Stories from Thursday, September 13, 2001

SIKESTON - Members of the Home Rule Charter Commission believe themselves to be on schedule for a completed city charter to present to voters in time for the April 2002 election. "It's going pretty well," said Scott Matthews. "I think the citizens will be proud of our product."...

HOWARDVILLE - Until recently state and federal officials didn't even know Howardville had a fire department. Today, the department not only has official recognition, it has received a grant for $14,323 in the eighth round of awards under the Assistance to Firefighters Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C., announced this week...

MINER -- Two men who robbed Keller's Truck Stop early this morning have been arrested. According to reports, a man entered Keller's Truck Stop at around 4 a.m., armed with a pistol and wearing a gas mask. He proceeded to take the cash drawer from the business and then fled...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston's softball team guaranteed itself an improved season on Wednesday, clobbering East Prairie 14-2 in five innings. The Lady Bulldogs improve to 2-8 with the victory, besting last year's mark of 1-16. "I think we can really build on this win," said Sikeston coach Jenny Hobeck. "We've switched a few people around, and defensively we're looking a lot better."...

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Aviation Cadet Charles Tanner, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Sayers Tanner of Sikeston, could thank his own level head and quick decisive action in an emergency for saving his life on Sept. 10. Young Tanner had presence of mind enough to bail out of his plane after a collision in the air Saturday morning. He floated to earth beneath his opened parachute at Pensacola, Fla., without suffering a scratch...

I am looking for a word to rhyme with "orange." Any suggestions? You may be able to use a slant-rhyme word such as "gorge." I was reading "Bush loses favor." I wonder why Mr. Bush doesn't call former President Clinton or Vice President Gore to come and help him to balance the checkbook and try to get this financial situation under control. People really don't want to starve to death...

As corny as it sounds perhaps, I'm certainly proud to be an American today. How people or countries react in the fact of adversity is a good indication of their character. By that measure, our nation is strong and determined and ready. It is now up to each of us, in our own personal way, to keep that resolve and let those in power understand we expect a swift, sure and appropriate response to the events of the week...

SIKESTON - Virginia G. Wibbenmeyer, 79, died at 7 a.m. Sept. 12, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 1, 1922, in Apple Creek, daughter of the late Anton Charles and Bertha Unterreiner Ponder, she had been a cook for Lambert's Cafe and King's Kitchen. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella...

Ron Hill, an employee of the Sikeston Public Works-Parks Division, lowers the flag at Veteran's Park to half-staff Tuesday afternoon.

MATTHEWS - Virginia Dare Healy, 84, died at 8:15 a.m. Sept. 12, 2001, at Sells Rest Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

EAST PRAIRIE - Emma Lou Shelby Felts, 75, died at 7:25 a.m. Sept. 13, 2001, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home.

SIKESTON - Betty Jean Mancell, 66, died at 2 p.m. Sept. 12, 2001, in Sikeston. Born Oct. 30, 1934, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Bertha Wietzel Smith. In 1958, in St. Louis she married James V. Mancell who survives of Greenup, Ill...

BERTRAND - Eva Jewell Jones, 83, died at 8 a.m. Sept. 11, 2001, at the Bertrand Retirement Facility. Born Aug. 16, 1918, in Hickman, Ky., daughter of the late Orb and Hettie McClanahan Denning, she lived in Mississippi County most of her life. She was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and Women's Missionary leader...

PARMA - Pallbearers at graveside services conducted today at Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden for Thomas F. Kizer, 85, who died Sept. 10, 2001, were: Tommy Allen, Freddie Kinder, Mike Shaw, Don Rasco and Charles Trinkler. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements...

SIKESTON -- A memorial service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday at Veteran's Park in Sikeston. The service will be in rememberance for those who lost their lives in Tuesday's terrorist attacks and to show support for military leaders. The public is invited to attend...

CHARLESTON - A special prayer service is set for 7 p.m. today at the First Baptist Church, 306 S. Main St., for the victims and families of the terrorist attack that occurred Tuesday. The service is sponsored by the Charleston Ministerial Alliance.

EAST PRAIRIE - Paul McLain, 64, died at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 12, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home.

EAST PRAIRIE - Larry Gene Cornwell, 61, died at 11:50 p.m. Sept. 12, 2001, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home.

SIKESTON - Irene Nelson Fears, 84, died at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 12, 2001, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born Jan. 22, 1917, in Newbern, Tenn., daughter of the late John Thomas and Esther Lee Dickson Griffin, she was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ. She was a licensed practical nurse for the Sikeston Regional Center and was the nurse for schools in Sikeston and Bernie...

ADVANCE - Ethel Robins, 90, died Sept. 11, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born April 5, 1911, in Advance, daughter of the late Claude and Iva Carlton Fowler, she was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Advance. On Oct. 11, 1926, at Advance, she married Vester "Pete" Robins who preceded her in death on June 16, 1986...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Garland C. Burchfield, 81, who died Sept. 11, 2001, will be: Tony Sweet, Maxwell Sweet, Phillip Warren, Randy Thompson, Josh Thompson and Darrell Ray.

SIKESTON - Mildred Foster Sneed, 88, died at 9:25 p.m. Sept. 12, 2001, at her daughter's home in Greenwood, Miss. Born July 6, 1913, in Scott County, daughter of the late James C. and Addie Joyce Foster, she graduated from Benton High School and lived in Scott County most of life. She was deputy recorder in Scott County for 11 years, served as president of the Scott County Women's Democratic Club and was a member of the New Savannah Baptist Church near Blodgett...

PARMA - Jessie Edmond Sr., 91, died Sept. 5, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 10, 1910, in Coffinville, Miss., son of the late Chester and Ella Williams Edmond, he was a farmer and member of Mount Calvary Church in Parma...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Irma Joan Bard Murphy, 60, formerly of East Prairie, died at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 11, 2001, at her home, following an extended illness. Born Feb. 26, 1941, near East Prairie, daughter of the late William Carl and Mary Nell Tyner Bard, she graduated in 1958 from Anniston High School. She was a secretary for the Brown Shoe Company in Charleston and retired in 1997 from Procter & Gamble in Cape Girardeau...

MINOT, N.D. - Mya Inez Terry, 1-year-old daughter of Johnny Anthyell and Michelle Converse Terry, died Sept. 6, 2001, at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She was born Aug. 5, 2000, in England. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid, Mo...

DEXTER - In 1989, Batman was the top box office draw, Milli Vanilli was on top of the pop charts and an earthquake rocked San Francisco, halting the World Series. That was also the last year that the Dexter Bearcats posted a winning season on the gridiron...

SIKESTON - The terrorists struck in New York City and Washington, D.C., but Southeast Missouri residents soon realized how close to home these events are. Many residents had family members and friends connected with these events. "We are inviting our readers to share their experiences, their feelings and the impact the attack on America has had on them," said Michael Jensen, publisher of the Standard Democrat...