Stories from Sunday, April 27, 2003

NEW ORLEANS - A former Sikeston resident has been awarded the MVC Writer's Service Award. Jack Watkins, son of Jack and Esther Watkins of Sikeston, graduated in 1981 from Sikeston High School and was a sports writer with the Daily Standard in the early 1980s...

SIKESTON - As business budgets tighten, eight area companies have found an innovative way to train their workforce. The Bootheel Regional Training Group is providing classes at the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center in everything from basic hydraulics to global leadership to accident investigation training...

SIKESTON -- Friday's downpour didn't keep Sikeston's soccer team from taking the field, but St. Vincent's defense kept the Lady Bulldogs from scoring a goal. The Mineral Area power beat Sikeston 5-0, dropping the Lady Bulldogs to 1-8 on the season...

Thank you for participating in the community wide "Let's Support Our Troops" prayer vigil and tribute hosted by our church, First Baptist of Sikeston, on April 17. We appreciate your generous donation to this worthy event. From all accounts, it was a huge success and a very moving moment. ...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central's softball team carried a winning streak of 47 games into the Chaffee Tournament. The biggest reason for the extraordinary run has been the team's extraordinary pitcher. Senior Heather Robey has been a dominant force on the mound for the Lady Eagles, winning 40 of the 47...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - When it comes to high school baseball, no tournament generates more excitement in the area than the SEMO Conference Baseball Tournament. The tournament, slated to begin on Thursday at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, was started two years ago by the SEMO Conference coaches...

I have always said: "Vote for the best person for the job." Either Republican or Democrat it does not matter -- just vote for the best person. Believe it or not while attending the 27th Annual Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville, the most inspirational speech on why honor, heritage, harvest and hope are the life force of sportsmen and conservationist across this great nation, came from a politician...

SIKESTON - Young anglers will soon get the chance to show their stuff with the annual Kids' Fishing Derby less than a month away. Sponsored by the Sikeston Parks and Recreation Division, the derby is scheduled from 8 a.m. until noon May 17 at the Recreation Complex Lake. In the event that it rains that morning, the derby will be held from 1-5 p.m...

SIKESTON -- Despite the looming thunder clouds and rain, a mock car accident was held at Scott County Central High School Friday in an effort to prevent students from drinking and driving. In fact, it was so believable that a woman living near the school ran up to the scene, wondering if anyone was injured. After a school official informed her the accident wasn't real, she stuck around to watch the event...

SIKESTON - Howard Eugene Robertson, nephew of Mrs. Fannie Arnett of Sikeston, has been reported as a prisoner of the Japanese government in the Philippine Islands. RISCO - Walter Dale Landers, a junior at Risco High School and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lander Jr. of Lilbourn Route One, has been selected as a delegate by the Future Farmers of America to tour Europe next August...

I was in Wal-Mart yesterday with one of the worst headaches I have ever had. The sinus season is the worst for me, but when I went to Wal-Mart to get the same medicine that I have been getting for 15 years, I was told that without a picture I.D., I could not get them. ...

I'm getting tired of writing about our knuckle-headed governor and by now, you're probably tired of reading about him as well. But on Friday, Gov. Bob Holden proposed to raise $279 million by upping the tax on cigarettes by 55 cents a pack. Now if I recall correctly, that's the very same plan Missouri voters rejected last year. ...

SIKESTON -- Stella Knuckles, 83, died April 26, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 10, 1919, in Bugscuffle, Okla., daughter of the late Wylie and Minnie Gamble Downs, she was a member of the Christian Tabernacle in Sikeston...

MOREHOUSE -Pallbearers at services scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston for William Willard "Skinner" Westmoreland Jr., 82, who died April 23, 2003, will be: Paul Hatley, Wesley A. Westmoreland, Wesley Westmoreland, C.J. Masegian, Kenneth Masegian and Tracy Green...

DEXTER - Dorothy Virginia Boullion, 65, died April 25, 2003, at the Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dexter. Born Sept. 25, 1937, in Ellsinore, daughter of the late Odell and Dovie Stevens Richards, she was employed by the Sunset Haven Nursing Center in Beaumont, Calif., before retiring...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Floyd Samuel Thresher, 86, died at 3:30 a.m. April 26, 2003, at his residence. Born May 21, 1916, in Arkansas, son of the late Eli and Hattie Harland Thresher, he was a retired farmer and lived in Mississippi County most of his life. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of East Prairie...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Geneva Smith, 72, died at 2:45 a.m. April 26, 2003, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Jan. 5, 1931, in Bruston, Tenn., daughter of the late Ernest and Mary Greer Prince, she lived in East Prairie most of her life and was a member of the Free Will Pentecostal Church in Immokalee, Fla...

FARMINGTON - Paul Embro Johnson, 67, formerly of East Prairie, died at 7:17 p.m. April 24, 2003, at his home. Born Feb. 5, 1936, in East Prairie, son of the late Rosalee Johnson Smith, he was a retired handyman and of the Baptist belief. He lived in East Prairie before moving to Farmington 10 years ago...

MOREHOUSE - Milem T. Adkins, 104, died April 24, 2003, at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born July 20, 1898, in Morehouse, son of the late William Taylor and Susie Millington Adkins, he was a lifelong resident of Morehouse and a retired carpenter and farmer...

SCOTT CITY - Sandra Lynn Chaney, 39, died April 25, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born March 12, 1964, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of James William Schoen of Scott City and the late Shirley Ann Green Schoen, she was a cook for Wendy's Restaurant...