Stories from Monday, December 16, 2002

SIKESTON - Two runaway juveniles from Franklin County were arrested Sunday evening following a purse snatching at Wal-Mart. The juveniles were taken into custody after being pursued by citizens who witnessed the incident and chased the suspect until officers arrived...

Travis Smith, Southeast Missouri area representative of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Butch Payne, Marion Pepsi-Cola Company service technician, prepare a display at the Factory Outlet Stores. Pepsi-Cola of Marion, Ill., will conduct sleigh rides in a 1941 sleigh. The event is set for Dec. 21-22 with proceeds to benefit the Sikeston Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Cost is $1 per person...

SIKESTON - The next few weeks will be filled with holiday celebrations and that's fine, say law enforcement officials, just don't let the festive feeling provide a false sense of security when it comes to drinking and driving. Last year during the holidays, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were 75 fatalities and 6,076 people injured in accidents where the driver was operating the vehicle under the influence...

NEW MADRID - New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens agrees with at least one line of a familiar holiday song: "You better watch out!" Stevens is warning area residents to be cautious as the holidays move into full swing. While there are people filled with good wishes, there are also those waiting to steal or scam that holiday cheer away...

SIKESTON - For many, this won't be a joyful Christmas. Some are coping with a death in the family, for others it's the loss of a job. There are those going through a divorce or another life-changing happening. And they're all finding themselves struggling to make it through the holiday season this year...

Just who is this idiot who said people vote from their wallets, and that Republicans are the cause of this mess were in. What mess? Is your belly growling? You say we don't need a war for oil. We need electric cars. What you need is a brain transplant, you whale-kissing, tree-hugging nut case. ...

The Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site in New Madrid welcomed visitors to the home decorated for a Victorian Christmas. Doris Wylie of Sikeston is shown the formal dining room by guide Liz Higgerson during one of the tours during the weekend annual open house. The decorations will remain in place through the weekend and tours are available...

SIKESTON - The coldest weather of the winter sent shivers up spines last weekend. The lowest mark was 15 degrees above zero, recorded overnight Saturday. SIKESTON - Thanks to donations by some of the local merchants and the work of the City Park Board, the VFW Baseball Park shines brighter with the glitter of much needed repairs...

DEXTER - Robie Glen Bledsoe, 74, died Dec. 14, 2002, at his home. Born Aug. 18, 1928, in Bernie, son of the late Hugh and Addie Clayton Bledsoe, he was a member of the Freedom Worship Center in Dexter and had been a painter for many years. On Dec. 28, 1982, at New Madrid, he married Janie Moore who preceded him in death on Nov. 3, 1996...

MARSTON - John Henry Robbins, 53, died Dec. 13, 2002, at his home. Born Feb. 25, 1949, in Marston, son of the late Willie and Katie Wylie Robbins, he was a member of the Trinity Pentecostal Church of Marston. On Nov. 28, 1986, in Lilbourn, he married Lisa Ward who survives of the home...

SCOTT CITY - James William Curran, 69, died at 5 a.m. Dec. 15, 2002, at the Jackson Manor. Born July 10, 1923, in St. Louis, son of the late Francis and Matilda Dempsey Curran, he was a steelworker before retiring and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member and past commander of VFW Post 6407 in Scott City...

BEDIAS, Texas - Carl Condict, 79, formerly of Carmi, Ill., and Southeast Missouri, died at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 14, 2002, in Galveston. Arrangements are incomplete at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home for Mary Jackson, 82, who died Dec. 11, 2002, were: Keith Jackson, Brian Young, Scott Young, Jeff Thompson, Kurt Smith and Steve Hafner.

DEXTER - Bonnie Sue Cobb, 61, died Dec. 15, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ponder Funeral Home for Howard L. Adams, 78, of Morehouse, who died Dec. 13, 2002, will be: Edward Moore, Michael Moore, Robert Moore, Jonathan Tucker, Donald R. Tucker, Brian Vinson, Shawn Vinson and Jimmy Harris...

DELTA - Lloyd "Curt" McDaniel, 51, died at 4:10 a.m. Dec. 15, 2002, at his home. Born Aug. 21, 1951, in Bell City, son of Thelma "Cricket" Simmons McDaniel of Delta and the late Harold Lloyd McDaniel, he was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and St. Ambrose Men's Club in Chaffee and Leopold Knights of Columbus Council 5898. He was an operator for the Spartech Corporation in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home for Eva LaDonna Fletcher, 78, who died Dec. 11, 2002, were: Phil Raffety, Carl McClain, Joseph Crenshaw, Tony Parker, Mack McClain and Herbert McClain.

ZALMA - Wendell I. Shirrell, 41, died Dec. 14, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 30, 1961, in Advance, son of Karen Stotts Shirrell of Zalma and the late Ivan Shirrell, he was a graduate of Zalma High School and member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Dongola...

BENTON - Paul O'Neal and Amy Lynn Bartlett are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 2:26 p.m. Nov. 25, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mollie Elizabeth Bartlett weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces and was 19-inches long...