Stories from Sunday, January 11, 2004

It gets aggravating when you try to get your paper bill paid each month. I get my paper in the mail and go to look to see if my paper is there. Some days I get one or two and other times I don't get any for the whole week. Call your post office. We deliver the mail newspapers to the Sikeston Post Office every day, Monday through Saturday....

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Stephens have received a Purple Heart medal, awarded posthumously to their son, Sgt. Wayne W. Stephens, who was killed in action in July. --- SIKESTON - Among the students registered at Washington University in St. Louis this term is Walter C. Mill of Sikeston. He is a junior in that school of medicine...

The upcoming vote in Sikeston on a one-cent sales tax increase is over three weeks away and sides are beginning to close on whether the issue is needed here and, if so, just how the money will be spent. And, like it or not, the issue is becoming personal. ...

CANALOU - Pallbearers for services conducted Jan. 10, 2004, at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston for Vearnies Ellen Lumsden, 91, who died Jan. 7, 2004, were: Christopher Bly, David Miller, Blake Burris, James Nelson, Wilbur Griffin Jr. and Aaron Nelson...

SIKESTON - Molene V. Childers, 85, died Jan. 9, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Feb. 1, 1918, in Unity, Ill., she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Phoebe Ann Phillips Hagler. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston for 63 years, where she was church librarian for many years and was also member of the Ruth Sunday school class. ...

DEXTER - Darrol Dowdy, 64, died Jan. 8, 2004, in the emergency room at Missouri Southern Healthcare. Born Oct. 17, 1939, at rural Dexter, son of Pauline Lawrence Dowdy of Dexter and the late Danzil Dowdy, he was a member of the Westside Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. The former co-owner of Christian-Dowdy Lumber Company in Dexter, he was a board member of the Armstead Dowdy Cemetery Association and active in the prison ministry at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston...

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Clyde DePriest, 76, formerly of Mississippi County, Mo., died at 6 a.m. Jan. 8, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Born Feb. 13, 1927, in Wyatt, Mo., son of the late Sanford N. and Claudia B. Wise DePriest, he lived in Scott and Mississippi counties in Missouri most of his life. He lived in Owensboro for a short time where he was employed with Industrial Art Supply...

SIKESTON - Hazel "Mac" McGahey, 89, died Jan. 9, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Dec. 15, 1914, in Obion, Tenn., son of the late Nicholas and Hallie Halloway McGahey, he owned and operated Mac's Barber Shop for over 50 years and was known by friends and customers as "Mac the Barber."...

PORTAGEVILLE - Effie Kimes, 91, died Jan. 10, 2004, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.

FESTUS - Jewell Pointer, 92, formerly of Bernie, died Jan. 9, 2004, at the Jefferson County Memorial Hospital in Festus. Born Feb. 14, 1911, at Bernie, daughter of the late J.W. and Violet Allison, she was a member of the Bernie General Baptist Church and a former cook at the Bernie High School...

EAST PRAIRIE - Edith Laverne Anderson, 73, died at 4:05 a.m. Jan. 10, 2004, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

ORAN - Clark Dale "Corky" Duke, 64, died at 12:25 a.m. Jan. 9, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Feb. 8, 1939, in East Prairie, son of the late George Emeriel and Etta May Roberts Duke, he was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a route bread salesman for Bunny Bread and member of Miner Baptist Church...

PARMA - Leslie Lee "Blue" Durham, 73, died Jan. 8, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born July 11, 1930, in LaValle, son of the late Arthur and Goldia Loveless Durham, he was a lifelong resident of the Parma area. A member of the Parma First Baptist Church, he retired as a welder for the railroad...

DEXTER - Imogene Chism, 75, died Jan. 9, 2004, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

PALATINE, Ill. - Elsa Honold Melzer, 95, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Jan. 7, 2004, at the Rosewood Care Center in Inverness. Born July 4, 1908, in Niles, daughter of the late Henry and Rosa Meyer Honold, she lived in Illinois most of her life. A graduate of the Rugen School in Glenview, she graduated from the Luther Institute in Chicago and LaSalle University School of Accounting and was a retired accountant. ...

PARMA - Virginia Evelyn Halterman, 71, died Jan. 8, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 18, 1932, in New Madrid County, she was the daughter of the late Cole and Dixie Blevins Harralston. On July 27, 1948, in Piggott, Ark., she married Albert L. Halterman, who preceded her in death on July 5, 1991...

SIKESTON -- As more and more of today's youth opt for a cozy seat in front of the television or computer, less and less are engaging in an after school ballgame or bicycle ride around the block. Today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history as the percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese is now higher than ever before, according to the American Obesity Organization (AOA)...

SIKESTON - For a long time, the United States' involvement in the armed clash between South Korea and North Korea wasn't officially even referred to as a war. "They called it a 'conflict,'" recalled Ted Armes of Sikeston. Inspired by the success of the Missouri World War II Veterans' Award Recognition Program, state legislators have now decided to recognize Missourians who served in the armed forces during the Korean War with a medal, medallion and certificate...

Fans packed the Sikeston Field House Friday night as the Charleston Bluejays and Sikeston Bulldogs renewed their rivalry on the basketball court. Charleston proved to be too much for the Sikeston, downing the hosts 68-56. The complete game story can be found in today's sports section...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulldogs gave it all they had, but didn't have enough to overtake the top-ranked Charleston Bluejays on Friday night. Charleston, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 3, opened up a 10-point first quarter lead and was never seriously threatened as they held off Sikeston 68-56 in front of a jam-packed Sikeston Field House crowd...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Jordan Sanders put on another shooting clinic Friday night, pumping in 29 points in East Prairie's 69-58 loss to Meridian, Ill. The 6-foot junior did most of his damage from long range, sinking seven 3-pointers against the Bobcats' zone defense. "He can flat-out shoot the ball," said East Prairie coach Jason Irby. "When he misses an open shot I'm more surprised then when he makes one. When he gets a good look, it's almost like a layup for him."...

SIKESTON - The Tri-State Slow Pitch team took third in the World Amateur Sports Association's Women's State Softball Tournament. The team's only losses were to Pro Rehab and the Mud Hens from St. Louis. W.A.S.A. participants were Kellie Chastain, Debbie Throop, Kayci Taylor, Helen Chaney, Missy James, Heather Woods, Robin Sitzes, Nancy Walker, Julie Whitehead, Dollette Jones, Florene Hall, Crystal Barbre and Paula Wilson...

SIKESTON - The Heartland AAU wrestling team recently won the Missouri National Challenge at Northwest High School. "These kids are showing so much heart," said team coach Dan Ruby. "They are working very hard in practice, and when they go to a tournament of this size and win, their hard work and determination shows."...

SIKESTON -- The Portageville Bulldogs dug themselves a big hole in the first half of Friday night's game against the Scott Central Braves and then used a 30-point third period to turn the game their way and won 64-53. It was the Bulldogs' second win in as many nights as they ran their record to 8-3 on the season...

SIKESTON - Bianca Dawn Patterson and Eric Kenyon Ranson are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 11:24 p.m. Dec. 15, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. MacKenzie Danielle Ranson weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19 1/4-inches long...

ORAN - James (Jim) A. Gosche has joined the Alliance Bank of Oran. J. Michael Pobst, community president, announced Gosche's appointment as vice president and branch manager at the new bank branch located at 1100 Highway W in Oran. "Jim brings with him an enormous amount of banking experience and talent, which fits well with the Alliance Bank family," stated Pobst. ...