Miner, Missouri. Born May 28, 1939, in Dearborn, Michigan, he was the son of the late Francis and Florence Pearcy Long. On April 17, 1981, at Land Between the Lakes, he married Barbara Long who survives of the home in Sikeston...