Stories from Monday, March 21, 2005

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Sikeston, Mo., native Neal E. Boyd is about to fulfill a lifelong dream. The 29-year-old lyric tenor is returning to his classical roots and will perform as the tenor soloist for Andrew Lloyd Webber's haunting Requiem along side the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The two concerts will take place on April 1-2 at venues in Springfield and Bloomington-Normal...

The 25th annual Kenny Rogers Children's Center telethon came to a close Sunday afternoon with a record total of $251,763. Above: Celebrating the conclusion are some of the recipients of therapy from the Center along with telethon participants. Right: Emcee Reid Howell, standing right, introduces one of the many entertainers who participated in the two-day telethon. ...

Senior Ashton Farmer of the Charleston Bluejays basketball team accepts the Class 3 second place trophy Saturday afternoon in Columbia. The Bluejays fell in the title game to Lutheran North. A complete game story can be found on page 6.

COLUMBIA - The Charleston Bluejays had more size and strength, but it was Lutheran North's "Little Giant" that dealt the biggest blow in Saturday's Class 3 MSHSAA championship game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. The Crusaders' 5-foot-7 inch sophomore, LaRico Martin, scored a season-...

DEXTER -- James Lloyd "Brownie" Brown, 82, died March 18, 2005, at his home. Born Nov. 18, 1922, in Dexter, son of the late Jess and Lura May Wilson Brown, he was a 1941 graduate of Dexter High School and a retired farmer and salesman for Vowels Tire Company. ...

CHARLESTON - Jennings Bryan "Tree" McEntire, 65, died at 9:01 p.m. March 18, 2005, at the Bertrand Nursing Center. Born Nov. 12, 1939, at Walnut Ridge, Ark., to the late Jess and Jewell Irene Holder McEntire, he lived most of his life in Charleston where he was a member of the Charleston Church of Christ...

DEXTER - Michael R. Smith, 52, died March 18, 2005, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Born Aug. 7, 1952, at St. Louis to Marvin E. Smith and Marilynn Smith, he was a self-employed cabinetmaker and carpenter. In 1974 at St. Louis, he married Debbie Budreau, who preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 1993...

EAST PRAIRIE - Dave Vincent Hodge Jr., 66, died at 5 p.m. March 20, 2005. Born Jan. 15, 1939, son of Dave Vincent Hodge of East Prairie and Vivian Clements Arington Hodge, who preceded him in death on July 30, 1971, he was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired from the United Parcel Service in 1998...

SIKESTON -- William A. Morgan, 91, died March 19, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born March 23, 1913, in Polk County, Ark., son of the late William Sherman and Presh Bolin Morgan, he had worked for Frisco Railroad as a section foreman before retiring. He was a member of the Parker Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees...

SIKESTON -- Langdon Bond Perry, 96, formerly of Vanduser, died March 20, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

SIKESTON -- Jessie B. Young, 69, died at 3:40 a.m. March 19, 2005, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born July 7, 1935, in Portageville, daughter of the late John Francis and Marillaun Maloney Brown, she was a member of Murray Lane Baptist Church in Sikeston. A licensed practical nurse for 30 years, she had worked for Dr. Ginny Ho in Sikeston for 20 years and also at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Betty Sue Beck, 70, died March 20, 2005, at the Miner Nursing Center in Miner. Born July 4, 1934, in Haleyville, Ala., daughter of the late George and Vesta Elizabeth Allison McBroom, she was a member of the Smith Avenue Church of God in Sikeston...

I would like to send out a big, thank you, to the wonderful people who worked so hard to make the McIntyre Benefit such a success on March 5, 2005. It is so great to have so many people come together during such a tragic event. Thanks again, to all of the great people who took time out of their daily life's...

It isn't only dads who are dead beats, there are "mothers" (they gave birth to the children then walked off) who pay no child support and when it is a man trying to raise a family he doesn't get help or support. Mike, thank you for your recognition of the fact that fraud in the health care system is found at all levels. ...

SIKESTON - Penicillin, the miracle drug, became available in Sikeston this week for the first time. Drug stores, doctors and hospitals were authorized to keep the powerful drug in stock beginning March 15, and Sikeston joined the nation in ordering its full quota...

Sikeston Little Theatre's production of "Annie" concludes today at the Albritton Mayer Cultural Center. For the first time the Sikeston Little Theatre is presenting its adult musical that includes both children and adult lead roles.