Stories from Tuesday, October 29, 2002

EAST PRAIRIE - The Rev. Billy A. Hunt, 65, died at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 27, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born March 7, 1937, in Lee County, Miss., son of the late Carroll and Mamie May Hunt, he lived in East Prairie since 1986 and was assistant pastor at the First Baptist Church in Charleston before retiring...

ADVANCE - Dennis A. Martin, 37, died Oct. 27, 2002, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born April 1, 1965, in Bloomfield, son of William and Betty Dalton Martin of Dexter, he was a service technician with Sears in Cape Girardeau for 10 years and was a member of the Christian Life Church in Advance...

DEXTER - Pallbearers at services conducted today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Gertrude Marie Elledge Metz, 71, who died Oct. 26, 2002, were: Danny Leathers, Robert Metz, Cyril Marchant, Norman Stause, Jerry Josett and Al Banken.

SIKESTON - J.D. Baker died Oct. 28, 2002, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home.

LILBOURN - William Mudd "Bill" Robbins, 53, died at 7:20 p.m. Oct. 27, 2002, at his home. Born June 9, 1949, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Felix Monroe and Blanche Mudd Robbins Jr., he was a truck driver or MCT Transport. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and American Legion Post 595 in New Madrid...

If you'll remember, not too long ago there were some officials in Missouri public education who floated the idea that the way we measure student testing might be flawed. The fact of the matter is those officials wanted to lower the testing standard and thereby allow more students to fall into the proficient category. They had ample arguments to justify their thinking...

SIKESTON - Michael and Shonae Livingston are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 3:31 p.m. Sept. 30, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Lansten Michael Livingston weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 18 1/2-inches long. Mrs. Livingston, daughter of Johnnie Watson and Ronnie Schoolcraft, is employed by White and Associates...

NEW MADRID - Colleen Lyn Hunter and David Blake Pearson exchanged wedding vows in a 2 p.m. ceremony Sept. 28, 2002, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Madrid. Monsignor Michael Swalina performed the ceremony who was assisted by Readers Natalie Hunter of New Madrid and Christie Robins of St. Louis...

MINER -- Three people are in custody after two Miner businesses were robbed and police were led on a chase that ended in Stoddard County. According to initial reports, both the Best Western and Holiday Inn Express were robbed this morning. Then just before 6:30 a.m. a green vehicle was involved in an accident in Sikeston. Officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety began pursuit of the vehicle...

Greg Herrion plays the bongo drums during the Sikeston Public Library's fourth and fifth grade Family Night. Gennice Gipson, music teacher at the Sikeston Middle School, was the guest for the "Ghost of Tom."

SIKESTON - Miss Athelene Love, who has been a resident of Sikeston since 1937, is leaving this Tuesday morning for Yuba City, Calif., to make her home with a brother. --- SIKESTON - A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Moser Thursday and a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Oliver Monday at the Sikeston General Hospital...

I recently visited the Sikeston Rescue Mission and couldn't believe how high they are on their clothing. I thought this was supposed to be a place where people who don't have a lot of money could shop and still help other people. With prices like that, there won't be many people going in there. Please lower your prices so poor people can afford to shop...

SIKESTON - Being dead just isn't what it used to be. As well-known as the phrase "six feet under" is, chances are you probably won't be buried beneath six feet of dirt. Missouri law does not require a depth for graves, only that a minimum of two feet of cover must be above them...

SIKESTON -- Many area residents are cranking up the heat as cooler weather moves in, keeping local furnace and heating services busy. These business owners are making sure customers have warm living conditions, but most importantly -- a carbon monoxide-free home...

CHARLESTON -- A Charleston woman was found guilty of four felony charges related to child molestation. On Friday, after three days of testimony, the Mississippi County jury found Jewel "Dee" Bewley, 43, guilty of the felony offense of child molestation in the first degree (recommended seven years to serve in prison), two counts of the felony offense of endangering the welfare of a child (recommended five years to serve in prison on each count) and the felony offense of statutory sodomy in the first degree (recommended 30 years to serve in prison). ...

KELSO - Shannon Hesse and Corey McNew were united in marriage July 20, 2002, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso before the Rev. Oliver Clavin. Lector was Phil Hesse of Affton, brother of the bride and eucharistic ministers were Eddie Barnhill, nephew of the bride, and Tim Joplin, both of Cape Girardeau...

POPLAR BLUFF - The Sikeston soccer team dropped its final game of the regular season on Monday as district play heats up this weekend. The Bulldogs (4-12-2) lost to Poplar Bluff 5-0 on the road. Sixth-seeded Sikeston will compete in Class 1-3, District 2 at Notre Dame High School on Saturday where they will meet No. 3 Hillsboro at 11 a.m. Seven teams in all compete in the district...

JACKSON -- Sikeston's volleyball team picked the right time to play its best match of the year on Monday night, upsetting Poplar Bluff in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament. Poplar Bluff came into the match ranked No. 10 in the regional volleyball poll and was seeded third in the district. Sikeston was the No. 6 seed...

NEW MADRID - The Sikeston junior varsity football team ended its season on a positive note on Monday night with a 23-0 road victory over New Madrid County Central. The Bulldogs led 23-0 at the half and never looked back, finishing the season with a 4-2 record...