Stories from Sunday, July 10, 2005

On a long, quiet drive home from St. Louis this week, I listened to news reports of the London bombing and the tragedy created apparently by Muslim extremists. The reports made you want to change stations and somehow erase the chaos that envelopes our world. But you're compelled to listen and share the heartbreak. That was not so long ago our country coping with the religious zealots. And as we all know, it may well someday soon be our homeland attacked once again...

SIKESTON - When the alumni of The Stars and Stripes meet this year in Sikeston, they will be joined by one of their most famous members: Andy Rooney of "Sixty Minutes." "He started early in World War II with them," said Jim Mayo, president of The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library Association. "The paper started (for World War II) in April 1942 and he started shortly thereafter."...

EAST PRAIRIE - A Wyatt man and East Prairie woman were fatally injured in an accident Friday near East Prairie. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, the accident occurred at approximately 1:38 p.m. on Highway 80 three miles west of East Prairie when the southbound car driven by Cheryl Dickson, 27, of East Prairie drove into the path of the westbound van driven by Larry Fritz, 57, of East Prairie...

SIKESTON - Missouri will hold its second sales tax holiday this August and those area jurisdictions that aren't required to participate are choosing once again to opt-out of the program. Last year's holiday garnered rave reviews from shoppers and businesses. The 2003 state law establishing the one-time event, however, allowed cities and counties to opt-out of waiving their local sales taxes. Sixty-six counties and 180 cities took advantage of that provision to avoid losing revenue last year...

BLODGETT -- When planting season for soybeans arrived last spring, Donnie Beggs passed. After experiencing four bad seasons over the past five years of soybean seasons, the Blodgett farmer thought he would try something different on his farm located north of Sikeston, just outside of Blodgett. So he did some research, contracted a buyer and planted 330 acres of sunflowers...

SPRINGFIELD - Earnest A. Hanks, 81, was born Dec. 23, 1923, in Bragg City, the son of Ackland and Joie Hanks, and passed away on July 5, 2005, in Strafford. Earnest served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged on May 3, 1946...

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Bruce Randolph Allan, beloved husband of Dixie Kay Allan, died Tuesday, July 5, 2005, following an extended illness. Born Oct. 7, 1920, in Toronto, Canada, he was the only child of the late James Alexander and Alice Taylor Allan. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a master's degree in metallurgy...

DUNNELLON, Fla. - Genevieve Moore Decker, 83, formerly of Morehouse, Mo., and East Prairie, Mo., died at 7:45 p.m. July 6, 2005, in the Legacy House in Ocala. Born June 29, 1922, in Pemiscot County (Mo.), daughter of the last William A. and Pearl Michie Moore, she lived in Florida for the past four years after moving from Morehouse...

SIKESTON - Gladys Beatrice Stewart, 94, joined the Lord on Thursday, July 7, 2005, at Heartland Health and Rehab in Cape Girardeau. Born April 4, 1911, in Sikeston, daughter of the late William "Bill" and Edith Mae Cora Swinney, she was a member of First Christian Church in Sikeston for over 80 years and was employed at the Missouri State Employment Service for over 30 years...

EAST PRAIRIE - Deborah Hill Mayabb, 45, died July 8, 2005, from injuries received in an automobile accident near East Prairie. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

WYATT - Dennis Everett, 41, died July 8, 2005, from injuries received in an automobile accident near East Prairie. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

PARMA -- Tim Rodgers, 37, died July 8, 2005, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

BERNIE -- Earl Wood, 87, died July 8, 2005, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.

SIKESTON - Thanks to a state-of-the-art machine, once broken or damaged antiques and family heirlooms are getting another opportunity for use. "Pieces that others can't fix, I can," said Sam Thomas with Bo's Jewelry. Thomas explained the machine, using laser technology, can be used on antique silver serving pieces, platinum, gold and steel...

JACKSON - Dexter businessman, Steve Lacy with Thompson Investments Inc. has purchased the former Sander's True Value Hardware Store in Jackson. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place, Ltd who handled the sale confirmed that Lacy's Pro-Tire division closed recently on the 15,000-...

