Stories from Thursday, August 10, 2023

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A man is facing sodomy charges, and police are asking the public’s help to determine if he has victimized more than one person. Eric Banks, who recently moved to New Madrid, is charged with first degree sodomy and second degree kidnapping. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court...

SIKESTON — Sikeston Public Library recently received new seating and book shelves designed and made by local seventh and eighth graders. Lisa Munger, children’s librarian at Sikeston Public Library, said the library was aware of the furniture being constructed by Sikeston Junior High School industrial arts teacher Eugene Stroud and his seventh and eighth grade students...

Historic Downtown Sikeston was the place to be Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, when several events kicked off Rodeo Week in Sikeston. Among those events was the second annual mutton bustin’ competition hosted by the Sikeston Jaycees at the Sikeston Depot Museum parking lot. ...

Members of the Altrusa Club of Sikeston hand out free books to attendees of the annual School Fest school supplies giveaway organized by Spread Hope Now on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Malone Park in Sikeston. Several families turned out for the event which gave away school supplies and jeans for local students.

Right photo: The 2023 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Miss and Junior Miss Pageants were held July 22 at the rodeo grounds. Hailey Jo Peters, right, was crowned Miss Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and Laynee Prater was crowned Junior Miss Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. Far right photo: The 2023 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Little Mr. and Miss Western pageant was held July 23 in the Sponsor Building at the rodeo grounds. Winnie Paige was crowned Little Miss Western and Kenton Williams as Little Mr. Western...

The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo’s first Cowboy Shuffle-Almost 5K, which was dedicated to Galen Harper, a longtime supporter of the Rodeo, was Aug. 5 in Historic Downtown Sikeston. Pictured are the finalists, from left: Gary Warfield, second place; Evan Shoaf, first place; and Tyler Anderson, third place...

MALDEN, Mo. – Welton Bruce Cronan, 84, died Aug. 8, 2023, at Memory Lane in Dexter, Missouri. Visitation is from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11at DeLisle Funeral Home Chapel in Portageville, Missouri.

SIKESTON — Tennessee native Ethan Vasquez said he knows how rare it is to be general chairman of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and not be from Sikeston — and it’s an opportunity he’s extremely proud and grateful to have this year. “It’s phenomenal to be in this position, and it’s very, very humbling not even being from here to sit in this position,” Vasquez said just before the 71st Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo kicked off Wednesday, Aug. ...

Riley Green performs from the party porch during opening night of the 71st Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at the rodeo grounds in Sikeston. Rain could not stop the rodeo or entertainment planned for opening night; however, due to the muddy conditions and impending inclement weather, Green performed on the party porch instead of a stage in the arena...

SIKESTON — The 71st annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is underway, and Sikeston’s favorite Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo clown sensation, Justin Rumford, is enjoying this year’s event. Rumford is from Ponca City, Oklahoma, and said he started rodeoing at the age of 6 and has never looked back. Rumford is a third-generation rodeo cowboy and one of the PRCA’s top barrelmen. ...