Stories from Monday, December 23, 2024

BLOOMFIELD — The Stoddard County Commissioners took a break during the Monday, Dec. 16, meeting to celebrate and reflect on Carol Jarrell’s 16 years of service. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis delayed proceedings to be thankful and recognize Jarrell with a plaque presentation...

Bundled up in the family car, area residents were transported Saturday evening to ancient Israel in a drive-thru nativity at Crossroads Global Methodist Church. Cars circled their way through a series of lighted vignettes erected in the church parking lot on South Walnut Street, where costumed actors depicted scenes from Bethlehem. The event was complete with live animals, inspiring music and excerpts from scripture that tell the story of the birth of Jesus...

BLOOMFIELD ­­­— Stoddard County commissioners made several motions to transfer drainage district funds Monday after eight unknown districts were identified by Collector Josh Speakman. After numerous hours of research, Speakman summarized by saying, “There are eight ditches that were created in the early 1900s that I cannot find where they are. I went to the archives. There has been no tax revenue collected on them throughout my time.”...

Jerry Wayne Pritchett was born Jan. 17, 1946 to the late William and Lorene (Presley) Pritchett in East Prairie, Missouri and passed away Dec. 16, 2024 at his home in East Prairie at the age of 78. No further arrangements have been made at this time...

Terry Robinson, son to James Robinson and the late Hazel (Hamby) Robinson, was born Sept. 23, 1955 in Dexter, Missouri and departed his life Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 at his home in Wappapello, Missouri at the age of 69 years surrounded by his wife and children...

Susan Watson, daughter of the late Richard Sargent and Anne Stafford Sargent, was born May 5, 1934, in Holguin, Cuba and departed this life Dec. 19, 2024, in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 90. Visitation will be held at New Life United Pentecostal Church in Campbell, Missouri from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, with a memorial service following at 2 p.m...

Raymond Galbraith, son of Jeremie Oliver Sr. and Stephanie Galbraith Oliver of Bernie, Missouri, was born Jan. 26, 1995, in Granite City, Illinois, and departed this life Dec. 17, 2024, in Bernie, Missouri, at the age of 29. No services are planned Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter assisted with arrangements...

Randy Stafford, son of the late Willie Stafford and Zerlene Langston Stafford, was born Sept. 6, 1958, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life Dec. 19, 2024, at his residence in Dexter, at the age of 66 years. Funeral services were conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Interment followed in Hagy Cemetery...

Danny Delplane, son of Debbie Rice Williams of Dexter, Missouri and the late Donnie Delplane, was born Jan. 5, 1972, in Sikeston, Missouri and departed this life Dec. 19, 2024, in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 52. Funeral services were conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. Interment followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

The Christmas season is often thought of as a time of joy, but the reality for many is far more complicated. The demands of work and family can leave little room for rest, turning the season into a source of stress. Exhaustion piles up, and the challenges of the holidays can feel overwhelming. For some, the season...

I recently reflected on how much our perceptions of Christmas change as we get older. To illustrate, consider the following questions we willlikely ask at various ages.Four and 5-year-olds often ask. “What do I want for Christmas?” and “WillI get what I want?” At ages 7 or 8, more troubling questions arise, “How will Santa get in if we do not have a fireplace?” or an even tougher one, “How can Santa get to every house in the world on Christmas Eve?” A few years later, the question changes when our parents give us money to buy Christmas gifts for the first time, and we ask, “What will I get my family?” When we begin our lives away from our parents, how we view the world starts to change, and we ask a new question, “Will I make it home for Christmas?” As young parents, our Christmas questions change even more dramatically, and we ask questions we never imagined when we were younger. ...

BENTON — An investigation by a Scott County special prosecutor has resulted in the federal indictment of a Sikeston man for the murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless. Lawless, 19, was murdered around 1 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, 1992, in the vicinity of the 80-mile marker, northbound exit ramp of Interstate 55 and Missouri Highway 77 in Benton/ Scott County. ...

A Missouri Lottery player won big when her ticket matched all five numbers in the Nov. 30 Show Me Cash drawing. She purchased the lucky ticket at Break Time, 609 N. Catalpa St., in Dexter. “I buy a ticket every week, and I just let the machine pick the numbers for me,” the...

Dunklin County Foster Coalition brought joy to local foster children with its annual Christmas party on Dec. 8 at Southeast Missouri Community Church in Malden. This event was made possible by the support of more than 50 organizations, businesses and individuals from Southeast Missouri. ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Emily Pyle of Dexter was named among the students who qualified for Belmont University’s fall 2024 Dean’s List. Belmont University recently released the Dean’s List for the fall 2024 semester. Approximately 53% of the University’s 7,175 undergraduate students qualified for the fall 2024 Dean’s List. “Earning a place on the Dean’s List is an accomplishment that reflects the...

Central Methodist University celebrated its winter commencement on Dec. 7 in Puckett Fieldhouse on the Fayette campus. Students were recognized for earning degrees at the master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s levels. The following local students were among the graduates on the program for the event: Amber Lyn Crow, Bernie, Bachelor of Science Lydia Lorraine Garces Elder, Piedmont, Bachelor of Science Brandi Kalynn Haley, Malden, Bachelor of Science in education Shelby Ann King, Dexter, Bachelor of Science Kristen Danielle Lalk, Malden, Bachelor of Science Christopher Layne Newman, Campbell, Bachelor of Science Kelsey Elizabeth Polen, Malden, Bachelor of Science in nursing Angelia Nicole Sherman, Advance, Bachelor of Science in education Since its founding in 1854, CMU has evolved into a university that confers master’s, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees. ...

Merry Christmas! It’s that very special time of year where we get together with loved ones and celebrate our long-time family traditions. Christmas is a joyous time, but it can also be stressful — whether it’s driving long hours to visit family, running to the grocery store to pick up a missing ingredient for Grandma’s cookie recipe, or making sure everyone leaves the house on time to get a front row seat in church. ...

Craig Hickman, 52, of Dexter was arrested on an other agency warrant service. _____ Brandy Walker, 44, of Dexter was arrested for steal (shoplifting). _____ Landy Maddox, 39, of Dexter was arrested for steal (shoplifting).

Dale Blanton, 74, of Bernie was booked in Stoddard County jail on a Stoddard County warrant for failing to obey judge’s order. No bond was set. _ Lauren Glover, 36, of Dexter was booked in Stoddard County jail on a Stoddard County warrant for DWI and resisting arrest. No bond was set...

SIKESTON — Maritza “Mia” Flores, a junior at Sikeston High School, spent her Thanksgiving in New York City, marching with the Macy’s Great American Marching Band during the 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Flores, the daughter of Guadalupe and Mario Flores, was part of this year’s Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which included selected students from all over the country. Sikeston High School students...

SIKESTON — Children and their parents in one Sikeston neighborhood have a tradition of caroling once a year at Christmas time to raise money, and this year they earned over $1,000 for the Bulldog Pantry. Sikeston resident Bart Ziegenhorn, who lives in the neighborhood, helped establish the tradition three years ago. ...

Wednesday, Jan. 8 Caregiver support Paradigm Senior Management is hosting a Dexter Dementia Caregiver Support Group Wednesday, Jan. 8, the second Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7 p.m. at 300 N. Walnut Street. _ Friday, Jan. 10 Brewin’ Business Farm Credit Southeast Missouri will be host to Brewin’ Business on Friday, Jan. 10, from 7:30- 8:30 a.m...

The Keller Public Library has been awarded a $4,708 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) technology grant made possible through the Missouri State Library. The grant funds will be used to replace three staff computers, said Jordan Myers, Keller Public Library director. ...