Stories from Monday, February 11, 2002

Will the person who sells Luzaire cosmetics please leave your number in the paper? This is to the local roofer here in Sikeston. I am the manager of the business you are referring to. I'm sorry to read that you used to come to our store a lot. I personally think I've got a good crew and am sorry you think they are stupid and not willing to wait on you. ...

SIKESTON - Carl Lupen, manager of the experimental station, has been chosen president at the Scott County Farm Bureau. He succeeds Otto Diebold of Benton. SIKESTON - The mothers did it again. Thursday night, some 75 mothers, working in teams under the general direction of Mrs. ...

I just wanted to share a story with you about something that happened to me last week. I'll be as brief as possible. While on a business trip traveling through Charleston, Mo., I was pulled over by a local policeman. I gave him my license and waited in my truck...

SIKESTON - When it came time to decide on a play to open the new Imogene Ruth Albritton Mayer Center for the Arts with, one stood out from the rest: "Godspell." "When I first heard the new theater would be opened with 'Godspell,' I knew that I had to be a part of it," said Dale Frame, who will once again play the part of Jesus, the role he played in the 1986 production. "Of all the productions I have ever been in, 'Godspell' has meant more to me than anything else I've ever done."...

Any chance that Mike's editorials can be added to the internet copy of the Standard Democrat? Can anyone tell me why we continue to let thousands of people into the United Stated when we have thousands of people out of a job and thousands more who are homeless and hungry. ...

POPLAR BLUFF - Mrs. David E. Blanton and son visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George McClure Hearne of Poplar Bluff. DEXTER - Fire of undetermined origin swept through two buildings of Dexter's downtown district Sunday afternoon, causing a loss estimated at $100,000. Totally destroyed was a building owned by Herb Thrower of Dexter and occupied by the Rendleman Motor Co., agents for Chrysler and Plymouth ...

The Winter Olympics begin this week hosted by the United States in beautiful and cold Salt Lake City. I doubt I'll watch five minutes of the events, unlike the summer Olympic games which feature many events I can understand and enjoy. The winter games are a different creature...

In the early morning hours of Jan. 24, we lost in a fire the building that housed our truck equipment operation and administration. This letter is an attempt to thank the literally hundreds of people and businesses that lent their support. The media coverage, while accurate, missed the "real story" beyond the fire of how friends, neighbors, suppliers, customers, family and employees worked to have us back in business within 48 hours...

PORTAGEVILLE - At first glance, Portageville Elementary School appears just like any other school, but as you walk a little closer, something catches your eye. A cement memorial bench greets each visitor with the words: "In Loving Memory of Mrs. Joyce Preslar." Engraved on the front of the bench is a computer with an apple. Inside the apple is the word, "Teacher."...

BENTON - The days of camping out to be first in line are a thing of the past in Scott County: Candidates hoping for the coveted top listing on the ballot will have to settle for an even chance when filing opens for county offices Feb. 26. Scott County Clerk Rita Milam announced the guidelines for filing for county offices during Tuesday's county commission meeting...

ORAN - An Oran infant sustained fatal injuries in a three-vehicle accident Wednesday morning. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at 7:30 a.m. on Highway 77, two miles south of Oran, when Bobbi D. Schwepker, 29, of Oran, lost control of the southbound vehicle she was driving on an ice-covered roadway, crossed the center lane and struck a northbound vehicle driven by James Below, 53, of Sikeston...

SIKESTON - Being a smaller, rural hospital may mean Missouri Delta Medical Center doesn't have the resources for special procedures such as open heart surgery, but it doesn't keep them from providing the highest standard of care available. "Bigger is not always better," said Felecia Blanton, MDMC's public relations director. "We made a 96 on our inspection by the Joint Commission, which is the nationwide group that accredits hospitals all over the country."...

SIKESTON - Networking, public education, spiritual renewal and learning to deal with stress are issues often on the minds of farm and ranch families as well as other concerned individuals. And what the ADOPT Ministry wants them to know is they're not alone, which is the whole purpose behind the Rural Restoration Conference...

As odd as it may sound, the Missouri Legislature is putting two good ideas together to form one bad idea. Now how can that happen you ask? Well, it seems that the Legislature can't decide on how to fund more highway improvements and more school construction in Missouri. So they're wanting to ask taxpayers for a bundle of new taxes to finance both ideas. And though that idea has some excited, I doubt taxpayers will be too receptive to this major tax hike this year...

