Category: Stories
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Former Scott County Fire Chief Charged in Wife’s Murder Now Faces Child Abuse Charges
Jeremy Perrien, the former Scott County Fire Chief and Sheriff’s Deputy charged with murdering his wife, is now facing charges of child abuse.
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Miner Tire Fire Sends Plume of Black Smoke, Chemicals into the Air
Tire fire in Miner, Missouri sent a large plume of black smoke, and chemicals, into the air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, tire fires release several chemicals into the air: cyanide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and products of butadiene and styrene. The average passenger car tire produces over two gallons of oil when burned.…
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Missouri Ballot Measures: 2026 Midterm Election
Midterms are coming up November 3rd! If you’re in Missouri, here’s what you need to know. There are five ballot measures you’ll decide on. You might have already heard about Amendment 3, which would do two things. First, it would repeat Missouri’s Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom. Voters ratified this at the polls two years…
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Missouri is Getting More Data Centers.
More data centers are coming to Missouri. Franklin County just approved two new hyper-scale data center sites despite public outcry. Here’s what the risk looks like in Southeast Missouri.
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The Pond that Built Shelby
There’s a small slice of heaven where you’ll find Shelby Perrien. Tucked away by trees and a field of soybeans, a little pond holds her memory dearly. Shelby’s brother, Lane Kesler, invited me to come see it for myself. Shelby’s life was cut short June 29, 2025. She died at just 31-years-old. Last month, her…
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Scott County Fire Chief & Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Wife’s Murder
April 20, 2025: Scott County Fire Chief and Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Perrien sent a string of messages to his wife, Shelby Perrien “You 100% will need a body bag if I stay with you. Each time my rage is worse.” “I’d be lying to you if I told you that I was hoping you wouldn’t…
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Nurse Practitioner Outlines Struggles in Southeast Missouri
“Our village is segmented, and really it’s been severed for most families. They don’t have a village.” Sheila Armbruster is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Southeast Missouri. She runs her clinics free of charge. Throughout her career, she’s witnessed many changes to the state of healthcare. She’s also witnessed her community change throughout the years,…
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Sikeston Protestors Back Ricardo Montes
Folks gathered in Sikeston on August 16 to protest ICE operations in our area. Ricardo Montes was arrested by ICE at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo on August 8th. He is now being held at a detention facility in St. Genevieve, Missouri. The family of Ricardo Montes also held signs for Lloyd Gilmore, who died…
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Ride-Along with Sikeston Police
August 3, I went on my first ride-along with Sikeston Police. I wanted to highlight an individual officer’s experience on the job and learn more about what its like being an officer. Sergeant Tanner Henson is a Sikeston native and comes from a long line of service. His dad, grandpa and two uncles were in…
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ICE and the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo
Editorial by Gwyneth Pearson A man named Ricardo Montes was arrested by ICE August 8 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. At least 3 other people are reported to have been arrested by ICE at the event. Last night’s headlining performer was That Mexican OT. Montes’ wife told me last night that he was held…
