Stories from Tuesday, November 30, 2004

BLOOMFIELD - Helen Ruth McMillan, 95, formerly of Oran, died Nov. 29, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 29, 1909, in Ozone, Ark., daughter of the late Marion and Mary Francis Selby Adkins, she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Oran...

SIKESTON - Adrian Earl Young, 75, died at 7:07 a.m. Nov. 29, 2004, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born May 6, 1929, in Portageville, son of the late Jesse Earl and Ella May Carson Young, he owned and operated Young's Plumbing and Heating and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of Murray Lane Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon and had also worked with the Boy Scouts of America...

MATTHEWS - James Tidwell, 67, died Nov. 29, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

MOREHOUSE - Lloyd Dale Callow, 77, died at 11:06 a.m. Nov. 29, 2004, at his home. Born June 29, 1927, in Vanduser, son of the late Elmer Jackson and Gladys Blanks Callow, he was a self-employed grain farmer. He was a member of the Hooe Baptist Church and Eagles Aerie 4154 in Advance...

NEW MADRID - Francis M. Baird, 86, died Nov. 28, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born June 15, 1918, in Hayti, son of the late Francis M. Baird and Pierce and Melissa Duncan, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in New Madrid for more than 50 years, where he served as a member of the church board for many years. ...

What is happening to our society? We are enabling capable young people to sit on their butts and do nothing but be baby factories and beggars. I actually heard a woman say that she just about had her living made. When I asked what she meant, she said she was pregnant with her third child. ...

SIKESTON - Over 200 fans saw the Sikeston High School Bulldogs bring down the curtain on their 1944 football season at Charleston Thanksgiving Day when they convincingly tromped the Blue Jays 13-0. SIKESTON - The Rev. Floyd V. Brower will be the guest preacher at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church during the revival which begins Sunday night, Nov. ...

SIKESTON -- When in doubt, buy a gift card. That seems to be the method of shopping consumers are using this holiday season. The National Retail Federation reports this year nearly 75 percent of consumers will purchase a gift card during the holidays -- up from 70 percent last year...

Remember all the brouhaha surrounding provisional ballots in Missouri and across the nation? Well with the election nearly a month old the numbers are in. And guess what? Over half of the provisional ballots in Missouri were not counted because the voters - despite their statements to election officials - were indeed not registered to vote...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man who shot at a officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety is in custody after weeks of eluding capture. According to DPS Director Drew Juden, Gregory Earl Stevenson, 30, was arrested at 11:55 a.m. Monday at a relative's house at 1124 S. Ellis St. in Cape Girardeau...

NEW MADRID - A Campbell woman, charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a traffic accident some 18 months ago, entered a not guilty plea during her court appearance Monday. Yvonne B. Duck, 26, is charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a May 15, 2003, traffic accident which killed Twylia Walls of Lilbourn. During her court arraignment Tuesday before Associate Judge Charles Spitler she entered her not guilty plea and was ordered to return to court on Dec. 6...

Sikeston Librarian Sue Tangeman places reminder stickers on late books Monday afternoon. The Sikeston Public Library is starting their "Fine Free" program Wednesday. For those who bring in a new toy their fine for late returns will be removed. The program will continue through Dec. 15...

BENTON -- Bill and Linda Emerine of Benton have announced the engagement of their daughter, Christina, to Jason Bruenderman, son of Don and Brenda Bruenderman of Charleston. Emerine expects to receive a bachelor's degree in communication disorders from Southeast Missouri State University in May 2005...

SIKESTON -- Do you have a special time or way of opening Christmas presents? Or do you spend Christmas Eve watching "A Christmas Story" over and over? With Christmas just around the corner, the Standard Democrat would like to know how your how your family celebrates the holidays -- past or present. Tell us in 100 words or less about your traditions...

SIKESTON -- Amanda Katherine Dame and Shelby Henderson Winchester were married May 15, 2004, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Monsignor Richard Rolwing performed the double-ring ceremony. Gift bearers were Melanie Dame Moore and Melinda Dame Wilferth, sisters of the bride. Scripture readers were Madeline Oliver Wilson and Elizabeth Mitchell Johnson...

DONIPHAN - The Sikeston girls basketball team opened the season on a losing note by falling at Doniphan, 61-46 on Monday night. Sikeston got 25 points out of junior Whitney McCray but no other player reached double figures. Doniphan's superior depth wore down the Lady Bulldogs...

ORAN -- In a mild upset, East Prairie edged Bell City in an exciting finale of the opening round of the Oran Invitational on Monday. No. 6-seed East Prairie slipped past No. 3 Bell City, the defending Class 1 state champion, 72-71, in overtime. "We got down by 11 in the third and it didn't look very good," said East Prairie coach Jason Irby, "but our kids just kept battling and we made some big plays down the stretch."...