Stories from Friday, August 26, 2005

CHARLESTON - Mississippi County sheriff's deputies are allocated a certain amount of fuel and are staying within that allocation, according to Sheriff Keith Moore, "but we didn't allocate for the high price." "We can't let the fuel hurt us on security for the county," Moore said during the regular county commission meeting Thursday. "We still have an obligation to the people."...

LILBOURN -- A New Madrid County man was killed in a motorcycle accident early Thursday. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 4:40 a.m. in New Madrid County at Missouri Highway E at Highway D, four miles west of Lilbourn, an accident occurred as southbound motorist Ralph W. ...

BENTON - The Riverside Regional Library's board of directors have heard those who use the Riverside's Benton branch loud and clear: They want their library branch to remain in Benton. Riverside's board received public input from a standing-room-only crowd on the possibility of closing its Benton branch during its regular meeting Thursday...

SIKESTON - Miss Sarah Harmon, former bookkeeper for Sterling Store, has assumed her new duties as bookkeeper at Home Oil Co. She will succeed Miss Pauline Tiedel. SIKESTON - The C.E. Felker Jr. Memorial Park will be the name of Scott County's first roadside park to be given by the Scott County Collector and Mrs. C.E. Felker in memory of their son, Flight Officer C.E. Felker Jr., killed in an airplane accident soon after VE Day...

I'm calling with questions and concerns about Sikeston Public School athletic program. Why do they not do drug tests for athletes. Sikeston is one of the leading concern of a drug problem but we do not test our athletes for sports activities. I would like to know why we do not test them. ...

Former first-round pick Blake Dewitt was promoted from Columbus to Vero Beach to help the Dodgers with their playoff run. The third baseman was batting .283 with 11 home runs and 65 RBI at the time of his promotion. He was one of the league leaders in doubles with 31 as he led the Catfish in most offensive categories in his 120 games played. ...

DEXTER -- A Poplar Bluff man was arrested Thursday on felony charges of tampering with over 30 vehicles in the Dexter area. According to the Dexter Police Department, at 12:49 a.m. Thursday Francisco Jose Heredia-Hicks, 19, of Poplar Bluff was arrested on a warrant for class C felony of tampering with motor vehicles in the first degree. Hicks was also wanted for failure to appear from the Poplar Bluff Police Department, and stolen items were found on him...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority may deal with the old and the dilapidated but it is all about the future and change, Mike Bohannon, chairman of the LCRA, told the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday. Giving a brief history of the LCRA, Bohannon explained it was initially funded through efforts of the Sikeston Housing Authority and the Board of Municipal Utilities. A tax, passed by Sikeston residents in 2004, now funds the LCRA efforts...

Justin Wibbenmeyer, commisionor of the Sikeston Jaycee Little League Football program, prepares for Saturday football pad check-out. Over 60 sixth and seventh grade students are participating in the program. Their first games are Sept. 17 at the Sikeston Complex Football Field...

SIKESTON -- Christina "Tina" Lowe, 93, died Aug. 24, 2005, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Jan. 30, 1912, in Anniston, daughter of the late Razz and Maude Glover, she was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. She had worked for the International Shoe Company before retiring...

PORTAGEVILLE - Lillian Marie "Mary Jane" Prince died Aug. 25, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home.

DEXTER -- Curtis D. Coffey, 72, died Aug. 25, 2005, at his home. Born March 15, 1933, near Essex, son of the late Otto and Edna Zile Coffey, he had lived in Dexter most of his life and was a former employee of AmerenUE. He had a passion for hunting, golfing and woodwork. He enjoyed great friendships through the years...

PUXICO - Cecil A. "Jake" McGowen, 74, died Aug. 25, 2005, at his home in Puxico. Born Feb. 25, 1931, in Dudley, son of the late William Andrew and Mezella Jane Craft McGowen, he was a resident of Puxico, where he attended the Hobbs Chapel Church, his entire life...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Alicia Lee Godbey, 62, formerly of Risco, died Aug. 24, 2005, at her home. Born Dec. 7, 1942, in Malden to the late James Aldon and Anna Lee Williams Hamlett, she was a member of the Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. On March 27, 1970, at Portageville, she married Melvin Larry Godbey who preceded her in death on June 13, 2002...

BERNIE -- Patricia Louise Owens Johnson, 75, died Aug. 26, 2005, at her home. Born Feb. 27, 1930, in Stoddard County, daughter of the late Orlie and Esley Stephens Owens, she was a lifelong resident of the Bernie area and a 1948 graduate of Bernie High School. She and her husband operated the J&B Grocery in Bernie for several years. She was also active in the Bernie Alliance Church where she served as a deaconess and taught Sunday school for many years...

DEXTER -- Tammy Burnett, 38, died Aug. 24, 2005, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born Dec. 23, 1966, in St. Louis, daughter of Frank and Rita Turner Hunsperger of Dexter, she had lived in Dexter most of her life. In addition to her parents, survivors include: one son, Travis Burnett of Dexter; one daughter, Tosha Burnett of Dexter; two brothers, Tom Hunsperger of Dexter and Larry Hunsperger of Malden; three sisters, Kay Stafford of Essex, Bobbie Turnbow of Bloomfield and Joanna Hunsperger of Grayling, Mich.; and two grandchildren.. ...

PORTAGEVILLE - Jetessa Mariaka J'neice Polk, the eight-month-old daughter of Jessica Gordon and Jeffrey Poke of Portageville, died Aug. 25, 2005, at the Children's Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Dec. 7, 2004, at Hayti. Surviving in addition to her parents are: four sisters, Janika Mcintyre of Portageville and Sherica Robinson, Genecia Polk and Jasmine Polk of Hayti; two brothers, Carlos McGee and Jesston Polk of Portageville; and her grandparents, Maude Gordon Conrad and Michael Conrad of Portageville, Ruby Polk of Hayti and Robert Polk of Toledo, Ohio.. ...

SIKESTON - Libbie Dillon, 93, died Aug. 26, 2005, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born May 29, 1912, in Paragould, Ark., daughter of the late Hollie and Nora Ester Scott Holifield, she had been employed by International Shoe Company and the Scott County Collectors office and was a member of First Baptist Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON - After winning its first district title last year, the bar has been raised for the Sikeston High School boys soccer team. Sikeston posted 12 wins with 11 losses and two ties last year, which marked the first time in school history the team had posted a winning record...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs tennis team dropped its first match of the season at home to the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules losing 7-2 in singles and doubles action. Jenni DeWitt was the lone Lady Bulldog to register a win. "Jenni played extremely well for us today," said Sikeston coach Lynne DeWitt...