Stories from Monday, February 9, 2004

Missouri First Lady Lori Hauser Holden tries to calm Willie Jimmerson before he has his teeth checked during the statewide dental screenings program Saturday at the Sikeston Armory. This was the first year for the state involvement in the American Dental Association's national "Give Kids a Smile" program, which provides dental screenings for low-income children...

SIKESTON - A Sikeston man is facing burglary and felony stealing charges after being arrested Friday. At 8:21 a.m. Friday, Sikeston Department of Public Safety Officer Don Tinnin and detectives Chris Rataj and James McMillen responded to a report of a burglary at Sharon Bryant's State Farm Insurance office at 220 North Main. A large amount computers, digital cameras and other electronic appliances were discovered missing, according to the DPS...

SIKESTON - Although there is less money to spread around than in the first couple of years, the Delta Regional Authority is starting its 2004 Federal Grant Program. "It is with a great sense of excitement that we at the Delta Regional Authority are pleased to present the DRA 2004 Federal Grant Program," Federal Co-Chairman Pete Johnson said in a press release. "As we look back over the first two years of the Authority, we are very proud of the program and we have learned so much...

CARUTHERSVILLE - A Bragg City woman is charged in the shooting death Saturday of her husband. At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Pemiscot County received a 911 call from a residence stating a man was shot and an ambulance was needed. When Pemiscot County deputies arrived they found Gregory Allen Abbott, 31, of Bragg City in the bedroom of the home and determined he was dead...

SIKESTON - Dr. Dale Urban, who has been a practicing physician in St. Louis for the past two and a half years, plans to locate in Sikeston about the first of March. He has obtained office space in the Buckner-Ragsdale building on Front Street. SIKESTON - The first Mathematics Fair was held in the Middle School cafeteria Wednesday through Friday. ...

When I read the story in the Jan. 29 paper about the dog who was taken to the humane society, I hope they find the person who did this. What ever happens to this person is not nearly bad enough. Anyone who would abuse a poor, helpless, defenseless animal should not deserve any kind of leniency at all. I hope they find them and punish them severely. Maybe they should do to them what they did to the dog...

CHAFFEE - Bernice Ancell, 86, died at 11 p.m. Feb. 6, 2004, at her home. Born March 22, 1917, at Crump, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Kirby and Ida Mae Williams Crump. A member of the First Baptist Church, she was also a member of American Legion Post 389 Ladies Auxiliary and VFW Post 3127 Ladies Auxiliary, all in Chaffee...

NEW MADRID - Jessie D. Davis, 78, died at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 7, 2004, at his son's home in Barnhart. Born Jan. 20, 1926, in Shadydale, son of the late Clarence and Wilda Jane Wright Davis, he lived in New Madrid most of his life. He was employed with Cargill Grain Co. for 25 years and was a member of Brown-Twitty American Legion Post 595. A U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, he was of the Protestant belief...

PORTAGEVILLE - Wanda Lee Hurley, 91, died Feb. 8, 2004, at her home. Born July 12, 1912, at Steele, daughter of the late David Harry and Josephine Jessie Skaggs Whitener, she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Portageville. On April 27, 1936, at Steele, she married Charlie Lee Hurley who preceded her in death on Sept. 15, 1971...

JACKSON - Gloria M. Kiehne, 82, formerly of Sikeston, died Feb. 6, 2004, at her home. Born March 3, 1921, in Batesville, Ark., daughter of the late Adolph and Alma Walker Mohrstadt, she was a director at the Jackson Public Library for nine years before retiring in 1986. ...

PORTAGEVILLE - Jahwoundee Clifton, 68, died Feb. 8, 2004, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home.

CHARLESTON - James Davidson, 54, died at 8:37 p.m. Feb. 7, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 2, 1949, in Cairo, Ill., son of Roberta Hickey Davidson of Charleston and the late Vance Davidson, he was a truck driver until retiring in 2001. A member of Eagles Aerie 3319 of Sikeston, he also served with the Missouri National Guard...

SCOTT CITY - Brenda Pearl Gould, 59, died at 12:40 p.m. Feb. 7, 2004, at her home. Born Oct. 9, 1944, in Rome, Ga., daughter of James Curtis Holder McBurnett of Dupo, Ill., and the late Ruby Irene McClure McBurnett, she was a commercial copywriter and employed by KLID Radio in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Baptist belief...

STE. GENEVIEVE - The Sikeston Bulldogs wrestling team placed third in the Class 2, District 1 Tournament on Saturday in Ste. Genevieve. Sikeston finished with 121 points, behind first place Farmington (204.5 points) and Ste. Genevieve (178). Other teams that placed were DeSoto (4th-108), Windsor (5th-93.5), North County (6th-83.5), Cape Central (7th-53), Affton (8th-48) and Hillsboro (9th-37)...

I moved to the west end of town over 53 years ago. It was a beautiful place to live. We raised four children, three nephews and two foster boys here. We are still here and have no plans to move. This is our home. Like Hope Terrell, we have had our house shot into, we've had our car tires slashed, eggs thrown at our car and house and a big whiskey bottle thrown through our bedroom window, but we are still here...

POPLAR BLUFF - The perfect opponent showed up to help Three Rivers get out of its funk. The Raiders, winless since beating State Fair three weekends ago, got a much-needed win with another thumping of the Roadrunners. This time it was an 88-61 victory Saturday night at the Bess Activity Center that got Three Rivers headed in the right direction...

In the present day in which we live, we hear how our public schools are faced with budget problems. Just recently, the Cape Girardeau School Board had to crunch their budget $1.5 million. Many other schools have faced and some still face the same fate as Cape schools. With this reoccurring problem in mind, I want to ask one simple question: Why is there a money problem?...