Stories from Monday, February 25, 2002

During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, my unit of reserve Navy Seabees was recalled to active duty. As it turned out, the war was over before we rotated into the Persian Gulf area. However, when I received the call to go, I did not know that things would turn out so well for America. There was speculation that it could have been another Vietnam. Thank God it wasn't...

ANNISTON - Glenda Dianne Brown, 49, died at 11 a.m. Feb. 24, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born April 17, 1952, in East Prairie, daughter of Ruth Johnson of Matthews and the late Robert Johnson, she lived in Mississippi County most of her life. She was a cook for the East Prairie Nursing Center and of the Pentecostal belief...

ANNISTON - J.W. Coke, 86, died at 8:18 p.m. Feb. 23, 2002, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born July 15, 1915, in Bell City, son of the late Frank and Ella Kittle Coke, he lived in Mississippi County most of his life. A retired mechanic and U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was of the Pentecostal belief...

DEXTER - Leonard E. Larson Jr., 65, died Feb. 23, 2002, at Missouri Southern Healthcare. Born Nov. 24, 1936, in Bertha, Minn., son of Angeline Hosna Carlson of Parkers Praire, Minn., and the late Leonard E. Larson Sr., he retired as a federal meat inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He served with the U.S. Army in Korea and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter...

BILOXI, Miss. - Larry Dale Butts, 60, died Feb. 22, 2002, in Biloxi. Born Aug. 10, 1941, in Kirksville, son of Dorthea Butts and the late Lee Alfred Butts, he was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and former resident of St. Joseph, Mo. His wife, Shirley Chaney Butts, survives of the home...

SIKESTON - Cora Bell Masters, 95, died at 6:55 a.m. Feb. 25, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Feb. 10, 1907, in Princeton, Ky., daughter of the late William and Sarah Couch Harbison, she worked at the Sikeston Laundry and Dry Cleaners for 20 years and had been employed by the El Capri Restaurant and Rustic Rock Inn. She was of the General Baptist belief and attended Smith Avenue Church of God...

EAST PRAIRIE - William Holleman, 95, died at 6:35 a.m. Feb. 25, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home.

CANALOU - Lela Lawson Layton died Feb. 24, 2002, at the National Healthcare Center in Kennett. Arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

BLOOMFIELD - William Borden Boner, 87, died Feb. 22, 2002, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born Sept. 10, 1914, in Mulkeytown, Ill., son of the late Harry Ephram and Ola Belle Borden Boner, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and of the Baptist belief...

WARRENTON - Jerry Powell, 63, formerly of Puxico, died Feb. 25, 2002, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico.

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. H.D. Rodgers celebrated their 30th anniversary by inviting guests for dinner Feb. 15. SIKESTON - The 7th Annual Progress Edition will be published tomorrow. Its pages will show the area is moving ahead at a fast pace. CHARLESTON - J.B. ...

DEXTER - Raymond F. Stewart, 89, died Feb. 23, 2002, at the Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born Nov. 6, 1912, at Garnett, Kan., son of the late Fletcher and Cora Garrison Stewart, he was a member, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, church treasurer, Sunday school secretary and adult class teacher at Sugar Tree General Baptist Church. He worked as a driver and shop foreman for the Hart Truck Line for 30 years before retiring...

BLOOMFIELD -- In front of their hometown crowd, the Bloomfield Wildcats pulled off a major upset to open the Class 2A District 2 tournament as they shocked the East Prairie Eagles 67-49. Junior Dustin Massey of Bloomfield led all scorers in the game with 19 points...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Class 2A District 2 girls tournament began without a hitch Saturday afternoon as all four games went as seeded. Early on the Woodland Lady Cardinals knocked off East Prairie 47-31 and Scott City's Lady Rams washed out Greenville 53-39...

DELTA -- Sparked by Maria Eftink's 34 points, Oran displayed a strong inside-outside offensive attack in its 70-53 win over Scott County Central in a semifinal of the Class 1A, District 2 Tournament. "We were patient on offense today," Oran coach Susan Diebold said, "which we don't do very often. We worked the ball inside where we needed it and the outside shots came when we needed them, too."...

WAPPAPELLO - The owner of Bud's Country Store was murdered Friday apparently after surprising someone inside the store shortly after it had closed. Gary Lee "Bud" Ayers, 52, of Wappapello was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to Butler County Coroner Larry Cotrell...

SIKESTON - So, you think you're a real estate trading genius? Whether you prefer the little dog, the race car or an old flat iron, Wende Pruden and the Sikeston Optimist Club need you Saturday. "It's our 21st Annual Monopoly Tournament," said Pruden, tournament chairperson...

It's no wonder a factory in Sikeston is wanting workers. If they would change a few of their rules, they could keep good working people. They call you in and you don't know for sure how long you're going to get to work. You have to work there for a month and then you get laid off. ...