Stories from Thursday, August 24, 2023

BENTON, Mo. — For more than 50 years, the annual Benton Neighbor Days celebration has been providing families and friends with good food and fun over the Labor Day weekend. From Thursday, Aug. 31 to Saturday, Sept. 2, the 54th annual Benton Neighbor-Day Festival will return for to provide good food, drinks, live music, carnival rides, games, a parade and more...

SIKESTON — Sikeston voters will be asked in November whether to allow the sale of liquor by the drink.  At the July 31 Sikeston City Council meeting, council approved an ordinance calling for an election to allow the sale of liquor by the drink in excess of 5%...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Dennis “Porky” Bailey Jr., 48, died Aug. 22, 2023, at his home in New Madrid. Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24 at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville, Missouri, where services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25 with Jackie Sanders officiating...

HARRISBURG, Ill. — Anice Lee Beltz, 71, died Aug. 23, 2023, at her home in Harrisburg. Arrangements are incomplete at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston, Missouri.

ROCHELLE, Ill. — Patricia Darleen Best, 84, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Darleen was born on July 31, 1939, to Hubert and Rosa (Thompson) Sitzes in Sikeston, Missouri. On March 21, 1970, she married Lewis “Buck” Best in Rochelle. He preceded her in death on April 11, 2010...

SIKESTON — The Southeast Missouri Food Bank held its first-ever “Field Rows to Food Bank” program Tuesday, Aug. 22, to give local farmers an update on the 2023 Farm Bill and how it affects them and efforts to end hunger.  The Farm Bill is the single largest piece of federal legislation pertaining to agriculture and food. The millions of Americans who are hungry are affected in terms of access to nutrient-rich food...