Stories from Wednesday, January 25, 2006

I remember when I was growing up my friends and I used to laugh when someone we knew bent over and revealed just a hint of butt crack. It led to a day full of teasing and harassment and general joy from those of us who noticed the crack. But times have changed. Now butt cleavage is not just for the plumber anymore, something I realized recently when I went clothes shopping with my wife...

EAST PRAIRIE - The East Prairie Eagles basketball team picked up a big conference home win over the Scott County Central Braves on Tuesday night, 76-62. East Prairie was effective from both the perimeter and down in the post, to gain the Scott-Miss Conference win. It was a huge win for the Eagles over the Braves, because last week Scott Central finished second in the conference...

Nobody asked me but...what a huge victory for the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs basketball over Poplar Bluff. Coach Johnson is doing an outstanding job this season and should get some consideration for area coach of the year for girls basketball. Sikeston played a flawless game against the Lady Mules and if they play that way in the playoffs, a district title is not out of the realm of possibilities. ...

NEW MADRID -- Sikeston wrestlers won, by pin fall, every match they participated in against New Madrid County Central. All four of them. Sikeston's depleted squad of four, giving up nine forfeits, fell to New Madrid County Central 54-24 in a dual meet on Tuesday at New Madrid...

Ron Tate, Bobby Reed and Jerry Alexander, all members of the First Assembly of God Church, place rocks around the pond and waterfall the church constructed Tuesday. They are helping prepare for their annual Wild Game Supper which will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the church. The invitation-only supper will feature over 100 animal mounts. Over 200 guests are expected to attend each night...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Southeast Missourians wanting to get up close and personal with some of the birds living in the area will have the chance this weekend during a winter bird hike at Big Oak Tree State Park in East Prairie. "This park is a gem," said Allison Vaughn, natural resource steward for Big Oak Tree State Park in East Prairie. "It's really an island. There's so many birds."...

BENTON - Three Southeast Missouri residents are in custody, facing various drug charges, after the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team served a search warrant at 307 Hardin in Sikeston Tuesday. In custody at the Scott County Jail are John W. Hitt, 32, of Sikeston, on a warrant for distributing controlled substances near schools with bond set at $150,000; Herbert F. ...

NEW MADRID - City Administrator Furg Hunter has announced his intent to retire after 14 years of leading the city. During Monday's City Council meeting, Hunter submitted a letter announcing his retirement effective March 31. "It has been my honor to work with four mayors and numerous councilmen and councilwomen over the past 14 years," Hunter wrote. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Notre Dame Bulldogs imposed their style of play on Kelly and that was bad news for the Hawks. Kelly's inability to handle Notre Dame's tenacious full- and half-court pressure opened an early deficit from which the Hawks never recovered in a 74-50 loss on Tuesday at Notre Dame Regional High School...

JACKSON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs dropped their third straight game on Tuesday as they fell 64-50 on the road against Jackson. With a distinct size advantage, the Indians dominated the boards. With the Bulldogs' tallest player at 6-foot-3, Jackson simply reached over the top as Sikeston failed to block out on missed shots...

60 years ago Jan. 25, 1946 SIKESTON - Henry Cooper, former member of the Sikeston police force, has announced his candidacy for Sikeston police chief. MOREHOUSE - The fire department was called at 3:30 a.m. today to the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Rodgers in the Delmo Housing Project south of Morehouse. An oil stove had exploded in the living room, causing flames to strike Rodgers in the face...

I wonder if anyone else has been getting calls. I have been bombarded with calls from people who supposedly from Medicare. And, they harangue you for 15 minutes trying to make you give up the prescription insurance you already have and go for theirs. ...

The lesson for today is balance. We, each in our own way, try to balance our lives daily. We balance demands with available time and resources. We balance obligations and responsibilities. And we balance changing priorities because we are not always in control...

Rotary Club member Laura Green fills a to-go cup with chili Tuesday. Green along with other Rotary Club members served over 1,000 people during the 52nd Annual Rotary Chili Day.

