Stories from Monday, January 5, 2004

New Madrid County Commissioners Clyde Hawes, Barry Bennet and Sam Pikey have approved a new budget for the New Madrid County Extension office. The budget will be cut to a third of what it previously was, leaving only a $10,000 budget. Incidentally, their request of $35,000 is only 1 percent of the county's budget. ...

DeSOTO - Scott and Jill Hankins are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 11:51 p.m. Nov. 24, 2003, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Festus. Morgan Rae Hankins weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 19-inches long. Grandparents are Carl Ray and Patsy Miller of Benton, Leola Hankins of DeSoto and the late Bill Hankins...

SIKESTON - If your income for 1943 does not exceed $3,000, we will prepare your Income Tax Return for only $2. Lawson Business Service SIKESTON - The wedding of Miss Joan Maurice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Dovers of Sikeston, to Lloyd Allen Knuckles will be Jan. ...

We, the taxpayers, keep spending money for new prisons throughout this country. The reason we spend money for new prisons in this country is because so many are breaking the law, so we have to keep inmates in prison, where they have it made. They have medical, good food and get education. ...

SIKESTON -- As nearly 2,000 members of the Sikeston community piled into the Sikeston Field House Saturday for the 4 p.m. departure ceremony for Charlie Company of the 1140th Engineer Battalion, it was clear the crowd shared the same sentiment as the unit's logo on their official T-shirt: "Charlie Company rocks!"...

The New Madrid County Family Resource Center would like to thank everyone who made this year's Christmas Angel Tree project a huge success. We were able to purchase gifts for more than 175 kids this year. A special thanks goes out to the Bank of New Madrid, Evergreen Baptist Church in Marston, Wal-Mart, Brownie Troop 74, Pilots, Family Resource Center staff and members of the community...

DEXTER - Irene Cryts, 90, died Jan. 3, 2004, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center. Born July 17, 1913, in Dexter, daughter of the late Elmer and Lillie Allard Hutson, she was a member of Liberty Hill General Baptist Church at Aid. A member of the Aid Extension Homemakers, she had been a clerk for Wal-Mart...

BENTON - Orland J. Bollinger Sr., 87, died at 3:45 p.m. Jan. 3, 2004, at his son's home in Benton. Born July 4, 1916, at Benton, son of the late Theodore and Rosa Vogel Bollinger, he was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church. A lifelong resident of Benton, he began working for Harris Rogers at the Scott County Abstract Co. ...

It is time for Josh Bill to re-evaluate his intentions toward the citizens and the City of Sikeston. My recollection is the consequence of many things, which Josh Bill is addressing with such vehement vigor, is simply Monday-morning-quarterbacking, i.e.: they happened on his watch as mayor...

SIKESTON - Thelma Lorraine Sissom Johnson, 80, died Jan. 3, 2004, at her home. Born March 1, 1923, in Caledonia, daughter of the late John Hughes and Pearl Virginia Hicks Grenia, she was of the Church of God belief. Before retiring she had been employed by Guaranteed Homes in California, the Walnut Wood Factory in St. Louis and the Grecian Steak House in Sikeston...

MATTHEWS - Melvin Phillips, 63, died Jan. 4, 2004, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

VANDUSER - Elve Hargett Johnson, 93, died Jan. 4, 2004, at the Miner Nursing Center. Born Jan. 6, 1910, in Blytheville, Ark., daughter of the late James Andrew and Ada Ellis Hargett, she served as mayor for Vanduser in the 1960s, was a member of the Vanduser Baptist Church and she and her husband were engaged in farming from 1928-1959. ...

LILBOURN - James "Pete" Weaks, 77, died Jan. 4, 2004, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at the Ponder Funeral Home in Lilbourn.

DEXTER - Carter Ronald "Ron" Worley, 65, died Jan. 3, 2004, at his home. Born March 20, 1938, at Frisco, son of the late Carter P. and Esther M. Smith Worley, he was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter where he had served as an elder and was a devoted choir member for many years before poor health prevented him from singing. ...

SIKESTON -- Whether they're counting carbs or they just simply like the taste, many beer drinkers in the area -- and in the nation -- are making the switch to a growing line of low-carb beers. "It's almost our best-selling beer," noted Sikeston Applebee's Bar and Grill manager Mike Baker about the low-carb beer, Michelob Ultra. ...

BROSELEY -- The Kennett Lady Indians picked up their 10th victory of the season with a 60-44 win over the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs in the consolation game of the 7th Annual Twin Rivers Invitational Tournament Saturday afternoon at Royal Gymnasium. The victory gave the Lady Indians a third place finish in the tournament and Rachel Brown was named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament...