Stories from Wednesday, September 29, 2004

SIKESTON - William Earl "Bill" Sparks, 78, died at 9:15 a.m. Sept. 27, 2004, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 13, 1926, in Lutherville, Ark., son of the late Samuel Harrison and Mary T. Belling Sparks, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and member of VFW Post 3174 in Sikeston and Disabled American Veterans. He was of the Methodist belief and retired as an iron worker for LaSalle Iron Works in St. Louis...

HANCOCK - Kelly's cross country team placed ninth in the Hancock Invitational on Saturday. Senior Michael Glastetter placed 20th in the varsity boys event. On the girls side, Sarah Ruff placed ninth in the junior varsity division with a personal record time of 22:50...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Kelly Lady Hawks bounced back from a tough defeat with a 2-0 extra-inning win over SEMO Conference opponent Poplar Bluff on Tuesday. Kelly senior Whitney Beggs (7-4) tossed a perfect game, retiring all 27 batters she faced in the nine-inning contest. She struck out 11...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston volleyball team picked up its second conference win of the season with a 25-23, 25-20 victory against Oran on Tuesday at the Field House. Sikeston (7-11, 2-1) rebounded after falling to Scott City on Monday, but head coach Steve Beydler wasn't overly impressed by his team's performance...

EAST PRAIRIE - Wanda Wright, 68, died at 2:25 a.m. Sept. 29, 2004, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

ORAN - Amos Q. Robinson, 85, died Sept. 28, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton.

CHARLESTON - Roland S. "Kayo" Gentry, 92, died at 2:15 p.m. Sept. 28, 2004, at the Charleston Manor. Arrangements are pending at McMikle Funeral Home, where visitation is from 9 a.m. Thursday until service time at 11 a.m.

DEXTER - Otho "Dink" Brown, 94, died Sept. 28, 2004, at his home. Born Nov. 28, 1909, in Parma, son of the late Jacob Henry and Rosenna Greer Brown, he was an agriculture and dairy farmer and of the Baptist belief. On Dec. 1, 1928, at Parma, he married Alma Jewel Walker who preceded him in death on June 27, 1996...

CHICAGO - Willie Taylor, 67, formerly of Essex, Mo, died Sept. 24, 2004, at the Rockford Memorial Hospital. Born May 24, 1937, in Essex, son of the late John and Rosetta Taylor and stepson of the late Ruth Taylor, he retired from the Delmonte Corporation after 27 years of service...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A Charleston man was sentenced to prison on drug charges in U.S. District Court Tuesday. Larry D. McCauley, 23, was sentenced to 46 months on three felony counts of distribution of cocaine base and one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms. U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel handed down the sentence...

SIKESTON -- As the Beggs Family Farm officially opens its fall harvest festival Saturday, owners Donnie and Sheila Beggs promise yet another challenging giant cornfield maze and new entertainment for all ages. "It's just a good time. We're making it for the family atmosphere for young and old alike," Donnie Beggs assured. ...

CHARLESTON - As the deadline to register to vote nears, several organizations are busy working to ensure as many people as possible will be able to take part in the upcoming election. However, it is also an opportune time for scams leading to identity theft...

NEW MADRID -- Battered and bruised, the New Madrid County Central Eagles (1-3) face powerhouse Caruthersville (4-0) in a SEMO Central Conference matchup on Friday. NMCC is coming off a 38-6 loss to Charleston, while Caruthersville drubbed Hayti 48-0 last week...

CHARLESTON - Four hundred prisoners of war arrived in Charleston yesterday to relieve the shortage of cotton pickers in the area. SIKESTON - The new carnival queen for 1964 is Miss Claudia McConachie of Charleston, who was crowned Saturday noon by Secretary of State Warren E. Hearnes, who is the Democratic candidate for governor. Her court was Miss Jackie Larsen of Dexter, first runner-up; and Miss Barbara Reed of Dexter, second runner-up...

On Sept. 29 we celebrate 105 years of achievement; 105 years of service, dedication, commitment, concern and patriotism. On that day, we celebrate Veterans of Foreign Wars Day and the 105 years of continued service of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to our nation and to our communities...

The first of three Presidential debates is scheduled for Thursday night but I doubt the outcome will have a significant impact on the election results. I think that way because by a wide margin, most voters have already made their decisions. And given that background, you'll likely view the debates through the perspective of your choice. If you're a Kerry supporter, chances are you'll judge his performance superior regardless. Same goes for Bush supporters...

I would like to give away a rack of wood, free. Call 472-1946. I've noticed over the past year or so that many churches in the Dexter, Bloomfield, Sikeston, Charleston, Portageville and Parma areas and other surrounding areas have not been putting their church activities such as homecomings, group singings with group's names, etc., in the newspaper as before. ...

SIKESTON - Crystal Dawn Pearson is the mother of her second daughter, born at 8:16 p.m. Sept. 2, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Sydnea Blaire Pearson weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was 18 1/2-inches long. Pearson, daughter of Marion Pearson and Brenda Pearson of Sikeston, is employed by ESI.Comm in Sikeston...