News

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — The young woman and her two children were homeless. She didn’t know where to turn. She didn’t know what to do. Sometimes when the path in life is full of roadblocks, you need a navigator to help find the way. That is when Amanda Williams stepped in...

SIKESTON — As diabetes and obesity rates continue to rise in the Missouri Bootheel, two local programs aim to curb the increase, targeting adults and children. The Bootheel Health Alliance, a network of healthcare providers who have agreed to collaborate in order to improve the well being of residents in the Missouri Bootheel, is working to increase awareness, provide education and help the community make better choices to fight diabetes and obesity. ...

PORTAGEVILLE — Members of the class of 2019 will begin receiving their high school diplomas in less than a month as several area high schools will graduate their seniors in early May. Portageville High School’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 16 on the Vic Reaves Field...

JEFFERSON CITY – A sure sign of springtime: motorists will see tractor mowers near the shoulder of interstates and other roadways. The Missouri Department of Transportation will start its annual mowing operations and is urging motorists to be on the lookout for slow-moving equipment. MoDOT mows about 400,000 acres of grass each year, which is equivalent to 300,000 football fields...

The Portageville Chamber of Commerce held their annual GLOW Egg Hunt last weekend. The event was held at Meatte Memorial Park.

BRANSON, Mo. – Mark Jones, Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance agency sales manager (ASM) in Pemiscot and New Madrid counties, achieved membership on the Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Companies’ NHA/NHS Unit Count Pyramid. Jones is one of the company’s top producers qualifying for the award this year...

Several Portageville High School students recently participated in the Class 2 District 1 Scholar Bowl Tournament. Portageville finished second, losing to Bernie 210-230 in the championship game on April 6. 

The M&M Cross Service Center has served area farmers and motorists for 73 years. This year, Mark Cross celebrates his 44th year at M&M. “The original business began in 1946 in Portageville with my father and uncle,” said Cross. The original place was located Portageville where Leroy Tires and Trisha’s BBQ is now, he added. On Friday as part of their Customer Appreciation event, the service center hosted a Crawfish and Shrimp boll, along with drawings and discounts throughout the day...

BRANSON, Mo. – Mark Jones, Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance agency sales manager (ASM) in Pemiscot and New Madrid counties, achieved membership on the Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Companies’ NHA/NHS Unit Count Pyramid. Jones is one of the company’s top producers qualifying for the award this year...

The Portageville Chamber of Commerce held their annual GLOW Egg Hunt last weekend. The event was held at Meatte Memorial Park. Thanks to all who came out to participate, and congratulations to all of the winners!!!

Living with a chronic condition such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, pain or anxiety can be a daily challenge. However, it doesn’t have to be. Sign up today and do something good for yourself. Attend a FREE 6-week workshop and discover how to:...

The North Pemiscot Fifth graders planted Bald Cypress trees last Wednesday. Men from the Missouri Department of Conservation and Forestry Service brought the trees for the fifth graders to plant. - Charlotte Angotti photo

The New Madrid County Health Department will be offering a Skin Cancer Screening. Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. One in five Americans develops skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. With the careful inspection of the skin, most skin cancer can be found early and treated successfully...

On Friday afternoon, March 29, Congressman Jason Smith (R), Mo. Eighth District, stopped in Portageville at the New Madrid County Library-Portageville branch to donate books from the Library of Congress. In all, he brought 11 boxes of about 25 books each, nearly 275. “Many of small-town libraries just to do have the resources that folks need in researching, and/or simply read,” said Smith...

Several Portageville High School students participated in the Class 2 District 1 Scholar Bowl Tournament.  Portageville High School finished second, losing to Bernie 210-230 in the championship game on Saturday, April 6. 

PORTAGEVILLE - Portageville residents were honored for their work at the annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet held March 30. The first award of the evening was the Farmer of the Year. The nominees were: Bun Kimes, David Klipfel, Jon Warren, and the winner, Mike Rone...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A Lilbourn, Mo., man is in custody in connection with recent burglaries in New Madrid and Portageville. New Madrid Police arrested Kyle Lee Woods, 22, following a traffic stop Tuesday in New Madrid. Woods is charged with stealing and burglary...

PORTAGEVILLE — The Portageville Park Board is looking to improve parking at the baseball field while possibly downsizing the size of the skate park. At the most recent City Council meeting, Park Board President Melissa Maness approached the Council and asked how much funding was left in the annual budget. Maness said the project would cost $3,500 and was told there was $3,800 left in the budget...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Portageville residents soundly defeated a proposed local use tax. There were 339 no votes to 150 yes votes. In the race to serve as Portageville’s mayor Floyd Simmons was the winner with 265 votes over 243 votes for Denis McCrate. ...

