Stories from Wednesday, September 21, 2005

I have a question for my friends of the Democratic persuasion. You know who you are so don't be afraid to venture an answer. So here we go. A private commission, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter (he's a Democrat by the way), has recommended some sweeping changes to the election laws in this country to try and avoid repeats of the 2000 and 2004 elections. In those two national elections, you may recall, the Democrats questioned results on several fronts...

BENTON - Disaster preparedness will be the theme of the next Scott County Leadership Luncheon. County Developer Joel Evans went over an agenda for the upcoming luncheon with county commissioners during their regular meeting Tuesday. Since April 2003, county commissioners have scheduled the leadership luncheons quarterly for officials from the county's cities and school districts to meet and discuss as a group the state of the county and issues which are affect it. ...

SIKESTON -- It's not an off-year for area crops, but officials say it's definitely not a record-breaking year either. "Some of the crop on the irrigated soils look good and has already defoliated," said Mike Milam, cotton specialist for the University of Missouri Extension's Southeast region...

BENTON - A Wyatt man is facing up to 30 years for assaulting a law enforcement officer. According to the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney's office, Lonnie McCain, 41, was convicted by a Mississippi County jury on Friday of first degree assault of a law enforcement officer, driving while intoxicated and driving with a revoked license...

POPLAR BLUFF - The Sikeston soccer team improved to 3-6 on the season with a 3-0 shutout at Poplar Bluff on Tuesday. Blake Taylor had two goals and Scott Gardner had one goal for the Bulldogs. Chris Carnell, Andrew Box and Ryan Beaird each had assists...

Nobody asked me but...kudos to the fans and supporters of the East Prairie Eagles football team. It was impressive to see that the East Prairie side of the field had more fans than the home club Scott City Rams. Nobody asked me but...is Paris Tipler the best running back in the area this year? The East Prairie junior leads the area in rushing with 704 yards through three games. He also leads the area in total touchdowns with 11...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs softball team ran into a buzzsaw in the Cape Central Lady Tigers' Amanda Nichols who no-hit the Lady Bulldogs for a 2-0 Lady Tiger victory yesterday at the Sikeston Sports Complex. Nichols, a freshman, pitched a complete game no-hitter for Cape Central as she struckout 14 Lady Bulldog batters and was three walks away from a perfect game...

To: The owners of cemetery plots at the Garden of Memories and Memorial Park Cemeteries, Sikeston, Mo. The people of Sikeston can be justly proud of the action taken by the Sikeston City Council consisting of Mayor Mike Marshall, Jim Terrell, Jerry Pullum, Sue Rogers and David Teachout, as well as City Manager Doug Friend in their efforts to resolve the cemetery issue. ...

SIKESTON -- The Bootheel BassBusters held their seventh tournament of the year on Sept. 11 at Kentucky Lake out of Kenlake Marina. Brandon Fields won the tournament with two fish weighing 7 lbs. 2 oz. including the tournament big bass of 4 lbs. even. Stan Pace was second with three fish weighing 6 lbs. 9 oz. and Leon Miller was third with three fish weighing 6 lbs. 3 oz. Shannon Garrett won the "Lucky Drawing."...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central opens its SEMO Conference schedule against heavily-favored Central Division leader Charleston on Friday. With a 46-6 dismantling of the then eighth-ranked Caruthersville Tigers, Charleston (3-0) took a giant step towards proving itself to be a true power in the area. As a result, the Bluejays climbed into the top 10 in the Missouri prep poll at the No. 7 position...

SIKESTON - Here are the results from Saturday's Sikeston Drag Strip action. In the Super Pro class, Linden Hills took first place when he ran 5.00 on a 5.005 dial at 134 mph with a .503 reaction time. Cecil Whitaker took second place when he ran 5.00 on a 5.005 dial at 137 mph with a .490 reaction time...

COLUMBIA -- Henry Killion Fisher, 86, formerly of Portageville, died Sept. 20, 2005 at The Bluffs in Columbia. Born Feb. 24, 1919, in Portageville, son of the late John Wesley and Zenobia Crawley Fisher, he was a farmer and cotton classer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for many years and a member of the First Baptist Church of Portageville...

CHARLESTON -- Patricia Ann Owens, 29, died Sept. 17, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 18, 1975, in Charleston, to Larry G. and Lillie B. Owens Smith of Charleston, she was a 1994 graduate of Charleston High School and a member of St. Matthews Baptist Church in Charleston...

WILSON CITY - Lommie "Doc" Lane, 79, died Sept. 19, 2005, at his home. Born March 6, 1926, in Sikeston, son of the late Leondas and Clara Hall Lane, he lived most of his life in Missouri. He was a retired farmer and was a former mayor of Wilson City for 16 years. He was a member of Sanders Chapel A.M.E. Church since 1944, and was a trustee and the pastor's steward for 43 years...

SIKESTON - Anne Elizabeth Ford, 57, wife of Dan Ford and mother of Ashley and Blake Ford, died Sept. 20, 2005, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

CARUTHERSVILLE - Ruth Ellen Swanson, 56, died Sept. 19, 2005, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 11, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Ruth N. Gray and James Muse. She was married to Robert Swanson, who preceded her in death on June 19, 1986...

FULTON - Betty Waltrip, 78, died Sept. 17, 2005, at the Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. Born Sept. 16, 1927, in Essex, she was the daughter of the late Earl and Ruth Hux Allstun. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor's degree in journalism and earned a certificate of teaching from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. ...

CHAFFEE -- Robert J. Stafford, 77, died at 6:50 a.m. Sept. 20, 2005, at Chaffee Nursing Center. Born Oct. 29, 1927, at Silverdale, son of the late Robert and Ethel Cox Stafford, he was a retired laborer for Bob's Lawn Service for many years, had also worked for Columbia Construction Company in Cape Girardeau, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

SIKESTON - Coach Lou Bona's Sikeston High School Bulldogs will have there first testing tomorrow night when they meet the East Prairie Eagles on the East Prairie gridiron. SIKESTON - It's carnival time. At 5 p.m. today the American Legion will unveil its 21st annual Cotton Carnival. Judges will interview 20 young lovelies, who have been selected by the senior high school homerooms as their candidates for Miss Sikeston for 1965-66...

I was just watching CNN and there was an African-American gentleman on there. He was asked what he expected FEMA to do for them. And, he said give everybody $20,000 a piece so they could restart their lives. Well, all I can say is Homeowner's insurance. ...