Stories from Sunday, August 24, 2003

NEW MADRID - Martha A. Blom, 79, died Aug. 23, 2003, at her home. Born Sept. 11, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of the late Ralph and Virginia Vestal Anderson, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church in New Madrid, where she served as organist for more than 42 years...

CARUTHERSVILLE - MaryBell Gaddy Patterson, 96, died Aug. 22, 2003, at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born May 1, 1907, in Caruthersville, she was the daughter of the late John D. and Alverda Geddy. On March 31, 1929, she married James Floyd "Pat" Patterson, who was well-known later as "Senator Pat." He preceded her in death on May 5, 1989...

MOREHOUSE - Kenneth Ray White, 73, died Aug. 23, 2003, at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 5, 1929, in Princeton, Ky., son of the late Andrew and Clara Belle Poole White, he lived in Morehouse most of his life and was a farm laborer...

POPLAR BLUFF - Ernest David Malkowski, 42, died Aug. 21, 2003, at Three Rivers Healthcare North Campus in Poplar Bluff. Born Nov. 10, 1960, in St. Louis, son of Victor Malkowski of Poplar Bluff and Lorrie Bunker Jorgenson of Arlington, Wash., he was a bowling alley mechanic and lived in Poplar Bluff for the past three years...

SCOTT CITY - Margaret Alveda Nation, 68, died at 12:02 a.m. Aug. 22, 2003, at her home. Born Nov. 13, 1934, in Fornfelt, daughter of Helen Margaret Stone Brant of Scott City and the late Hugh Alvida Spriggs, she had been a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Scott City...

If the Standard Democrat makes its customers pay their bills on time, why can't it make sure they get their papers on time, especially the ones who get their papers in the mail, instead of after three days? On Wednesday you get Monday's paper. The newspapers for mail delivery are taken to the Sikeston Post Office every afternoon (Monday through Friday) to go out with that day's mail. ...

Schools in this region opened their doors this week to thousands of youngsters - much to the delight of parents and the chagrin of many students. From early reports, the opening sessions went smoothly with only minor glitches that are bound to develop. Contrast this opening-day tradition to the upcoming opening of the St. Louis schools and you begin to see a picture emerge that illustrates the differences within our state...

SIKESTON - Dr. J.H. Kready was given a surprise party Thursday evening at his home on North Stoddard Street by his niece, Miss Katheryn Clark. The occasion was Dr. Kready's 75th birthday. ESSEX - James C. Ross, a well-known ginner at Essex, has developed a time-saving water pump for the large cotton picker machine...

SIKESTON - The Annual Sikeston Bulldog Red and Black scrimmage took place on Friday night at Public Schools Stadium amid threatening weather. The scrimmage was called short with just a few plays left due to lightening. But overall the event was deemed a success...

SIKESTON - With the majority of the team returning, hopes are high for Sikeston's softball team this season. Only five players, two of which were starters last season, were lost to graduation. The rest of the lineup from last year's 7-9 team returns intact, including the entire pitching staff...

ORAN - Veterans of Foreign Wars clubs will have a new member soon. Specialist Chad Prindle hasn't applied for membership yet, "but it is one of my plans while I'm home," he confirmed. Prindle is home for a visit after serving several months in combat as part of Alpha Company of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the Third Infantry Division. ...

SIKESTON -- An accident involving farming machinery last week has prompted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to remind area motorists that harvest season offers special challenges for travelers on Missouri roadways. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 2:26 p.m. ...

SIKESTON -- As farmers in 39 northern and western Missouri counties wait to hear a response from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which assessed their drought conditions last week, some Southeast Missouri farmers are busy harvesting corn and tending to their other crops...