Stories from Friday, April 25, 2003

CHARLESTON -- Moberly Community College signed another local basketball player on Thursday, landing Charleston all-state center Kewain Gant. "He was at the top of our list," said Moberly head coach Pat Smith. "He came in and played last week against our players, and our people in Moberly are already calling him the next junior college Tim Duncan."...

CHARLESTON - Mississippi County commissioners were pleased to share some good news during their meeting Thursday: a Missouri Association of Counties 2003 safety award along with an $829 check. County Clerk Junior DeLay explained the safety award is based on the county's performance in 2001 in the MAC's self-insured workers compensation fund...

Tourists had their photograph taken on the front porch of the Mississippi County Historical Home Thursday afternoon during the Dogwood-Azalea Festival in Charleston. The 35th annual event ends Sunday.

SIKESTON -- A 58-year-old man who walked away from Hunter Acres Nursing Home last Monday is back in custody and under arrest. According to Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden, Glenn Miller was in the nursing home under a court order and violated the order when he left without permission of the court. A warrant for escape from commitment was then issued...

SIKESTON - When it comes to news about the economy - either nationally or in Sikeston - some of its good and some of its bad. Bruce R. Domazlicky, professor of the Department of Economics at Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau, shared that news with members of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce during their monthly luncheon Thursday...

SIKESTON - Sikeston residents' effort to "Make A Difference" earned them recognition from USA Weekend Magazine. In this weekend's edition of USA Weekend, which will be carried in Sunday's Standard Democrat, the community's Make A Difference Day project was honored...

SIKESTON - Announcement has been made that Birch, America's foremost magician, with his company of assisting artists, will play an engagement in Sikeston at the high school gymnasium April 30. SIKESTON - In the war-time drama, "Stalag 13," Tony Statler steps into the spotlight for his premiere performance in a Little Theatre cast...

I am deeply concerned about my recent visit to a Sikeston dentist's office. The girl at the front desk was wearing a nose ring. Now I may be old-fashioned, but it really offended me. What if she was working on me and that ring were to fall off and into my mouth? Isn't there a health code or something about medical and dental personnel concerning body piercing?...

I spoke with two Sikeston businessmen this week who both voiced concerns over the growing cost of workers' compensation expenses. One large company spends more in workers' comp premiums than 99 percent of all local businesses generate in revenue each year. ...

MOREHOUSE - Pallbearers at services conducted Thursday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for James Edward Hopper, 54, who died April 20, 2003, were: David Ervin, D.J. Ervin, Ray Barnett, Will Barnett, Jeff Britton and Dale Flanigan.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mary Jane Cruchon, 59, formerly of New Madrid, died April 22, 2003, in Memphis. Born Jan. 23, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Theodore A. and Edna Dismore Cruchon. Survivors include: one brother, David Cruchon of Bartlett; and three sisters, Nadean Cruchon of Memphis, Gwen Cruchon of Carlsbad, Calif., and Louise Kirchberg of New Orleans, La...

SIKESTON - Charlotte Jean Moll, 76, died April 25, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born May 11, 1926, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Harry and Tessie Dill Strain, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. On Sept. 27, 1947, she married Miller Gene Moll who survives of the home...

SIKESTON - Service arrangements have been changed for Robert Smith Jr., 56, who died April 22, 2003. Visitation is from noon Saturday until service time at 2 p.m. at Perry Chapel AME Church in Charleston. The Rev. Lavern Frazier will officiate. The Missouri Military Funeral Honors Guard will conduct graveside military rites at Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston...

PORTAGEVILLE - Leonard E. Swims, 79, died April 24, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 19, 1924, in New Madrid County, son of the late Dewey N. and Lizzie Butts Swims, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and member of the American Legion...

DEXTER - Wilma Mae Hampton, 85, died April 24, 2003, at the Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dexter. Born April 2, 1918, near Dexter, daughter of the late Edward and Velma Kitchens Fritts, she lived in Malden and Dexter all her life. She retired as a seamstress for the Elder Manufacturing Company in Dexter and was a member of the Dexter Church of God...

PORTAGEVILLE - Kathern E. Clay, 89, died April 24, 2003, at Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital in Hayti. Born March 20, 1914, in Portageville, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Myrtle Duckworth Lewis. On Feb. 13, 1932, in Portageville, she married Harry Clay who preceded her in death on Sept. 28, 1969...

FARMINGTON - Paul Embro Johnson, 67, formerly of East Prairie, died April 24, 2003, at his home. Arrangements incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at a funeral Mass scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for Gwendolyn Louise "Gwen" Shy, 80, who died April 23, 2003, will be: Sam Grady, Kurt Turnbull, Lynn Shy, Chris Shy, Rick Jolliff and Josh Holliman...

BLOOMFIELD - Kenneth Wayne Hargrave, 59, died April 23, 2003, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born May 3, 1943, in Cairo, Ill., he was the son of Mary Binford Hargrave of Bloomfield and the late Goldie Hargrave. Survivors in addition to his mother include: five sons, Gary Hargrave of Belton, Texas, Troy Hargrave of Cape Girardeau, Christopher Conner of Dexter, Tim Hargrave of Anna, Ill., and Steve Hargrave of Joliet, Ill.; two daughters, Melissa Meskenas of Arlington, Tenn., and Laurie Van Buren of Anna; one brother, Roger Hargrave of Joliet; one sister, Margaret Carlson of Spokane, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; and a special friend, Sally Pratt of Malden.. ...

MOREHOUSE - William Willard "Skinner" Westmoreland Jr., 82, died at 6:10 p.m. April 23, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 27, 1920, in Sikeston, son of the late William Willard and Dink Oliver Westmoreland Sr., he was a self-employed construction contractor, retiring in 1977, and served with the U.S. Army during World War II...

DEXTER - Dorothy Boullion 65, died April 25, 2003, at the Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.