Stories from Tuesday, October 31, 2023

About 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, officers with Sikeston Department of Safety responded to a report of a structure fire in the 800 block of Mary Street, according to Sgt. Tyler Rowe, public information officer for Sikeston DPS. When fire division personnel arrived on scene, they advised the residence was fully involved and immediately went into fire suppression and extinguishment operations, Rowe said. ...

SIKESTON — University of Missouri Extension will host its 18th Annual Multi-County Women’s Health Conference from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Tanner Street Church of God, located on 619 Tanner St., in Sikeston. The conference, which is free of charge with breakfast, lunch and door prizes provided, showcases speakers and organizations dedicated to improving women’s health. On-site exhibits feature several organizations and companies with products or services that appeal to the participants...

Southeast Elementary in Sikeston has named its character education students of the month for October. The word of the month was responsibility. Pictured are front row, from left: Jandy Johnson, Amelia King, Clara Armstrong, Shaundrez Anderson, Noah Clay, Ryland Britton and Cambree Denning; and back row: Amari Ray, Katelyn Smith, Rowan Ray, Mary Lou Russell, Lawson Warren, Ashton Penrod and Max Stone...

SIKESTON — Betsy Michelle Smith Wrather, better known as Beth by friends and loved ones, 59, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Born on June 29, 1964, to James "Eddie Bo" Smith and Jennifer Jane Hooe in Sikeston. Beth was the eldest of two daughters. Beth enjoyed being the older sister to Sarah, as she was her fiercest protector and prime antagonist throughout their youth...

PARMA, Mo. — Alfred Wayne McKenzie was born Feb. 13, 1926, at the Village of Hondon, Catron, Missouri, to George Edward and Charlotta “Lottie” Mae McKenzie and died on Sept. 18, 2023, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His father and mother moved to Catron in 1918. They were pioneers in the development of S.E. Missouri as lumber manufacturers in clearing the land and shipping lumber by train throughout Missouri...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston City Council approved the acquisition of a ShotSpotter gunshot detection program during its regular meeting Monday evening, Oct. 30 at city hall. Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Jim McMillen said through the Bureau of Justice Association’s Rural and Small Department Violent Crime Reduction Award, the Department of Justice gave the city $297,000 to pay the program’s costs for three years. The service costs $99,000 per year to cover two square miles. ...

Students in Cyd Sutton’s first grade class at New Madrid Elementary School learned about safety tips for Halloween.