An accident Saturday slowed traffic on northbound Interstate 55 for several hours. According to Portageville Fire and Rescue, at 3:25 p.m. Saturday Portageville Rescue was paged to northbound Interstate 55 at the 39 mile marker for a two-vehicle accident. ...

Fire personnel kept a fully involved structure fire from becoming even more dangerous late Thursday evening. The Portageville Rural Fire Department reported members responded at 10:08 p.m. Thursday to structure fire on State Highway T in Hayward. The building, which was reportedly vacant, had heavy flames and smoke showing by the time Engines 3 and 4 arrived, according to officials. ...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A New Madrid man faces charges after driving through a construction scene and fleeing from police by climbing atop a tank Thursday in New Madrid County. According to the New Madrid Police Department, an officer was working traffic control for road work on Route U early Thursday when he saw a car go through the construction. The officer recognized the passenger as Christopher Brewer, 27, who had two felony warrants for his arrest...

On March 23, the Portageville FFA chapter held their first crawfish, shrimp boil and auction. The event was held in the Portageville High School Cafeteria and the silent auction included about 30 handmade items that the ag-education students built in class. There were several other items donated by local businesses and independent distributors...

SIKESTON — The “American Pickers” team will return to Missouri in late May. “We are looking for different, unusual and unique items too – something we’ve never seen before and with an interesting story,” said Kourtny Myers with “American Pickers” which airs on the History Channel...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - A Missouri man is expected to be extradited from Texas for the murder of a woman at a New Madrid County rest area. New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens reported Friday afternoon, authorities have charged Eliot D. Bonner, 27, of St. Charles, Mo., with first degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm for the Oct. 31 shooting death of Monica Keenlance. Currently Bonner is in custody in a jail in McCulloch County, Texas...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — While New Madrid County voters will decide the fate of a countywide sales tax in the April 2 election, several communities have their own proposals on the ballot along with numerous local races to fill city posts. Brad Heckler and Donald Cook are on Canalou’s ballot to serve as Ward 1 alderman. In Ward 2, John W. Slayton is the sole candidate...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — New Madrid County voters will decide whether or not to renew a half-cent sales tax on April 2. The tax, which is used to fund transportation improvements within the county, is not a new tax, emphasized the New Madrid County Commissioners. However, by state law the tax must be renewed every four years...

WARDELL, Mo. — Former Southeast Missouri Democratic congressman Bill Burlison died Sunday at his home in Wardell, Missouri, in Pemiscot County at the age of 88. A former Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, Burlison served six terms in the then-10th Congressional District of Southeast Missouri, from 1969 to 1981...

According to the National Weather Service, the tributaries of the Lower Mississippi River are currently experiencing minor to moderate flooding, whereas the mainstream Lower Mississippi River is currently experiencing major flooding. This is expected to continue for the foreseeable future as flood waters move through the system. The 2019 National Hydrological Assessment shows as of Friday afternoon, the current flood stage is 34 feet at the New Madrid river gauge...

Jami Geske from Mew Madrid County Farm Bureau discussed with Third Grade Classes at Portageville Elementary and at Christian Academy in Sikeston about the diversity of Missouri.  She also presented many items that contain Missouri Agricultural products that the students might not realize. -submitted photo...

The New Madrid County Extension Council convened its first meeting after annual elections. Council members are, from left, Samantha Anderson, Treasurer; Daniel Eddy, Blake Richardson,  Tom Alsobrook, Vice Chairman; Jami Geske, Chairman; Byron McVay, Secretary;  Justin Ling, John Paul Wescoat, and Danny Hays.  Not shown are Robert Henry, Don Hastings, and Mark Baker. -submitted photo...

One of the main items that will be on the ballot in the upcoming election Tuesday, April 2, is a county-wide sales tax proposal. It will be an opportunity for voters to decide to continue with the current one-half cent sales tax. It is currently in place and has been used solely for the purpose of funding improvements to transportation infrastructure in New Madrid County. It was voted on four years ago, but has termed out. The vote is to continue with the tax...

The following students at the Portageville Middle School have received the Honor Roll for the Third Quarter Perfect Attendance for 3rd Quarter of 2018-19 Portageville Middle School was: Sixth Grade: Bryleigh Adams,  Desirae Braden, Isabella Young Seventh Grade: Braden Allen, Aaron Larry,  Dylan Laws...

The work of 615 students from 44 area high schools and junior high schools were displayed at the 63rd Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair held March 5 in the Show Me Center at Southeast Missouri State University. The fair featured 395 different projects – 306 in the Junior Division and 89 in the Senior Division. ...

