Stories from Thursday, April 18, 2002

I am responding to recent SpeakOut comments about why people who aren't wheelchairs park in handicap parking places, how dangerous it is for people with weak legs to be driving and also about elderly shoppers. One caller said they normally don't buy anything and get in the way of younger shoppers who do shop. ...

They're celebrating in Kansas City today as the public school system there narrowly averted a state takeover planned in July. Slight improvements in test scores and the promise for better improvements in the months ahead convinced the State Board of Education to return provisional accreditation to the school system...

SIKESTON - A proposal under which a venetian blind factory might locate here, giving employment to approximately 20 persons, was outlined by president George L. Hale Jr., who disclosed that the firm in St. Louis had corresponded with E.M. Leech. SIKESTON - The Board of Curators of the University of Missouri have announced the promotion of Dr. William R. Sappenfield, associate professor of field crops at Southeast Missouri Research Center near Sikeston, to professor of field crops...

SIKESTON - Sikeston's campaign against the mosquitoes begins early this year. "Due to the wet year we've been having as well as the increase in temperatures that are higher than normal, the city of Sikeston is now beginning its mosquito abatement program," said Tom Bridger, public works director...

SIKESTON - The spraying operation for adult mosquitoes should begin sometime in May, according to Tom Bridger, public works director. "It depends on the conditions and how bad the mosquito population is," Bridger said. With the manpower required and the mosquito spray costing $60-$65 per gallon, Bridger wants to make sure he is not wasting time and chemicals. ...

SIKESTON - Jennifer Nicole Noles and Charles Richard Stokes were united in marriage in a 6:30 p.m. ceremony Aug. 25, 2001, at the First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Bill Koch, pastor, performed the ceremony. The sanctuary was set with a bouquet of larkspur, snapdragons, white calla lilies, yellow day lilies and yellow and white roses which were placed on the altar and flanked with a pair of spiraling candelabras filled with greenery. ...

EAST PRAIRIE - Clowns. Most people either love them, or they hate them. For years now, clowns have been invading Mississippi County, and it would be safe to say that the residents of Mississippi County love their clowns. Last October, the Mississippi County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program spent Make A Difference Day visiting a total of 165 residents at Prairie Grove Senior Housing Complex, Charleston Manor Skilled Nursing Facility and East Prairie Nursing Center. ...

Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden, left, and Ken Schaefer, deputy U.S. marshall, post a no trespassing sign on the Sumlin Apartment Building located on Felker Street. The property, which has been known as problem-area in Sikeston, was put under government control on Wednesday morning....

ST. LOUIS - Tecora Lewis "Mama T" Henry, 90, formerly of Wyatt and Bell City, died April 15, 2002, in St. Louis. Born Dec. 30, 1910, in Rollingfork, Miss., daughter of the late Irvin and Ella Lewis, she was a member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Bell City, where she was a Sunday school teacher and mission teacher, served on the Usher Board and Mother Board and was the church clerk for more than 50 years. ...

SIKESTON - Fred Donald Black, 90, died at 7:35 a.m. April 17, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Oct. 23, 1911, in Vanduser, son of the late Fred Emerson and Mable W. Tomlinson Black, he attended grade school and high school in Vanduser. He graduated in 1937 from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau with a bachelor of science degree in education. ...

ST. LOUIS - Shirley Angel, 65, died April 12, 2002, in St. Louis. Born Aug. 1, 1936, in Bloomfield, daughter of the late Theron and Edna Robinson Long, she was a member of Oriental Chapter 228. Her husband, Ronald R. Angel, survives of the home. She is also survived by one daughter, Maria Davis of St. Louis; and one grandchild...

SIKESTON - Marylian Moseley Streiff, 75, died April 17, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Oct. 9, 1926, in Portageville, daughter of the late Jessie Detie and Josephine Detie Carter, she was a member of North Acres General Baptist Church. She retired as a dietary supervisor for Missouri Delta Medical Center...

DEXTER - Ina Ellen Shell, 88, died April 17, 2002, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center. Born June 2, 1913, at Lutesville, daughter of the late William and Lorena Myers Shell, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was a seamstress for Elder Manufacturing...

EAST PRAIRIE - Judith Ann Irby, 61, died at 7:52 a.m. April 17, 2002, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Nov. 11, 1940, in East Prairie, daughter of the late Jimmy D. and Thelma Lou Allen Smith Morgan, she lived in East Prairie most of her life...

SCOTT CITY - Erma L. Ellinger died April 17, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

ADVANCE - Armor Newton Roy, 79, died April 17, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 2, 1922, at Bald Knob, Ark., son of the late John Wesley and Francis Elizabeth Greer Roy, he was a set-up man for General Motors/AC Spark Plug in Flint, Mich., before retiring. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church and had performed missionary work in Kenya and Capetown, South Africa...

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Annis Clark, 41, formerly of Bernie, Mo., died April 17, 2002, at the University of Iowa Medical Center in Iowa City. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.

BLUFORD, Ill. - Elva W. DeJournett, 96, formerly of Essex, died at 11:20 p.m. April 13, 2002, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital. Born Jan. 1, 1906, in Essex, Mo., son of the late William A. and Leona P. Skaggs DeJournett, he was a farmer and boilermaker for Illinois Central Railroad. ...

SIKESTON - David Freddie Garner, 89, died April 15, 2002, at the Miner Nursing Center. Born Feb. 27, 1913, in Marion County, Ala., son of the late James Charlie and Ethel Cox Garner, he lived in Winfield, Guin and Beaverton, Ala., before moving to Sikeston 12 years ago...

PUXICO - Elmer Rudolph Shelby, 65, died April 18, 2002, at his home. Born Dec. 7, 1936, in Poplar Bluff, son of the late Clarence and Minnie Roedel Shelby, he lived in Stoddard County most of his life. A member of the Puxico General Baptist Church and Masonic Lodge 596 AF&AM in Puxico, he was a farmer and millwright...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston's girls soccer team suffered another shutout on Wednesday, losing 10-0 to Cape Central. The Lady Bulldogs were hurt the most by two Lady Tigers. Jessica Johnson and Becky Payne scored four goals apiece, leading Cape Central to the uncontested victory...

DEXTER - The Jackson Indians knocked the Dexter Bearcats out of a first place tie in the SEMO Conference with a 9-7 victory on Wednesday at Dexter's West City Park. The Bearcats entered the game tied with Notre Dame for first place. Trailing 7-6, Jackson plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull out the victory...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. Byron Still of Sikeston and Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Haynes of Paducah, Ky., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Crystal Ann Haynes to James Lee Nance, son of Rita and Donnie of Sikeston. A 2000 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton, the future bride is employed by Continu-Care...