Stories from Friday, September 26, 2003

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. - Ralph Smith, 85, died Sept. 25, 2003, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville, Mo.

SIKESTON - Maudie I. Denton, 80, died at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25, 2003, at her home. Born Jan. 1, 1923, in Kennett, daughter of the late Henry William and Levadie Mae Hoxworth Abernathy, she had been employed by Wilcox Electric Manufacturing Co. in Kansas City. In 1972, she moved from Kansas City to Sikeston. She was a member of the First Pentecostal Church in Sikeston...

DECATUR, Ga. - Wilber Ray "David" Jacobs, 76, died Sept. 21, 2003, at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Born April 7, 1927, in Hayti, Mo., son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Jacobs Sr., he worked in the field of radio broadcasting and held positions in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Mobile, Ala. before working for radio stations WGKA and WABE in Atlanta, Ga...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Michael Lee Russell, 14, died Sept. 24, 2003. The son of Dr. Alan Russell was born Jan. 22, 1989. Also surviving are a brother, Dakota Russell; and his stepmother. His mother preceded him in death. Services and burial will be conducted in Nashville...

PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. - Ronnie Gene Long, 57, died Sept. 24, 2003, in Pass Christian. Born Sept. 3, 1946, in Charleston, Mo., son of the late John E. and Ethel A. Long Sr., he was a former resident of Sikeston, Mo., and attended Sikeston schools. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966 and retired as a master gunnery sergeant after 36 years of service and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, N.C...

BERNIE - Earl Bennett, 95, died Sept. 25, 2003, at his home. Born Oct. 19, 1907, in Fredericktown, son of the late Nathan and Cora Fox Bennett, he lived in Parma before moving to Bernie in 1969. He was a member of the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in Bernie...

SIKESTON - James R. Goyins, 68, died Sept. 25, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville, Ill. Born March 9, 1935, in Lilbourn, son of the late Myrkle and Lucy Jane Shaver Goyins, he was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army. On March 23, 1955, he married Emma K. Klauer who survives of the home...

SIKESTON - Elvis "James" McGhee, 46, died Sept. 24, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Oct. 4, 1956, in Sikeston, son of the late Hurley and Nelda McClaine McGhee, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of Sandywood Baptist Church and had worked in the City of Miner Street and Water Maintenance Department...

SIKESTON -- Financial institution employees will be sure and match faces with names and numbers next week as they officially begin their compliance with a section of the U.S. Patriot Act -- an attempt enacted after 9/11 to thwart money channeling for terrorism in the United States...

Jeff Wiliams, Sikeston Public School District employee, paints the north endzone Thursday afternoon. The maintenance department at the school was preparing the field for tonight's homecoming game against Kennett.

If Harold Kilpatrick's family knew he was a troubled ill man they should have gotten him help. The police did the right thing by killing him. I am looking for a musical candle. A friend received one from her secret pal and I really thought it was pretty. Please put a phone number in SpeakOut where I can find them. I would like to get several to use as gifts...

SIKESTON - Miss Joy Mae Edwards is enrolled at Tallahassee State Girls' College in Florida for the school year. SIKESTON - Ginger Evans celebrated her fourth birthday last Thursday at Angels Day Care Center. Guests were: Laurie Harbin, Lisa Couch, Lisa Terrell, Gregg Jewell, Steve Topp, Cliff Wheeler, Kevin Waldo, Harold Bennett, Brad Tanner, Gary Griffen, Buddy Barnes, Larry Keller and Bobby Moore...

You may have missed this on the news lately - well unless you read the National Inquirer, in which case it was probably front page news. It seems that British space monitors have spotted a GIANT ASTEROID (I've always wanted to use that National Inquirer technique) that is headed to earth. So set your calendars for March 21, 2014 and don't make any special plans for the day. It may be your last!...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston tennis team improved to 7-3 on the season with a 6-3 victory against Kennett on Thursday. Sikeston won four of the six singles matches and two of the three doubles matches to pull out the victory. "We played much better today," said Sikeston head coach Lynne DeWitt. "We've got a tough match on Monday with Charleston. I expect the girls to keep improving."...

EAST PRAIRIE - The East Prairie softball team picked up its first win of the year, defeating Greenville 11-4. Lydia Thomure was the winning pitcher, throwing all seven innings and allowing two earned runs off 10 hits. She struck out five and walked five...

MARBLE HILL -- Oran's junior varsity volleyball team recently won the Woodland Invitational Tournament, winning three games to go undefeated. In the first round, Oran beat Woodland in a three-set thriller: 19-5, 16-19, 19-3. The Lady Eagles were led by captain April Eftink with nine service points, followed by the stellar serving of Kayla Graviett who served 100 percent on the night with eight points. Tiffany Glastetter led the team in kills with five...