Stories from Sunday, December 15, 2002

BERNIE -- It was obvious from the beginning who the two fan favorites were in Friday's game between Bernie and Risco. The game began with ovations for Risco's Luke Carter and Bernie's Chad Wooldridge. Wooldridge would foul out in the middle of fourth quarter, giving Carter the chance for a final ovation, and he took it...

ORAN -- The Scott City Rams improved to 3-0 on the season Friday night when they got a 20-point performance from Jeremy Schlosser and got by the Oran Eagles, 70-62. The Eagles, who led early in the contest, had four players to hit double figures, but lost the lead at the 5-minute mark of the second quarter when the Rams went up 19-18 on a layup by Schlosser...

SIKESTON - The 31st Annual Sikeston Invitational Tournament came to a close on Friday night at the Field House. As expected, top-seeded Poplar Bluff captured their first SIT championship since 1988 with an 84-59 victory against No. 3 Blytheville. It had been so long since the last championship for Poplar Bluff that head coach John David Pattillo wasn't sure if the school had ever won an SIT title...

Morehouse City Council members Judy Greene and Eddie Stinnett decorate the front of the new City Hall. The City will host an open house today from 1-3 p.m.

SIKESTON -- Christmas is right around the corner and while many people are finishing up their holiday shopping, the Community Christmas Campaign is preparing to deliver baskets to the needy on Wednesday. It is still not too late to help the Campaign. Help is needed to delivery over 250 baskets on Wednesday. Also, there is still a shortage of toys to be given to children and any help would be appreciated...

NEW MADRID -- As the new year approaches, a new legislative session comes with it, and an upcoming education bill could mean a great deal for one school district in particular -- New Madrid County R-1. For the 10th year, New Madrid County R-1 is one of 48 hold harmless school districts in the state. New Madrid County R-1 and Bernie R-1 are the only school districts in Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi and Stoddard counties that are impacted by the hold harmless rule...

EAST PRAIRIE - The East Prairie Fire Department will receive $54,914 in grant money through a United States Fire Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency program. "We appreciate it - we really need it," said East Prairie Fire Chief Gary Grogan. "It's going to help out a whole lot."...

SPRINGFIELD -- A trial judge didn't err in excluding second-hand testimony a former Sikeston man said could have cleared him of murder, a state appeals panel has ruled. A Scott County jury convicted David Lee Robinson of first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the Aug. 5, 2000, shooting death of Sheila Box of Sikeston. Robinson was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. He never will be eligible for parole...

From all of us at the City, I'd like to extend to you our wishes for a happy and safe holiday season. 2002 has been an extremely busy year for the city. I'd like to share just a few of our accomplishments with you. First on our list is the passage, by Sikeston's voters, of a City Charter, establishing ward representation and the independent election of the mayor. ...

SIKESTON - In honor of her daughter, Sue, who celebrated her ninth birthday anniversary Tuesday, Mrs. John T. Sikes entertained a group of girls at supper that evening. Guests were: Janet Sue Stewart, Marjorie Charlotte McGahey, Patsy Sims, Stella Jean Shankle, Carol Fox, Mary Lou Largent, Barbara Lennox, Barbara Boyce and Mary Ann Tomerlin...

Someone in SpeakOut said the Chamber of Commerce had recommended Spanky's Cab Company to them. They've been taking me for several years and you can't beat them. They are so nice, polite and helpful. It's really a good company. As a taxpayer in Missouri, I want our pledge with "Under God" to stay in our public schools. If the atheist doesn't want it, he can home school his child. It's time for the majority of Americans to rule and keep God in our country and in our schools...

Sen. Trent Lott put his foot in his mouth this week with an inappropriate and untimely remark honoring the retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond. Lott said the nation would have been better off had Thurmond won the presidency in 1948 and that many of our troubles since then would not have happened. Since Thurmond was running as a segregationist at that time, Lott's comment set off a firestorm. They were stupid remarks...

SIKESTON - Eric and Jill Wooden are the parents of their second daughter, born at 8:16 a.m. Nov. 22, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Kate Lynn Wooden weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 18 1/2-inches long. Mrs. Wooden is the daughter of Veda Dysinger of Delta...

MARSTON - John Robbins died Dec. 13, 2002. Arrangements are incomplete at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid.

JEFFERSON CITY - Samantha A. Johnson, 63, formerly of New Madrid, died Dec. 11, 2002, at St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City. Born Oct. 8, 1938, in Braggadocio, she was the daughter of the late Herman Boykin and Rosie Bass Boykin. Her husband, Robert Lee Johnson Sr., preceded her in death in 1996...

MOREHOUSE - Howard L. Adams, 78, died Dec. 13, 2002, at his home. Born March 10, 1924, at Morehouse, son of the late Joseph Clarence and Ethyl O'Brian Adams, he was employed as a cut-off lumberman at Rowe Furniture for 38 years. He was a member of the First Oneness Pentecostal Church in Morehouse...