Stories from Friday, July 26, 2002

NEW MADRID - Joseph Martin Broyles, 59, died at 10:03 a.m. July 25, 2002, at his home. Born Jan. 25, 1943, in Marston, son of Bronie Broyles and the late Louis Raymond Broyles, he attended the Lilbourn General Baptist Church and was a member of the singing group "The Foundations" for many years...

HAYWARD - Robert H. DeRousse, 77, died July 25, 2002, at his home. Born Oct. 10, 1925, in Barnes Ridge, son of the late Adolph and Mary Moon DeRousse, he was a member and former deacon at the First Baptist Church and served with the U.S. Army in World War II...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted at 10 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home for Ellen Kelley, 43, of Poplar Bluff, who died July 22, 2002, were: Dustin Kelley, Greg Foote, Ryan Shirkey, Mike DeLaughter, Trey White and John Tyler Myrick.

MATTHEWS - Irbie Arrie Burch, 87, died at 7:10 a.m. July 25, 2002, at Sells Rest Home, following an extended illness. Born April 22, 1915, in Matthews, son of the late Hiram Turner and Willie Frances Morgan Burch, he lived in Matthews most of his life. ...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home for Betty Lou Sexton, 52, of Blodgett, who died July 19, 2002, will be: Chuck Chesmore, Krystal Chesmore, Tawnya Stanley, Micah Byrnes, Tim Matthews and Jason Young...

DEXTER - Bob G. Maddox, 68, died July 24, 2002, at Missouri Southern Healthcare. Born Feb. 11, 1934, in Choctaw, Ark., son of the late George Landy and Sallie Jewell Robison, he lived in St. Charles, Ill., for many years before moving to Dexter in 1992. He was a retired carpenter and member of Carpenter's Local 1345 in Geneva, Ill., and of Essex First Baptist Church...

SIKESTON - Opal C. Puckett Blackman, 81, died at 6 a.m. July 26, 2002, at her home, following an extended illness. Born Jan. 13, 1921, in Sikeston, son of the late Andrew Johnson and Matilda Taylor Crutchfield, she graduated in 1939 from Sikeston High School. ...

CHARLESTON - Mississippi County and its two largest cities need representation, but the proposed cost is a bit high for them to bear. David Brewer, city manager for Charleston, said during Thursday's county commission meeting that he had met with Shanon M. Hawk, a legislative assistant for the Bryan Cave law firm in Jefferson City, regarding her proposal to form a coalition of counties and cities in southeast Missouri to lobby their interests at the state capitol...

SIKESTON -- Rotary took fourth place in the 6-year-old League this year. The squad went on to lose in the first round of the year-end tournament, but head coach Brent Taylor was pleased with the season. "At the beginning of the season, I had a team that had never even seen baseball before," explained Taylor. ...

Cody Anderson pours a bucket of water onto Corrie Holts' head during a water play day at Stay-n-Play daycare Thursday. Southeast Missouri residents braved tempertures in the 90s.

SIKESTON -- A large gathering Wednesday night led to the arrest of several individuals after a fight between residents broke out. Officers from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety were dispatched to the corner of Ruth and Branum just after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday after a large gathering was reported. Upon officers arrival, about 70 residents were found in the street. A few minutes later a fight among 10-20 of the residents broke out...

SIKESTON - When you don't have much money, back to school sales don't help a whole lot. That's why Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation in the area and the New Madrid County Family Resource Center are giving parents a little help with school supplies...

SIKESTON -- Wendell Apartments have been housing senior citizens in the area for 20 years now. The demand for living in the building is so high, there's even a waiting list. And it's no wonder. "Something's always going on around here," Cecil Shelby, Wendell resident, said. "If you get bored, you can almost always come to the community room or lobby. Someone's always here. And if not, just wait. They'll come."...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Legion Post 114 baseball team has had some problems in recent weeks closing out ballgames. The problem struck again on Thursday evening in the District 14 Legion Tournament at VFW Stadium as top-seeded Dunklin County rallied for a 17-16 win in the winner's bracket finals...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston swim coach Heather Dockins was recently named Coach of the Year for the Midwest Swim Conference. In her first year coaching the Sharks, she got the most votes of the 11 coaches in the league. "I was shocked," said Dockins. "I never thought I would get it. It is encouraging to know that they thought of me as a good coach."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Crystal Dawn Pearson and Stephen Blake Peel Jr. are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 3:17 p.m. July 1, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Katelin Isabella Peel weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and was 21 1/2-inches long...

In response to your July 14 SpeakOut on "Noranda is A-OK," first of all, this comment seems to be coming from someone other than a USWA Local 7686 member. Could it be a company employee trying to make the general public think that hourly employees are so blessed to be employed by such a fair and honest company? When speaking of farmhands, "service station workers, etc.," are some of the terms upper management uses in reference to its hourly employees. ...

SIKESTON - Malone Theater July 26-27, "Saboteur" with Robert Cummings and Priscilla Lane. Rex Theater, "Canal Zone" with Chester Morris. CHARLESTON - More than 400 stockholders in the Production Credit Association jammed the St. Henry Catholic School here last night to reelect Carl B. Raidt of Sikeston and Paul Bradley of Kewanee to the Board of Directors...

As you are aware, the Sikeston Depot is dependent on local volunteers who help with the exhibits and keep the Depot open to the public. Recently the Standard Democrat mentioned the exhibits at the Sikeston Depot in honor of the 50th Jaycee Rodeo. Co-chairing the two exhibits of "Historical Highlights" and antique saddles were Julie Conway and Angela Gilmore. Helping with the presentation were Marilyn Grant and Joan Cowell. We are grateful to these women for their time and effort...

Sometimes persistence does pay off. Just look at the effort of Warren County coroner Roger Mauzy and his ongoing effort to improve safety along Interstate 70 in his home county. Mauzy has long battled with the Missouri Department of Transportation to force the state agency to place cable barriers in the median of I-70. The barriers have proven effective in reducing cross-over accidents along the interstate...