Stories from Sunday, December 4, 2005

Sikeston R-6 Board of Education members, staff members and members of the community turned out Friday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the district's math and science center on the high school campus. Pictured shoveling dirt are board members, from left: Julie Crader Dolan, vice president; Greg Colwick; Ann Jones, president; Mary White Ross; Paul Boyd; Rick Adams; and Bill Priday. ...

SIKESTON -- Grocery shoppers are so accustomed to plastic bags that the "paper or plastic" question from a cashier is more likely to refer to payment methods than grocery bags. "We don't ask paper or plastic - they bag their own," said Eddie Moore, store manager for Sav-A-Lot in Sikeston...

BERTRAND -- Choosing the perfect poinsettia has become about as routine as selecting the Christmas tree during the holidays. "It's another symbol of Christmas," said Charlotte Grant of Olive Branch, Ill., as she shopped for poinsettias Thursday at Mueller's Greenhouses in Bertrand. "Over the years, poinsettias have become associated to Christmas just like the trees."...

Ware SIKESTON - Marketia Frederiksen and Damean Ware are the parents of their second child, second son, born Oct. 25, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Damarion Ware weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 18.75 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Elsie Frederiksen and Phillip Brown...

It's rare that I would draw your attention to a media competitor but KFVS-TV this week did an excellent job on reporting the history and near-demise of Cairo, Ill. The reporting was well-researched and gave a somewhat depressing outlook on a community that was once a thriving town of 20,000 residents. But time and a host of circumstances have now eroded Cairo's population by nearly 90 per cent and what remains is a sad reminder of mistakes and fear and violence and lost opportunities...

Hello. I would like to speak out. I read where they had a meeting at the Cape Airport a week or two ago about an ethanol plant either being built at Scott City or Sikeston. I've lived around in Sikeston most of my life. I can't help but hope that Sikeston gets this plant. ...

SIKESTON - Sometimes business isn't about the bottom line but about meeting needs. The Community Sheltered Workshop Nifty Thrifty Thrift Store hopes to meet the needs of those who shop there and those who work there. Located at 515 N. West Street, right next door to the Community Sheltered Workshop, the Nifty Thrifty Thrift Store is the result of a changing economy, explained Harvey Cooper, Workshop executive director...

ARLINGTON, Va. - buySAFE Inc., the leading online trust and safety company for e-commerce transactions has appointed three new executives to its team, including a former Sikeston, Mo., resident. Lee Ferrell is buySAFE's new creative director, where he is charged with leading the company's strategic brand design and development for both buyers and sellers. Ferrell is the son of William F. and Sharon Ferrell of Sikeston...

Ozark Fitness, 508 N. West St., held a grand opening ribbon cutting Monday afternoon. Cutting the ribbon is manager Delane Beckwith. From left are: Missy Marshall, executive director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce; Mandy Eakin; Teresa Gilliand, assistant manager; Beckwith; and Donna Morris, Ozark Fitness employee; second row: Steve Millington; Drew Juden; Austin Tinsley, owner of Ozark Fitness; Kendall Ayers, president of SACC; Darlene Christian, Ozark Fitness marketing director; Karen Henzi, first vice president of SACC; and Mika Wyatt. ...

UNION, Mich. -- Mr. and Mrs. Frank Worthington of Union and Mr. and Mrs. Duane Sautter of Granger, Ind., have announced the engagement of their children, Jennifer A. Worthington and Matthew C. Sautter. The future bride attend Sikeston and Kelly schools, and she is the granddaughter of James and Mildred Worthington Sikeston, Mo...

Congratulations to the Historic Midtown Development Group and the Sikeston Soccer League for a busy and successful Nov. 4, 5 and 6 weekend. There were a lot of people in town staying overnight in our hotels and spending money on food, gas and gifts. We appreciate all your hard work...

COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- Shannon Marie Lawson and Brent Reid Blanchard were united in marriage during a 6:30 p.m. ceremony July 9, 2005, at the Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort in Cocoa Beach. The Rev. Jim Issaacon, pastor of Methodist Church in Orlando, performed the ceremony...