CHAFFEE -- City officials have decided to accept restitution and the resignation of the city court clerk in lieu of continuing to support a criminal investigation into missing bond money. The Missouri State Highway Patrol had been investigating an allegation that the city court clerk, Robin Dannemueller, 36, had misappropriated $1,000 in bond money from the city court...

BENTON -- Earthquake drills will happen sooner than originally planned. Joe Burton, emergency management director for Scott County, discussed upcoming earthquake awareness activities for this area during the regular Scott County Commission meeting Tuesday...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City outscored visiting New Madrid County Central 22-6 in the fourth quarter but fell in overtime. Ryan Modglin led the Rams (9-8) with 22 points. Alex King added 17, and Jamie Pinkston scored 12. Antonio McIntosh led NMCC with 20 points and Shaun Newsome had 17...

BLOOMFIELD -- A 12-0 run to open the fourth quarter propelled the Dexter Bearcats to a 72-59 win over Bloomfield Tuesday in the second day of action at the 81st Annual Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament at Bloomfield. The game featured 17 3-pointers, with Dexter knocking down 11 in the win...

RISCO - The Risco Tigers basketball team won its third game in a row on Tuesday night, with a 74-66 home win over the visiting Gideon Bulldogs. Risco made 14-of-33 free throws, while Gideon just made 7-of-12 from the line, as the Tigers salted away the victory from the line...

DEXTER -- Pauline Dowdy, 92, died Jan. 24, 2006, at Missouri Southern Healthcare. Born Dec. 20, 1913, near Dexter, daughter of the late Bertis Monroe and Mable Jennings Lawrence, she was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ and a former member of the Bridge Church of Christ near Dexter. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- James Mawery, 38, died Jan. 17, 2006, at Southeast Hospital. Born April 14, 1966, in St. Louis, he was raised by Bertha Jones and Lossie Wilford of Salcedo and the late James Wilford from age 3-11 and then by Marian Walker of Cape Girardeau from age 13 until adulthood. ...

MATTHEWS -- Harold Lancaster, 63, died at 9:10 p.m. Jan. 24, 2006 at the Sells Nursing Home in Matthews. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston and will be announced later.

BARDWELL, Ky. -- Robert Larkins Jr., 77, passed away Jan. 23, 2006, at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born April 15, 1928 in Dorena, Mo., the son of R.R. and Annie Larkins. He graduated from East Prairie, Mo., High School in 1947 and began farming in the Dorena and East Prairie area before moving to Bardwell in 1962 where he continued farming until retiring in 1982. He was a member of Bardwell Baptist Church where he served on a number of committees...

NAPLES, Fla. -- Deanne Disbro, 80, died Dec. 30, 2005, at her home in Naples. Born as Wilma Christman on Jan. 2, 1925, in Dexter, Mo., she was a member of the Acacia Country Club. More recently, she divided her time between her home in Hendersonville, N.C, as a member of the Champion Hills Country Club and her Naples residence...

ADVANCE - Walter Dunn, 85, died Jan. 22, 2006, at his home. Born June 21, 1920, in Newbern, Tenn., to the late Franklin and Maggie Rittenberry Dunn, he had been a farmer and was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army. He attended Bell City General Baptist Church...

CANALOU -- Katie Lawanda Thomas, 77, died at 5:30 a.m. Jan. 24, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born May 20, 1928, in Lepanto, Ark., daughter of the late Lonnie and Katie Miller Scroggin, she was a homemaker. On Nov. 6, 1960, in Piggott, Ark., she married Limuel B. Thomas, who preceded her in death on March 5, 2004...

I remember when I was growing up my friends and I used to laugh when someone we knew bent over and revealed just a hint of butt crack. It led to a day full of teasing and harassment and general joy from those of us who noticed the crack. But times have changed. Now butt cleavage is not just for the plumber anymore, something I realized recently when I went clothes shopping with my wife...