Stories from Wednesday, October 9, 2024

SIKESTON — Sikeston will soon handle most of the 911 calls in Scott County after an agreement was approved by the Sikeston City Council during its Monday, Oct. 7 meeting. The five-year agreement will see all Scott County 911 calls except those coming from Scott City handled by communications officers at Sikeston Department of Public Safety. The number of communications officers will increase from nine to 16 with a minimum of three operators working at all times...

SIKESTON — With the barometer dipping to fall-like conditions, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety is recognizing National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12, and urging residents to check their furnace filters and smoke detector batteries. “The theme this year is smoke alarms; we try to tell everybody as daylight saving time changes, check your smoke alarm batteries and make sure they work,” said Sgt. ...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Capt. Jason J. Cluver, commanding officer of Troop E, in Poplar Bluff recently announced the promotion of Corporal Dylan L. DeJournett. DeJournett was promoted to sergeant, effective Sept. 1, and designated the zone supervisor of Zone 8, New Madrid and Pemiscot counties...

MINER, Mo. — Robin Colette Farmer Pierce, 69, died Oct. 8, 2024, at her home in Miner. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at the First Assembly of God Church in Sikeston. Andrew Moss, pastor, will officiate. McMikle Funeral Home of Sikeston is in charge of arrangements...

BERTRAND, Mo. — Cheryl Diane Johnson Sullivan, 79, died Oct. 8, 2024, at Charleston, Missouri. Services will be held at a later date. McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON — Loretta May Whorton Gadberry, age 59, passed away on Oct. 7, 2024, at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born on Jan. 8, 1965, in Chaffee, Missouri, to the late James T and Merlene Wyatt Whorton. She worked in food services at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston for seven years...

SIKESTON — Larry B. Luber died on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of the late Lawrence B. and Beulah F. Luber. He was born on July 9, 1942, in Vanduser, Missouri. Mr. Luber attended St. Francis Xavier grade school and graduated from Sikeston High School in 1960.

SIKESTON — In addition to Sikeston City Council accepting and entering into a five-year contract to provide 911 emergency dispatch to Scott County, with the exception of the Scott City area, several other actions were taken by Council during the Monday, Oct. 7 meeting...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — A massive explosion that obliterated a residence in Butler County claimed the lives of two residents within the home. Danny Batchelor, 67, and Diana Baker, 77, both died in the private residence that was destroyed Friday, Oct. 4. According to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers, both individuals lived together and Batchelor was there to assist Baker...

DONIPHAN, Mo. — Ashley Thompson acknowledges that an evening visit to a cemetery can be an eerie experience for some people. However, her reason for coordinating a cemetery walk Oct. 12 has nothing to do with haunting, but everything to do with history...