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MALDEN – Trace the history of most major-label singing stars and one will likely find "singing in church" listed as their initial dive into the performing pool. Singing worship songs outside church is a tradition, too, especially for about 34 southern gospel performers and groups who assembled for the 84th annual Missouri/Mid-South Gospel Singing Convention last Friday and Saturday at the Malden Community Center. The event was hosted for the fifth year in a row by Jerry Mays and his wife, Sharon Barnett Mays, who are known by and large as Heart to Heart. The Mayses, who won Southern Gospel Duo of the Year 11 times and who were nominated for both Dove and Grammy awards, might live full time

WASHINGTON, D.C. - United States Congressman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) Friday fired a letter to Missouri Public Service Commission Chairman Robert S. Kenney urging a rehearing by state regulators for Noranda Aluminum in its feud with power provider Ameren Missouri. The aluminum smelter offers employment to approximately 900 southeast Missouri workers. Up to 200 employees from its administration to labor sectors might be laid off during the next six months if a competitive power rate is not secured by Noranda, said President and Chief Executive Officer Layle K. "Kip" Smith. In addition, the plant might be forced to scale back its $45 million investment in a rod mill and seek locations in neighboring states to continue the project, Smith said. Smith

DEXTER - Police Dept. Maj. Larry Patterson, Jr., Thursday said officers here recovered a vehicle stolen from Kennett after chasing its driver both on city streets and on foot. The major said at approximately 1:15 am Thursday officers saw a blue Buick passenger car traveling south on Catalpa Street. The Buick was being operated in an erratic manner, Patterson noted. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to yield and the chase began, the major said. Officers continued to follow the Buick and attempted to stop the vehicle as it circled a few blocks through town, police said. The driver ditched the vehicle and ran, Patterson said. He escaped officers and is now being hunted, the major

KENNETT – Autumn was in the air Tuesday as the Delta Fair Parade opened the annual Delta Fair. This year's parade featured plenty of area law enforcement and emergency services vehicles, including one from out of state, an antique fire engine from Leachville, Ark. Marching bands from the Bootheel played old and new favorites while clowns strolled along beside them. One very colorful, very noisy clown who sported fright-wig-red hair cringed at being called "Bozo." He ranted feverishly at the audience, bemoaning the curse of the slanderous handle, all in good fun. The parade began at the intersection of the south bypass and St. Francis Street and ambled along First Street to Southeast Missouri State University's Kennett campus, very close

Noranda President and CEO Layle K. "Kip" Smith is flanked by elected officials and dignitaries at a press conference in this August, 2014, photo at the New Madrid smelter. SEMO TIMES photo by Steve Hankins   NEW MADRID - In the wake of a recent announcement by the region's leading employer that could leave as many as 200 Bootheel workers jobless, a state panel might rethink its stance regarding energy costs to the plant. Layle K. "Kip" Smith, president and chief executive officer of Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp., said the decision by Missouri's Public Services Commission (PSC) regarding a competitive energy rate is to blame for the impending lay off of between 125 and 200 workers during the next six