LAS VEGAS -- Libby Ann Dust and Jason Todd Craig were united in marriage during a 2:30 p.m. ceremony Sept. 17, 2005, at the Rio Resort Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Darryl J. Wilson performed the ceremony. Parents of the bride are Ed and Jan Dust of Sikeston, Mo., and the bridegroom is the son of Bart and Donna Turner of Marion, Ark., and Larry Craig of Memphis, Tenn...

ST. LOUIS -- Jennifer Elizabeth Dougherty and Jeremy Lee Green were united in marriage during a 5 p.m. ceremony Aug. 13, 2005, at Southside Hills Assembly of God Church in St. Louis. The Rev. Robert Poley officiated. Parents of the bride are Kevin and Nancy Dougherty of Fenton, and the bridegroom is the son of Rick and Lois Green of Sikeston...

WICKLIFFE, Ky. - Nicky Allen Woods, 35, died at 5:17 p.m. Dec. 1, 2005, at his home. Born Aug. 30, 1970, the son of Allen N. Woods of Bardwell and Dean and Carolyn Morgan Reynolds of Sikeston, Mo., he was of the Baptist belief, a member of Bardwell Masonic Lodge 499 and a truck driver for Mantle Trucking. He was an avid hunter...

ESSEX - Lora Pauline Friday, 98, died Dec. 2, 2005, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare Facility in Dexter. Born Nov. 27, 1907, in Jerusalem, Ark., daughter of the late Grover Garland and Gertrude Dane Melton Hillis, she was a homemaker and had lived in Texas for many years before moving to Essex. She was a member of the Sweeney Baptist Church in Sweeney, Texas, and had been a resident of Cypress Point Healthcare for the past two years...

SIKESTON -- Ilah Belle Hays Vines, 90, died Dec. 2, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Sept. 29, 1915, in Hartman, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Edna Brotherton and James Hays. On April 15, 1943, in Vanduser, she married Samuel Francis Vines who preceded her in death in 1983...

CHARLESTON - Shaunda Phillips Grubbs, 58, died at 11:43 p.m. Dec. 2, 2005, at her home. Born Aug. 19, 1947, in Somerset, Ky., to the late Otis and Ocie Rich Phillips, she had lived for the past 19 years in Mississippi County, where she was employed as a VNA nurse. She was of the Pentecostal faith...

BERTRAND - Pallbearers at services held Saturday for Susan Horner, 87, who died Nov. 30, 2005, were: Bill Littleton, Edsel Wylie, Joe Karnes, Bill Martin, Chester Bell, Ken Williams. Honorary pallbearers were Lewis Phillips and Pete Burns Sr. Ponder Funeral Home of Sikeston was in charge of arrangements...

VANDUSER -- Pallbearers for services for Robert "Bob" Medley, 54, who died Dec. 1, 2005, will be: Terry Burton, John Henry Turner, Marlin O'Neal, Gary Kesler, John Wright and Joe Wright. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Austin Maxwell of the Smith Street Church of God officiating...

SIKESTON - Miss Mary Ann Johnson, student at State College in Cape Girardeau, visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson during the weekend. --- SIKESTON - Mrs. Wyman Luten of Union City, Tenn. is the guest this week of her sister, Mrs. G. Moore Greer and her husband...

BERNIE -- The Risco Tigers lost the seventh place game at the Bernie Invitational to the Holcomb Hornets, 62-57. The Tigers held a five point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but turnovers did in Risco as the Hornets won the final quarter, 21-11...

KENNETT -- The Kennett High School Indians boys basketball season got under way Friday night when they hosted the Portageville Bulldogs in Bootheel Conference action. When the night was over, the varsity Indians were 0-1 in conference play and 0-1 in regular season play...

ORAN -- The Bell City Cubs defeated the Twin Rivers Royals 57-52 to capture the championship of the 50th annual Oran Invitational Tourney on Friday. The tournament's golden anniversary turned into a silver anniversary for the Cubs who last won there in 1980, 25 years ago...

DEXTER -- It's been a long time since the Sikeston Bulldogs won a game at Dexter High School. But the Bulldogs broke the drought in a big way on Friday night as they ran away with a 72-51 win against the Bearcats. It's Sikeston's first win at Dexter since January of 1997, snapping a three-game losing streak...