SIKESTON - D.L. Dickinson, 36, is recovering in the Sikeston General Hospital. The farmer had his right hand severed in an accident. Dixon told doctors his arm was caught as he was feeding grain into a mill. SIKESTON - Miss Carol Frances Simpson gave a surprise dinner for Miss Kacky Martin, who was celebrating her 18th birthday...

I'd like to SpeakOut about what I heard on the news about England, Fla., where the mayor is allowing herself to mix religion and politics and government together. It's sort of like we've got now - the American Taliban. Either you be a Christian or leave town. That's how it started in Afghanistan and now it's started in the United States. It makes religion look very evil in the eyes of a lot of people, and I thank you for letting me SpeakOut about it...

I am certainly in complete agreement with the recently published letter from Judy Bowman, expressing appreciation to the members of Artrain USA, the Steering Committee members for all their time, efforts and work toward making the visit of the Artrain a reality. There was, however, a grateful acknowledgement not included in that letter that needs to be made, and that is to Judy Bowman...

SIKESTON - Today is National Signing Day, when thousands of high school football players sign letters of intent to play ball at colleges across the country. Locally, several standouts are expected to sign on the dotted line today, while several others are expected to commit later in the week...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston followed up Monday's impressive showing against Jackson with a 63-55 win over Kelly on Tuesday. The high-profile Lady Hawks fall to 17-3 on the year, with two losses coming to the upstart Lady Bulldogs. "We're trying to make the best of this season," said Sikeston head coach Lee Brooks. ...

SIKESTON -- Dexter won its fourth consecutive Stoddard County regular-season championship on Tuesday night, edging Bell City in an 89-81 shootout. The win comes on the heels of another close call with Bell City, where the Bearcats pulled out a two-point victory in the conference tournament...

SIKESTON - Nominations are now being accepted by the Parks and Recreation Division for the 2002 Honors Board installation. Since 1986, 25 individuals have been honored by having their names installed on the Honors Board in recognition of their outstanding volunteer contributions to youth programs in the community. These programs include baseball, softball, basketball, soccer and Boy Scouts. The Honors Board is located near the Ingram Road entrance to the Recreation Complex...

CHARLESTON - A jury found a Sikeston man guilty of robbing a Sikeston restaurant. In a trial conducted Monday in Mississippi County, Eddie Taylor was found guilty of the Class A felony of robbery and of armed criminal action in connection with the robbery at Wendy's on Aug. 24, 2000. Taylor was charged with forcibly taking money from the restaurant while displaying what appeared to be a weapon...

SIKESTON - The American Diabetes Foundation reports there are 15.7 million people in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 10.3 million have been diagnosed, five million don't realize they have it. And according to 1999 estimates from the American Heart Association, more than 61 million Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease...

SIKESTON -- Officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety are investigating a robbery that occurred at Hardee's this morning. According to reports, at about 5:51 a.m. a man was robbed while sitting in his vehicle at the drive-thru at Hardee's located at 1105 S. Main...

BLOOMFIELD (SMNS) - Attorneys representing the two Dexter police officers charged with hindering prosecution began proceedings Wednesday morning to challenge the grand jury indictments. Police Chief Ken Rinehart and Sgt. Sammy Stone's indictments stem from an incident involving former Dexter officer Robert Kennedy who was arrested in July on charges of improper sexual activities...

MERIDIAN -- Jordy Mixon scored 16 points, while Lezcano Dean and Kewain Gant each finished with 15 in Tuesday's 69-50 win over Meridian, Ill. "After losing to Doniphan on Tuesday, we bounced back tonight and played a lot better," said Charleston head coach Danny Farmer. "We were a lot more focused. I think losing (to Doniphan) kind of woke us up. We were ready to play."...

CAPE CENTRAL -- Early on it looked like records and past performances could be set aside when rivals Cape Central and Jackson tangled Tuesday. Cape Central controlled the early action to build a 12-2 lead in the first three minutes, but Jackson withstood the Central rush to hand the Tigers a 68-39 defeat in a SEMO Conference matchup at Tiger Field House...

ORAN - The Sikeston Bulldogs won their third straight game with a 66-39 road win over the Oran Eagles on Tuesday night. The Eagles entered the game ranked No. 10 in Class 1A, but they have now lost their last two games to fall to 14-6 on the season...

When is Sikeston going to get smart and start making a law against littering? Our street has litter from where they throw it out the windows of cars. And then the residents have to go out and pick it up from their yards and driveways and it's terrible. I remember when there was a $500 fine for littering. They had signs up all over town and you didn't see litter all over the streets like you do today. It's time Sikeston did something about it...

