Stories from Thursday, March 24, 2005

Most people are probably not aware of most of the bills being brought before our elected officials to be voted on. This one in particular I would like you make everyone aware of and hope to get their support in writing letters to Senator Robert Mayer to support Bill SB 429. Here is a copy of the letter I sent...

When I went to the first girls' softball meeting, I was shocked to see only five parents there. We are going to have to do better than that! Parents of girl softball players: Let's step up to the plate and show them support. Let's get a real good softball program like the boys' baseball program. ...

SIKESTON - It is always one of the most awaited announcements of the year: Who will entertain at the annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo? Rodeo and country music fans got most of the answer today. During Thursday's Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, the Jaycees announced the lineup will include Montgomery Gentry, Aug. ...

MORLEY - Teen Town was held at the Morley High School gym Saturday. Young people ages 13-19 were especially invited. Soft drinks and other varieties of food were served. Dancing was featured and a large crowd attended. SIKESTON - Victoria Heckemeyer, a junior in the College of Education at Missouri University, is the assistant director and choreographer in the 22nd production of Savitar Frolics, musical comedy skits. It will go on stage April 1, 2 and 3 in the Jesse Auditorium...

We can talk about terrorism all we want and we can debate the Social Security crisis until we're blue in the face. But we'd better pay attention to the flow of illegal immigrants into this country because few other issues pose such a potential problem...

SIKESTON -- Marie Yeakey admitted she isn't spending her spring break at some vacation spot this week. But these days it's not at all uncommon for senior citizens to take a quick getaway. Instead the 87-year-old foster grandmother at Southeast Elementary School said she's using the time to catch up on housework such as washing and ironing her clothes...

SIKESTON - Southeast Missouri high school basketball fans, and Scott County Central fans in particular, are quite proud of the tradition of small town hoops in this area. Mostly, past glory is relived through story-telling at the coffee shop. Now they will have a book to reference in case those memories get a little fuzzy...

Josh Holmes, pictured center, was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy for his performance at the Taekwondo Advantage Championships Tournament held March 12 at the Taekwondo Advantage martial art school on North Main in Sikeston. Holmes placed first in forms, one-step forms, and point sparring to capture the event's top honors. Pictured with Holmes from left are instructors DeRay Ivie and Tim Wall...

CLASS 4 Dexter Bearcats (21-6) Sikeston Bulldogs (9-15) CLASS 3 Charleston Bluejays (22-10) East Prairie Eagles (18-10) Kelly Hawks (21-6) NMCC Eagles (6-20) Portageville Bulldogs (22-6) CLASS 1 Bell City Cubs (21-11) _ Oran Eagles (4-19) _ Richland Rebels (6-17)...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Philip Niles Crader, 44, formerly of Germantown, Tenn., died March 22, 2005, at Princeton Baptist Hospital in Birmingham. Son of Donald Neil and Dorothy Roach Crader of Germantown and formerly of Charleston, Mo., and Diehlstadt, Mo., he attended Germantown schools and had worked as a construction project electrician...

SIKESTON - Ralph Moody, 92, died March 22, 2005, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born Dec. 13, 1912, in Sikeston, son of the late Frank and Francis Inman Moody, he was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston since 1946. He worked for the International Shoe Factory in Sikeston for 46 years before retiring...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Kenneth W. Hale, 82 , died at 12:26 a.m. March 24, 2005, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Nov. 18, 1922, in Arkansas, son of the late George W. and Maude Williams Hale, he had live most of his life in East Prairie, where he owned and operated Hale Radiator Shop for several years. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Navy...

CHARLESTON - Jesse Robert Perry, 78, died at 5:40 p.m. March 22, 2005, at his residence in Charleston. Born March 7, 1927, in Senath to the late Charles William and Flora Parlimon Perry, he moved to Vanduser as a young boy residing there until joining the U.S. ...

BLOOMFIELD - Laura Michelle Hester and Ryan Christopher Davis are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 5:33 p.m. Feb. 11, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Kendall Elizabeth Davis weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 1/2-inches long...