Stories from Thursday, October 11, 2001

To be documented, for this paper will forever represent the will and power of the United States of America. I agree fully with President Bush. He has been, so far and of what I know, one of the best presidents this nation will ever know. He has shown no sign of giving up or letting the enemy get away...

HAYTI HEIGHTS (AP) -- An Illinois man was killed in a traffic accident in Missouri's Bootheel. Phillip Watkins, 46, of Chicago, died Tuesday night when his car left U.S. 412 near Hayti Heights in Pemiscot County and hit several trees before overturning, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said...

How much have our lives changed in just one month? By any definition, our lives have changed in some permanent way by the events of Sept. 11. Today's one-month "anniversary" is but the first of many points in time when we'll pause and reflect on the massive changes we've witnessed in such a short period...

SIKESTON - A group of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Harris Draughton surprised them with a house-warming party at their home on Moore Avenue Sunday night. SIKESTON - For the second year in a row, the Bank of Sikeston is sponsoring a fall festival of new cars and its parking lot opposite the First Methodist Church will be turned into a spacious outdoor display room...

Mike, we do so appreciate Old Glory being in the paper. It would be so nice if you could run it once a week so we could display it. I was reading in the Associate Court records where you printed the so-called charges against these people. Do you ever go back and redo these charges? I'm sitting here reading the names of two people whose charges were dropped. ...

PORTAGEVILLE - The death of a tow-boat operator was ruled accidental early Wednesday morning by the New Madrid County coroner. Tim Clayton, coroner, said the body of John Singleton of Portageville was found by an employee between 9:30 and 10 p.m. Tuesday. The body was on the floor of the engine room of Singleton's tug boat, which was used to move barges on Mississippi River for Bunge Corporation...

PORTAGEVILLE - John Wylie Singleton, 55, died Oct. 9, 2001, in Portageville. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Guy Bush Jr., 46, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died at 12:40 a.m. Oct. 11, 2001, at the Providence Hospital in Kansas City. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

SIKESTON - The Roosevelt Rough Riders have never been mistaken for being a football power. But when they visit Sikeston Public Schools Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m., they will bring one of the best teams they've had in recent memory to Southeast Missouri...

BENTON, Ky. - Myrtle Louise Jenkins, 80, formerly of Dexter, Mo., died Oct. 10, 2001, in the Oak View Nursing Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey Funeral Home in Dexter.

NEW MADRID - Estelle Hendricks, 80, died Oct. 9, 2001, at her home. Born April 24, 1921, at New Madrid, daughter of the late Robert and Nettie Gurnow Hendricks, she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Madrid. Survivors include: one brother, Al Hendricks of New Madrid; and two sisters, Lou Stellago of New Madrid and Kathryn Frye of Sebring, Fla...

WYATT - Ethel Daniel Small, 91, died at 12:20 p.m. Oct. 10, 2001. Born May 9, 1910, in Diehlstadt, daughter of the late John H. and Dora Burns Daniel Sr., she lived in Wyatt most of her life. She was co-owner of the Small Lumber Co. from 1945 until retiring in 1992. A member of St. Henry's Catholic Church in Charleston, she participated in the Mississippi County RSVP program for many years...

SCOTT CITY - Robert Lee Knight, 66, died at 6:35 a.m. Oct. 10, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 23, 1934, in St. Louis, son of the late Lee and Edna Howard Knight, he graduated from the Illmo-Fornfelt High School and earned a bachelor of science in education and masters degree in history from Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau. ...

LILBOURN - Jay Chambliss, 51, died Oct. 11, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Lilbourn.

MATTHEWS - Samuel Garland, 59, died Oct. 10, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

DEXTER - Pallbearers at services conducted Wednesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for James L. Barber, 53, who died Oct. 8, 2001, were: Mark Merrick, Rick Merrick, Donney Benthal Jr., Michael Martin, Brett Williamson and Wade Barber.

POPLAR BLUFF - Jerrold E. Powers, 84, formerly of East Prairie, died at 2:20 a.m. Oct. 11, 2001, at the Three Rivers Healthcare North Campus in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

POPLAR BLUFF _ Elmer Penrose Jr., 49, died unexpectedly Oct. 4, 2001, at his home. Born Feb. 6, 1952, in St. Louis to the late Elmer and Betty Penrose, he was a U.S. Army veteran, affiliated with the Baptist Church and was disabled. Survivors include: three brothers, Ronnie Penrose of Carmi, Ill., Jimmy Stout of Kentucky and John Stout of Georgia; and two sisters, JoAnn Cato and Ann Ellison of Sikeston...

KELSO - John and Kim Backfisch have announced the engagement of their daughter, Christain, to Michael D. Warren Jr., son of Michael and Barbara Warren of Sikeston. The future bride graduated in 1999 from Scott City High School and is employed by the Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston...

SIKESTON - Jeff and Polly Graves have announced the engagement of their daughter, Tonya Marie, to Bill Hodgkiss, son of Barry and Debbie Killian of Sikeston. A 1997 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride attended the John Abbott College in Ste. Anne, Quebec, Canada. She is employed by the North Ridge Veterinary Clinic...

PORTAGEVILLE - Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Allen Kimes Sr. have announced the engagement of their daughter, Amy Renee, to Robert Timothy Sullenger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Sullenger of Lilbourn. A 1995 graduate of Portageville High School, the future bride graduated in 1999 from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelors of science degree in human environmental sciences with an emphasis in human development and family studies. ...

LAS VEGAS - Kimberly Marie McClung and Kevin Michael Hodge exchanged wedding vows in a 3 p.m. ceremony Sept. 18 in the Canterbury Wedding Chapel before the Rev. William M. Shumate. The bride, daughter of Hilda McClung and the late James McClung, chose a white sleeveless bridal gown which featured a choke neckline and detailing on the bodice. ...

SIKESTON -- A detective with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety is recovering from a gunshot wound he received as he and other officers tracked down two men wanted for robbery. Lt. Marc Crocker is recovering from a gunshot wound to his lower right calf, about three inches below the knee. Crocker was shot when he and other officers converged a small red house just off of Highway HH, surrounding two men wanted for robbery. He underwent surgery last night and is expecting to fully recover...

NEW MADRID - Steven Eugene Reid apparently ended his life after a night of concern about family relationships, heavy drinking and another arrest for driving while intoxicated. After hearing an hour and a half of testimony about the events of Sept. 26 and 27, a coroner's jury ruled Wednesday that Reid's death in the Portageville City Jail was a suicide...

PORTAGEVILLE - Amy Christina St. Mary and Christopher Robert Moylan exchanged wedding vows on June 30, 2001, at the First Baptist Church in Portageville. Dr. Mark Inman performed the ceremony and Brian Henson served as the reader. Candles and ferns accented with tulle, which decorated the church, were arranged by Julie Fullerton of Julie's Flowers and Gifts...