SIKESTON - Mrs. Gene Aufdenberg gave a party for her son and some friends Thursday afternoon. Gene Raymond Aufdenberg is eight years old. SIKESTON - The possibility of an area trade-technical-industrial school became closer to a reality today when 14 superintendents from New Madrid, Stoddard, Mississippi and Scott counties met at the Sikeston Public Schools Board of Education Office to form a planning committee...

WARRENTON - A Poplar Bluff man is set to be tried again on first degree murder charges in connection with the murder of a New Madrid County teen-ager and her grandmother. The jury selection will begin Monday for Cecil Barriner, who is charged in the murder of Candace Sisk, 19, and her 73-year-old grandmother, Irene Sisk. The Sisks were stabbed to death in their Tallapoosa home on Dec. 16, 1996...

California's three-strikes law has been controversial since first implemented. The law is intended to target repeat offenders of violent crimes. On the third offense, a judge can sentence the criminal to a 25 years to life term. And literally hundreds of hardened criminals are in prison as a result of the three-strikes law...

SIKESTON - A final draft of the city's new comprehensive master plan is nearing completion and slated for presentation to the city council after seven months of examination and revision. "Planning and zoning began in July, and its been our main topic since then," said Tom Bridger, public works director. "We have totally dissected it, taken it apart from chapter to chapter."...

Our Sikeston community has benefited from many gifts from our founding families in the 1850s through the years to the present time. Whether they were gifts of donated cash, property or services, all have enhanced our common heritage. However, it is the February 2002 opening of the Sikeston Little Theatre's new Albritton Mayer Center for Performing Arts that has prompted me to offer these thoughts to honor the memory of Imogene Ruth Albritton Mayer in celebration of her extraordinary generosity to her beloved home town, Sikeston.. ...

The birds. On Jan. 30, KFVS-TV 12 news said birds are causing problems with golf courses in some towns. They use sound devices to carry them off, but they only go somewhere else. That does not solve the problem. Some farmers have removed all fence rows and ditch banks to the center of the ditch. The birds do not have any place to roost. They've got to go somewhere, and it must be golf courses or in somebody's town. Quit raping our environment...

If you pay attention to the actions of the Missouri Legislature, you'll quickly note a trend that applies this year as well as years past. Here's the trend: More attention is focused on education than any other single aspect of our lives. That's not bad by any measure. But it says something about the legislative process and about human nature as well...

JEFFERSON CITY -- In the Missouri General Assembly, bitter fights often erupt over differences of perspective or misunderstandings between urban and rural interests. Sen.-elect Maida Coleman views herself as uniquely qualified to bridge that gap. A Sikeston native, Coleman will represent an inner-city St. Louis district in the Legislature...

SIKESTON - Rather than fixate on the way she died, friends, classmates and even complete strangers are focusing their energies on helping her family through the tragedy. Twelve-year-old Brittany Gates and her aunt were killed New Year's Day when the car her aunt was driving was struck...

MORLEY - A reconstruction report of a fatal crash involving a Scott County deputy was released this week, indicating that the drivers involved may not have seen each other until it was too late. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's major crash investigation team used interviews, photographs, maps and a host of mathematical and scientific data to compile the report...

POPLAR BLUFF -- While the NBA All-Star Game had its Long Distance Shootout Saturday night, the Dexter Bearcats and Caruthersville Tigers had their long distance shootout earlier in the day at Three Rivers Community College as the two teams combined for 20 three-pointers...

Greetings! Sorry for the delay in updating the web site. We should have things back to where they should be later today. With luck that will include the days we were gone too! Thanks for your patience! S-D

SIKESTON - Sunday's grand opening of the new Imogene Ruth Albritton Mayer Center for the Arts on South Kingshighway marks the end of some hard times and the fulfillment of a lifetime of dreams and hard work for the Sikeston Little Theatre. "We'd always hoped to have our own building," said Lynn Colley, president of the Sikeston Little Theatre...

SIKESTON -- Smoke still lingers over downtown Sikeston this morning after a Thursday night fire destroyed a Sikeston business. Officers were dispatched to Sikeston Frozen Foods on Linn Street at about 7:30 p.m. and immediately knew there was a danger to many buildings...

SIKESTON - Area high school choir students are putting their vocal chords to the test lately. Sikeston High School students, senior Justin Griffin and junior Ashley Ray, have received high honors for their singing talents. Griffin was chosen to be in the All-State Choir and Ray will attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy...

SIKESTON - John Reiss was re-elected to a term on the board of the Scott County Chapter of the Red Cross. The choice was made at the annual meeting. SIKESTON - The Newcomers Club met for coffee Tuesday at the home of Mrs. Kenneth James where 17 attended, including two newcomers to the city...