Stories from Tuesday, August 31, 2004

There's a line in the movie "My Fellow Americans" where ex-presidents James Garner and Jack Lemmon are discussing the money Lemmon makes from speaking engagements. Lemmon, in a dramatic moment in an otherwise funny movie, says: "Don't you understand? It's not about the money. I just don't want to be forgotten."...

SIKESTON - Work could begin on the old First Baptist Church demolition project as early as mid or late October. "We should be in a position to have awarded the bid and maybe begin on the asbestos removal," said Tom Bridger, Sikeston's public works director...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs scored all their runs early, then held off the Fredericktown Lady Cats for a 4-1 non-conference win on Monday. Sikeston (2-1), after a shaky defensive effort in Friday's loss, bounced back with a stellar showing against Fredericktown (1-1)...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Local farmers seeking technological advances in agriculture can witness it all firsthand Thursday during the 43rd Annual Delta Center Field Day. Rain or shine, Delta Center Director Jake Fisher said the annual event is usually a big success, averaging 1,500 visitors each year...

Doris Pemberton, a teacher for the Sikeston Head Start program, helps 4-year-old Nathan Blackmon with his counting Monday during open house for the center. Today is the first day of the school for Blackmon who will be in Pemberton's classroom.

SIKESTON - Thomas Hahs, 11, fractured his right forearm when he fell from a swing in the family yard on Dorothy Street on Saturday. SIKESTON - The furnishings of the Jefferson Hotel, 519 Prosperity, are being sold at public auction on Sept. 2 and the hotel will be converted to a rooming house under the new management of W.H. Lewis, who also will erect a fish market directly south of the hotel...

What happened to coming to work and being professional and getting your work done? Do employees who bring children to work really think they can be productive? Never mind that the child is aggravating the other employees who do work and are constantly asked by the child, "Do you have anything I can do for you?" This really interferes with our work! It is beginning to be a weekly problem. ...

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Brandon K. Guttenfelder, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., and Tracie Willis-Rishwain of Stockton have announced their engagement. The future bride is the daughter of Linda and Lee Haskell. She is the mother of 10-year-old Shayla Rishwain and 9-year-old Brandon Rishwain and is a physical therapy aide for St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton...

Randy Gaines, a street division employee of the city of Sikeston, weed eats along Washington Street Monday. The city is preparing for the fourth annual "Return to Sunset" which will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the Clinton Building.

CHARLESTON -- Charleston's girls tennis team ran roughshod over Massac County, Ill., a first-year program, on Monday. The Lady Bluejays' varsity swept Massac County 9-0, allowing the visitors just two game wins. "Everybody played and everybody won, so it was a good day," said Charleston coach Mitch Baker. "We're young. This was a confidence builder."...

PORTAGEVILLE - William Fillingim, 63, died Aug. 27, 2004, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born March 12, 1941, in Pensacola, Fla., he was the son of the late William T. and Adell Glass Fillingim. On March 29, 1986, in Portageville, he married Faye Threlkeld who survives of the home...

PORTAGEVILLE - Cathy Jean Chambliss, 52, died Aug. 29, 2004, at her home. Born April 13, 1952, in Malden, daughter of the late Berl and Dorotha Hartsell Atchley, she was seamstress. Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Jody and Missy Chambliss of Portageville; one daughter, Katrina Borders of Portageville; three sisters, Sharon Kinsey and Tonya Hickey of New Madrid and Lisa Rodgers of Dyersburg, Tenn,.; six brothers, Charles Atchley of Tulsa, Okla., Rickey Atchley of Risco, Danny Atchley of Mountain Grove, Keith Atchley of Malden and Dennis Atchley and Gary Atchley of Springfield; and two grandchildren, Logan Chambliss and Warren Chambliss.. ...

CHAFFEE -- Opal Coakley, 91, died Aug. 30, 2004, at the Chaffee Nursing Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Arthur E. Davis, 83, died at 8:28 a.m. Aug. 31, 2004, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - William Robert Davis, 86, died at 1:17 p.m. Aug. 29, 2004, at the Missouri Veterans Home. Born Oct. 1, 1917, in Blodgett, son of the late Orvel and Maud Grissom Davis, he was a self-employed farmer and member of Unity Baptist Church in Benton and VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a prisoner of war for one and one-half years...

MALDEN - Elmer Chandler, 88, died Aug. 27, 2004, at Malden Nursing and Rehab. Born July 6, 1916, in Abbott, Miss., son of the late John and Mattie Barnett Chandler, he was a member of the Prayer of Deliverance Church of God in Christ in New Madrid and a Masonic lodge in Mississippi. He was a school crossing guard for the Malden School District before retiring...

SIKESTON - George Elwyn Richardson, 76, formerly of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., died Aug. 17, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born May 19, 1928, in Giles County, Tenn., he was the son of the late Thomas L. and Ruby F. Davis Richardson. He retired as a tool and die maker for the Pemco Aero-Plex Co., and was a member of the First Street Church of Christ in Lawrenceburg...

ORAN - Kathleen Jackson, 87, died at 3:55 a.m. Aug. 30, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born March 7, 1917, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Chris and Lizzie Bishop Hollingsworth, she was a member of Trinity Methodist Church and the Sunshine Methodist Club in Oran...

CHARLESTON -- Friends and family of Sally Burke are invited to attend her 80th birthday celebration from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Charleston United Methodist Church. The open house is hosted by Burke's children, Jack and Ginger Burke of Chicago and Paul and Mary Lee Vivian of St. Louis. She also has four grandchildren and was married to the late Jackson L. Burke...

BELL CITY -- Meghan Dawn Dover and Nathan Eugene Walter exchanged wedding vows in a 5:30 p.m. ceremony May 29, 2004, at the Bell City United Methodist Church. Rick Crump performed the ceremony, assisted by the Rev. Lynda Fych. The bride is the daughter of Kay Dover of Bell City and the late Johnny Dover and parents of the bridegroom are Cynthia Walter of Puxico and Kim and Cheryl Walter of Oran...