Stories from Friday, January 3, 2003

The first baby of the year born at Missouri Delta Medical Center was Landon Isaac Graves, son of Adam Graves and Bethany McNeely-Graves of Morley. The 7-pound-5-ounce baby boy was born at 10:51 a.m. Wednesday and was delivered Dr. Anthony Poole, husband of the first baby of the year for 1953, Jo Ann Williamson Poole...

SIKESTON - A second man has been arrested in connection with the New Year's Eve shooting death of Fernando Curtis. Sikeston resident Michael Ray Turner, 18, was arrested Thursday morning in Sikeston on first-degree murder charges for allegedly acting in association with Jermaine Anderson, 19, of Charleston, who was arrested Wednesday without incident in connection with Curtis' death...

BROSELEY -- Kelly's girls basketball team pulled off an impressive upset in the Lady Royals Holiday Classic on Thursday night, toppling Doniphan in overtime, 61-57. "Our girls just picked up the intensity in overtime," said Kelly head coach Rod McQuerter. "They played hard and played together as one unit. This is a huge win for our program."...

MOREHOUSE - Pallbearers at services conducted Thursday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Donald Hoots, 83, who died Jan. 1, 2003, were: Pete Leija, Junior Younger, John Launius, Marlin Swinger, Bill Beck and Sonny Garner.

SCOTT CITY- Virginia Laura Creech, 93, died Jan. 1, 2003, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born April 13, 1909, in Canton, daughter of the late Charles and Margaret Sloan, she had taught kindergarten students in Georgetown, Ill., and was a member of the First Christian Church in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON - Elizabeth Catherine Stidham Hawkins, 39, died Jan. 2, 2002, at St. Louis University Hospital, following a lengthy illness. Born Aug. 28, 1963, in Alton, Ill., daughter of Ernest E. "Pat" Stidham Sr. and Shirley Emerson Stidham of Sikeston, she graduated in 1982 from Scott County Central High School. She was a waitress at Danny's Place for 10 years and member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church...

SIKESTON - Judy Lee Babb, 45, died at 6:50 a.m. Jan. 2, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born June 27, 1957, in Sikeston, she was the daughter of Betty McBroom Beck of Sikeston and the late Spurlin Beck Sr. On Dec. 5, 1977, she married Larry Franklin Babb who preceded her in death on April 14, 1993...

SIKESTON - Cynthia Louise Blackburn, 85, died at 12:16 p.m. Jan. 1, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 20, 1917, in Peach Orchard, Ark., daughter of the late Charles and Grace Kennemur Scott, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston for and had been active in United Methodist Women on all levels in the Missouri East Conference. ...

In an ironic twist, the state of Mississippi this week became the first state in the union to install on-line computers in each of its public school classrooms. For a state often at the bottom of the educational ladder, this marks a major milestone...

East Prairie is getting new TV channels. Will the TV guide in the Sunday Standard Democrat be correct with these added channels? The channel selections in the guide are consistent with cable service in Sikeston. For other towns, the TV call letters may not be the same channel numbers as in your area....

SIKESTON - Miss Margaret Harris left Sunday to resume her teaching duties in Dallas, Texas, after visiting her mother, Mrs. Kate Harris and her sisters, Miss Lydia and Miss Audrey Chaney during the holidays. SIKESTON - Next Monday night, at its first regular meeting for the new year, the City Council will probably hear the first reading of an ordinance to extend the city limits by special election...

Katie Bloemer places the eyes on her snowman Thursday afternoon at her home in Sikeston. Katie along with her brother Will and sister Emily enjoyed the inch or more of snow to blanket Southeast Missouri.

SIKESTON -- Several years of hard work have paid off for Troop E of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Sikeston satellite's commander, Lt. Jim McNiell. Last month Troop E received Outstanding Agency of the Year, and McNiell was awarded Outstanding Volunteer/Unsung Hero in Region 6 for their sales of Law Enforcement Torch Run T-shirts, which provide funding for Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO)...