The fall of man was an actual historic act. This means, of course, that Adam was a historical being. There is some today who interpret Genesis 1-3 as myth or religious parable. They merely consider Adam as a representative man. They deny that he was a person as we are persons and that his history was history as our history is history...

Several Portageville High School placed at the FBLA District Conference. The districts were held at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Front from left are, Sofia Angel, Destinee Adams, Kaiti Halterman, Maisie Hall, Maggie Allred, Caleb Slack, Wade Smith; back are, Cayla Crafton, Carsen Cook, Hannah Lerma, Stanika Matlock, Ryan Riddle, Zarria Taylor, Kaitlyn Cooley, and Camryn Spence. Several are missing due to the flu. -submitted photo...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —There is a line waiting outside the second-floor office of 149th District Rep. Don Rone. Lobbyists want to talk about the projects they are promoting, fellow legislators seek his input on farm-related issues and his secretary waits to hand him a list of calls from citizens with their concerns...

KENNETT, Mo. — The charges recently were dismissed against a Malden woman who could have faced the death penalty had she been convicted in connection to the 2016 death of a man killed in an apparent attempted robbery. Brianna L. Bonaparte was supposed to appear Feb. 27 before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer for a hearing in her case...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - A Lilbourn man is facing multiple charges after threatening his girlfriend and his former girlfriend at gunpoint. Gary D. Ash, 59, waived his formal arraignment Thursday before Judge Joshua Underwood in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court on four counts of armed criminal action, second degree domestic assault, two counts of first degree kidnapping, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon. ...

The State Historical Society of Missouri recently added 80 interview transcripts preserving the experiences of Missouri Bootheel residents to its online collections at digital.shsmo.org. The firsthand accounts are from Marshall Dial’s The Stories They Tell series, which started as a newspaper column and eventually grew into a popular local radio program...

SIKESTON — Six local children have been named the poster children for the 39th Annual Kenny Rogers Children’s Center Telethon. Set for March 16-17 at the Sikeston Field House, this year’s fundraiser features the theme, “Lights, Camera, Action.” The Center provides pediatric therapy free of charge to children with special needs throughout Southeast Missouri...

You just never know when one thing develops into something sideline hobby that produces an income. Living in the Missouri Bootheel that was originally a large swamp, there are still telltale signs of the animal habitat are still in the area. A lot of farmers rely on natural drainage from the Mississippi River and drainage ditches of the Little River Drainage system to help drain their fields...

Chamber of Commerce to host Banquet · The Portageville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the theme for this year’s Chamber of Commerce Banquet. It is Boot-Scootin' BBQ. It will be held on Saturday, March 30 in the Portageville Community Building. The banquet is open to all and is $20 per person or $30 a couple!...

Recently, the 2019 Opaa! Food Management District held a Recipe Contest at the Portageville School District on February 22, 2019. Portageville Director of Nutrition Services, Brittany Gunn, of Opaa! Food Management Company declared Kasey Blagburn the district winner for this year's contest after a panel of judges tasted and scored each of the submitted entries. Blagburn and her winning recipe of Fajita Chicken...

One of New Madrid County’s finest, Tony Miller, retired from his duties at the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, Feb. 28. However, he has not quit law enforcement. On March 1, he starts a new career as a School Resource Officer for the New Madrid County Central School District. ...

Have you noticed Crepe Myrtles on Main Street looking a little nicer? Thanks to the efforts of Rev. and Mrs. Eugene Poole. for some time, Mrs. Sandra has noticed how the Crepe Myrtles have looked and wanted to do something about them but did not want to step on anyone’s toes...

In 1994, what started out as a fluke became a business that would make a difference in the lives of music lovers and artist alike for generations to come. Alley Trax in Hayti has spent the past 24 years helping people record music and today, they have closed their doors for the final time.
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Late last week, the SRG Global-Portageville plant received a phone call from State Senator Doug Libla saying he would like to bring Governor Mike Parson down for a brief meeting with management and staff and take a tour of the new facility on Friday, Feb. 15...

The State Historical Society of Missouri recently added 80 interview transcripts preserving the experiences of Missouri Bootheel residents to its online collections at digital.shsmo.org. The firsthand accounts are from Marshall Dial’s The Stories They Tell series, which started as a newspaper column and eventually grew into a popular local radio program...

A surprise birthday party was held last Sunday, Feb. 17 for Mary Ann Long. After the family surprised her by attending her church, they took her to “The Glenn” in Charleston for lunch and cake. Ms. Mary Ann celebrated her 90th birthday.