JEFFERSON CITY - Several Southeast Missouri companies were among those selected by the Missouri Department of Economic Development and its Division of Workforce Development for assistance to help them offset costs associated with training and upgrading the skills of thousands of Missouri workers...

CHARLESTON - Paul and Alisha Brown are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 5:57 p.m. May 11, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. LaVada LaShea Brown weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 18 inches long. Mrs. Brown, daughter of Gary and Debbie Worthy, is a pharmacy tech...

MORLEY -- Gary L. Mize has announced the engagement of his daughter, Shelly Anne, to Keith Alan Almond, son of Mike and Becky Almond of Dexter. A Scott County Central High School graduate, the future bride is also a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, where she studied health management-fitness and sports medicine. She is employed by Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter...

SIKESTON -- Ronnie Staggs Sr. of Sikeston and Vicki Bivens of Morley have announced the engagement of their daughter, Heather Kelso, to Kevin Alexander, son of John Alexander and Debbie Still, both of Sikeston. The future bride is employed by First Security State Bank in Sikeston, and her fiance works at Radio Shack in Sikeston...

MATTHEWS -- Eugene and Carol Woodall have announced the engagement of their daughter, Brenda Jean, to Derek Lynn McKown, son of Gary and Debbie McKown. The future bride is an account executive for Mississippi River Radio Group, and her fiance is a sales representative for Truck Pro...

MORLEY -- John and Gayle Heeb of Bell City and Randy and Teresa Conn of Morley have announced the engagement of their daughter, Kendal L. Heeb, to Lt. Tavis J. Long, son of Robert and Stephanie Long of Dover, Ohio. A 2000 graduate of Scott County Central High School, the future bride earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University in 2004...

SIKESTON -- Darren and Tina Lowe have announced the engagement of their daughter, Sheri Lynn, to Michael Andrew Mitchell, son of Michael and Melba Mitchell of Sikeston. A 2001 graduate of Sikeston Senior High School and a 2005 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, the future bride is employed by Sikeston R-6 Schools...

SIKESTON - Summer time means vacation time for high school kids. Time to go to the river. Time to take a trip. Time to relax. But it's not all relaxation for high school athletes. For those that have a desire to excel in sports, they spend the time in the weight room...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston's Senior American Legion team was the elixir struggling Cape Girardeau needed to break out of a prolonged slump. Cape Girardeau (12-20), winner of only one of its last 11 outings coming in, pounded 13 hits in a 10-0 rout of Post 114 at V.F.W. Stadium on Friday...

SIKESTON - Two employees were honored during the Missouri Delta Medical Center's annual Employees Awards Recognition Banquet. Diane Rodriguez was selected Employee of the Year and the title of Manager of the year went to Felicia Baker. Rodriguez started working at Missouri Delta Medical Center on May 22, 1976 as a nurse aide on pediatrics. From there, she became a ward clerk and has now progressed into the position of clerical coordinator of professional services...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A Sikeston man was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences plus two additional 15-year terms for sexually assaulting three children between 2000 and 2003. John Merritt, 33, was found guilty by Judge Benjamin Lewis on nine counts of the original 96-count indictment after a bench trial May 12 in Cape Girardeau County, according to Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden. Sentencing followed on June 27...

SIKESTON - Errrol Flynn opens at the Malone Theatre with his new film "Operation Burma," while at the Rex, "Two Weeks to Live," starring Lum and Abner, begins. SIKESTON - W.U. Myers was installed as the new president of the Sikeston Lion's Club at the organization's annual party at the Dunn Hotel...

In regard to your article about Garden Lane Cemetery, it has been several years since my brother had problems with them. He had ordered a stone for our mother's grave in 1977. It took over two years before the stone was finally placed. Before it was over he finally had to threaten legal action toward the cemetery to get the stone that he had paid for. ...

The Sikeston Area Youth Baseball League six-year-old team sponsored by Rick Leonard's Heating and AC recently won first place in the regular season as well as first place in the league tournament. Pictured left to right are: Andrew Cooper, Camden Sapp, Austin Dill, Austin Branch and Chance Wheetley; back row: Coach Randy Dill, Luke Boner, Sam Cox, Zach George, Marissa Jones and Coach Tim Wheetley. Not pictured are Will Leonard and Tyler Sanders...