Stories from Sunday, January 8, 2006

NEW MADRID -- Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Smith of New Madrid celebrated their 40th anniversary during a dinner reception with friends and family Dec. 22, 2005, at the Fisherman's Net Restaurant in Sikeston. Smith and the former Norma Butler were married Dec. 22, 1965, in Sikeston by Mr. Billy Butler...

CHARLESTON -- Ellen New of Charleston and Kenny and Cynthia New of Cape Girardeau have announced the engagement of their daughter, Kristina Kay New, to Nathan Paul Penland, son of Chuck and Joyce Penland of Jackson. A 2003 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School, the future bride is pursuing a degree in business administration at Southwest Baptist University and expects to graduate in May 2007...

SIKESTON -- Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leible have announced the engagement of their daughter, Blaire Rosamond, to Ryan Vincent Garwitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Garwitz of St. Peters. A 2000 graduate of Sikeston High School and a 2004 graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, where she earned a degree in communications, the future bride will graduate in May with a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Journalism...

The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce honored The Flower, Patch, 510 N. Main St., as its December Spirit Award winner. Pictured from left are SACC Executive Director Missy Marshall; Jackie Williams, owner; Loretta Buttrey; Santa; Susan Chadd and Kim Baker. The award is presented monthly by SACC to honor local businesses and their service efforts...

A plaque of appreciation for his service as president of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce president was presented to Kendall Ayers recently. Making the presentation is incoming president Karen Henzi. Leading the Chamber for 2006 along with Henzi will be: Leslie Winchester, first vice president; Britt McConnell, second vice president; and Lori Fowler, secretary/...

SIKESTON - Jennifer Nickell, MD, FACOG, recently passed her oral boards to become board certified in obstetrics/gynecology. To become board certified in obstetrics/gynecology, both a written and oral exam are required. The written exam is taken immediately after completing residency and the oral exam is completed after the required two years of practice...

The Community Sheltered Workshop's Nifty Thrifty Thrift Store, located at 515 N. West St., conducted a grand opening ribbon cutting in December. Cutting the ribbon is Harvey Cooper. Also attending the event are members of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Sheltered Workshop Boardmembers, staff and workers. The thrift shop is open from 8:...

SIKESTON -- Heather Nicole Moore and Barry Lynn Pinnell were united in marriage during a 2 p.m. ceremony Sept. 24, 2005, at Trinity Gospel Church in Sikeston. The Rev. Larry Davis performed the ceremony. Vocalist for the occasion was Donna Tidwell. The bride is the daughter of Johnny and Juanita Moore of Sikeston. Parents of the bridegroom are Robert and Lana Pinnell of Sikeston...

Editor's note: The following letters were received by Speakout; the subject is now considered closed. When anyone has his or her character assassinated, we all should wonder who is going to be next. Us? So I have to say something about "Tiff with Smith" and I would like all of Sikeston to hear me. ...

SIKESTON - Near summer weather has been in Sikeston over the past few days with the high reaching 66 degrees on Sunday. --- SIKESTON - Kendall Sikes has written his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Sikes, that he is expected home from the European Theater...

SIKESTON -- Justin Brooks knows he wants to be a police officer some day. And if the 18-year-old ever had any doubts about his career choice, they all disappeared after participating in only one semester of the Sikeston Career and Technology Center's new law enforcement/police science program...

SIKESTON -- The Charleston Bluejays might have been struggling in their last few games, but it didn't show on Friday night against the Sikeston Bulldogs. Charleston held a lead for most of the night and pulled away late for a comfortable 75-56 win against the Bulldogs in front of an overflow crowd at the Field House...

CHARLESTON - Nataka McCain is the parent of her first child, a daughter, born at 4:46 a.m. Dec. 2, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Ken'Niyah Natayshza McCain weighed 8 pounds and was 18 inches long. Grandparents are Jackie McCain and Phillip Turner...

Billy Hammon, a city of Sikeston Park Division employee, loads a Christmas tree into a Pullen Brothers' truck. The trees were part of the city's annual Christmas tree collection program. Trees will be taken to the Corps of Engineers' Lake Wappapello and to the city's lakes in the Recreation Complex and R.S. Matthews Park where they will be bundled into small groups to be submerged in the lakes for fish shelters. The recycling effort ultimately will improve the fishing in the lakes...

SIKESTON -- It looks like Mike Marshall won't have an opponent after all in his bid for another term as Sikeston's mayor. Sikeston City Clerk Carroll Couch said he received an e-mail from Wayne Morgan Wednesday advising Morgan has withdrawn from the race...

I'm writing today's column from Florida. Wish I could say this was strictly a pleasure trip but, alas, it is not. Nonetheless, I had ample time to think on the trip down in this direction and, having nothing better to do, I thought I might share some observations on travel with the readers of this humble column...

MARBLE HILL -- Woodland's Seth Gaines scored a game-high 33 points but it wasn't nearly enough as the Dexter Bearcats posted a 75-55 SCAA Conference win over the Cardinals on their home court Friday night. Gaines' offensive performance included three 3-pointers and 8-of-10 shooting from the foul line, but it was Dexter's depth and full-court pressure that finally took its toll on the now 4-7 (0-2 SCAA) Cardinals...

ORAN -- Oran scored 24 points apiece in each of the first three quarters and cruised at home. Chase Seyer led the Eagles (4-7) with 28 points. Chris Asmus added 12 points, Kody Campbell had 11 and Hunter Glastetter finished with 10. LEOPOLD -- Matt Stoverink led Leopold with 19 points, and freshman Darren VanGennip finished with 17 in a home win...

SIKESTON -- If you own a home in Sikeston you don't live in, you might want to check the city's Web site to see if you are in danger of a $500 fine. City officials are making yet another attempt to "remind the landlords that there is an ordinance that requires them to register their rental property," said Trey Hardy, community redevelopment coordinator, "or face a $500 fine." Landlord requirement packets were mailed to all known landlords in Sikeston Oct. 27...

DEXTER - Hilda Smyth, 75, died Jan. 6, 2006, at her home in Dexter. Born Nov. 10, 1930, in Essex, daughter of the late Dallas and Clara Brown Baker, she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter. On Sept. 10, 1949, in Dexter, she married Alvin Smyth, who survives of the home...

EAST PRAIRIE - Jewell Lee Britt, 90, formerly of Charleston, died at 12:25 p.m. Jan. 6, 2006, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Sept. 13, 1915, in Mississippi County to the late Richard P. and Nora E. Campbell Britt, he served with the United States Army during World War II. He returned to Mississippi County and was employed as a barge worker until his retirement and was of the Pentecostal belief...

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Evolee Verneice Thompson, 92, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died at 9 a.m. Jan. 4, 2006, at the Westwood Medical and Rehab Center in Archdale. Born Dec. 21, 1913, in McMullin, Mo., daughter of the late Willie Sanford and Donnie Lillie Merrell Thompson, she had worked for many years at the International Shoe Company in Sikeston until she retired...

WARREN, Mich. - Jo Elizabeth Edwards Wheatley, 77, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died at 4:20 p.m. Jan. 5, 2005, at her home in Warren. Born Feb. 16, 1928, in Charleston, daughter of the late Crawford W. and Tishie Elizabeth Marable Edwards Sr., she had lived in Warren since 1979, where she was a member of the Warren Woods Baptist Church...