Stories from Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Lisa Old, a Southeast Missouri YMCA board member, prepares a Boston butt sandwiches for the YMCA's annual barbecue. The 11th annual event was held Tuesday at the Sikeston Elks Lodge with over 1,000 meals served. Also pictured are: Jeff Partridge and Harold Myrick...

SIKESTON -- The state Department of Conservation wants to ensure hunters know the most recent changes in deer hunting regulations -- so much so it's devoting an entire weekend to answering questions about the changes in deer hunting regulations. "Anytime you have change, it takes a little getting familiar and used to," said Leother Branch, Scott County conservation agent. "And there's going to be some confusion, but I think we're going to get through it."...

It wasn't exactly the Wild West but it was close Tuesday when a small herd of goats fled their fenced enclosure and sent Sikeston Public Safety on a wild goose - make that goat - chase. The herd managed to make their way onto Highway 60 south of Sikeston and briefly interrupted traffic. ...

SIKESTON - Police are looking for the man who attempted the abduction and sexual assault of a teen-age girl in Sikeston. Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden said the 14-year-old victim was walking home Monday from the Sikeston Alternative School when she was approached by a male driving a dark green Hummer with Illinois registration. ...

BENTON - Scott County commissioners provided their fellow officeholders and other county staff with an update on the courthouse renovation project during their regular meeting Tuesday. "Everything seems to be going pretty well as planned," Commissioner Jamie Burger reported...

SIKESTON - C.R. Burnham of El Dorado, Ark., is the new manager of the Southern Stores branch in Sikeston. He came here Oct. 3 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Bob Tyrone. MALDEN - In races at Malden raceway Oct. 11, the 1948 Anglia driven by James Satterfield of Sikeston was winner of the A/G X class. Other winners were Jack Vines of Sikeston in a 1964 Dodge. He won the Stock Eliminator. The K/S stock class was won by Larry Lindsey of Sikeston...

A Wal-Mart bag containing two items of value were found on Highway 60 between the Missouri State Highway Patrol Satellite Office and the Sikeston Wal-Mart Supercenter. The owner of this property should call Lt. Jim McNiell at 472-5201 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and describe the contents of the bag or have the sales receipt...

SIKESTON - Brad and Amy Wren are the parents of their third child, second son, born at 8:40 a.m. Sept. 17, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Drew Clayton Wren weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 1/2-inches long. Mrs. Wren is the daughter of Dalton and Linda Gean...

NEW MADRID -- Two teams starving for wins try to quench that hunger as the "second season" kicks off. New Madrid County Central (1-6) and Perryville (2-5) meet in their Class 3, District 1 opener on Friday night at New Madrid. The contest takes on special significance considering the winner has an excellent opportunity to win at least two of its three district games. Other district opponents are favored Dexter (4-3) and hapless Kennett (1-6)...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Sikeston's junior varsity soccer team shocked host team Cape Central in a JV tournament on Wednesday. Sikeston (6-11-1) defeated Central 3-1, the first-ever win for the JV Bulldogs over the Tigers. "I don't get to talk much about the junior varsity, but this week is a good time for them to shine," said Sikeston coach Derrick Long. ...

One of my greater fears about the upcoming election in Missouri may well come true. Just read in detail the voter registration story on today's front page. It illustrates that the potential for voter fraud and abuse is at a very high level and with nearly 66,000 inactive voters in St. Louis city alone, look for a long election night...

LILBOURN - Lillian Jackson Lawson, 77, died Oct. 18, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born June 21, 1927, in Luxora, Ark., daughter of the late Garrett and Erma Long Moore, she was a lifetime member of the Barnes Ridge Church in East Prairie...

LILBOURN - Charley Gordon, 79, died Oct. 17, 2004, at his home. Born April 10, 1925, in Kemper County, Miss., he was the son of the late Charley and Florence McCaleb Gordon. Survivors include: three sons, Raymond Gordon of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Rodger Gordon and Tony Gordon of Milwaukee; six daughters, Betty Logwood of Milan, Mich., Bobbie Gordon of Lilbourn, Sarah Gordon, Jacqueline Gordon and Calvary Gordon of Milwaukee and Douie Harrison of Phoenix; two brothers, Ezell Gordon of Collinsville, Miss., and James Gordon of Clayton, N.Y.; six sisters, Hattie Davis and Leanora Porter of Rockford, Ill., Ella Burrage of Clarksdale, Miss., Irene Heags of Bobo, Miss., Lena Mae Bailey of Lyons, Miss., Jeanie Mae Whitley of Wauchula, Fla., and Essie Mae Warren of Chicago; and 37 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.. ...

LILBOURN - Ethel B. "Blue" Thomas, 74, died Oct. 17, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born April 29, 1930, in Burdette, Ark., daughter of the late Dan and Anna Webb Young, she lived in Missouri for more than 50 years. She was a member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Lilbourn...

PLANO, Texas - Herbert B. Collier Jr., 72, died Oct. 18, 2004, at his home in Plano. Born Oct. 13, 1932, in Paducah, Ky., son of the late Herbert B. Collier Sr. and Selma Attebury Collier, he attended grade school and high school in Paducah, graduating from Dorian Private School. ...

SIKESTON - Edna Knox Woods, 96, died Oct. 17, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born April 27, 1908, in McCool, Miss., daughter of the late Wesley and Iva Ashford Knox, she lived in Missouri for more than 82 years. She attended Lincoln School, was a cook for several area families and was a member of Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir...

LILBOURN - Pallbearers at services conducted at 10:30 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Lilbourn for Myrtle Simpson, 94, who died Oct. 18, 2004, were: Mike Dambach, Grant Dambach, Tim Dambach, Barry Mitchem, Al Mitchem and Jon Giddens. Honorary pallbearers were: Adam Dambach, Greg Dambach and Ben Dambach...

CHARLESTON - Arrangements for Patty Bone, 88, of Charleston, who died Oct. 18, 2004, have been changed. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Charleston...

I was reassured when I heard John Kerry speak humbly and eloquently about his religious faith during the second Presidential Debate. Kerry understands that although our leaders should have faith, they cannot legislate religious beliefs. I already supported John Kerry's messages on health care, children's poverty, middle class initatives, job protection, and education. I was convinced when he addressed his feelings about faith-based, community initatives as well...