Stories from Friday, February 17, 2006

We have all been there, just before breaking into a panic, realizing our draft strategy has taken a turn to the abyss. Already missed is the run on closers and middle infielders. In only the ninth round of your fantasy league draft, your player list is as scratched as a mosquito bite. The players are being drafted and disappearing faster than you can check them off...

JACKSON -- New Madrid County Central, overmatched height-wise, pushed taller Jackson before the Indians' big men prevailed in a decisive fourth- quarter run. NMCC, with no starter taller than 5-foot-11, fell to Jackson 59-47 on Thursday, a rescheduled make-up game for Friday's cancellation due to the threat of inclement weather...

BENTON - The Kelly Lady Hawks basketball team dropped their home finale against the Delta Lady Bobcats on Thursday night, 41-33. Delta erased an 11-point first quarter deficit with a halfcourt trap, that forced Kelly to commit eight turnovers in the second quarter...

SIKESTON - The topic of the evening was land, water and wildlife so it was only appropriate that the evening's honoree is equally involved in conserving all three. The New Madrid County Soil and Water Conservation District named Richard Brands the "Farmer of the Year" during its annual meeting Thursday...

Sikeston Department of Public Safety DARE officer Keith Hente helps Erin Wibbenmeyer, a senior at the Sikeston Senior High School, try on firefighter's gear Thursday at the Sikeston Field House. The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held the annual Business Expo. Over 2,000 people attended the event which featured 34 area businesses and the Sikeston Public Schools...

MINER -- A fire at Keller Truck Service Inc. on Highway HH resulted in a loss of property but no injuries. "We don't really know what happened but nobody got hurt or anything like that," said Beth King, co-owner of the business. The fire, which reportedly started about 5 p.m., did not affect the Sandburr restaurant or the fuel pumps...

NEW MADRID - A $5,000 reward is being offered for the safe return missing Risco woman. The New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens announced Thursday the reward for Teresa Butler's return. This reward is being offered through the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Alfreda Ree Shortz Watson, 85, died at 11:20 a.m. Feb. 16, 2006, at her home. Born May 31, 1920, in Charleston, daughter of the late Charles and Stella Stallings Shortz, she lived most of her life in Mississippi County where she was a member of the First Baptist Church in East Prairie...

ST. LOUIS - William R. Thompson, 78, founder of Thompson Culvert Company, died Feb. 16, 2006. Survivors include: his wife, Betty Thompson, two sons, William Scott Thompson and Charles W. Thompson; one daughter, Sherri Thompson; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren...

DEXTER - James Henry Pruett, 61, died Feb. 15, 2006, at his home. Born Feb. 22, 1944, in Bloomfield, son of the late Elvis and Ather Henson Pruett, he retired in 2003 after 27 years of service with Arvin Meritor in Dexter. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during the Vietnam War, a member of the Ken Sisler DAV Chapter 47, and a life long member of the NRA...

BERNIE - Mary Bridges, 67, died Feb. 16, 2006, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.

DEXTER -- Pallbearers for the funeral services held Thursday at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter for Thomas C. Cross, 82, who died Feb. 13, 2006, were: Jason Crow, David Mayberry, Charles Smith, Wayne Lee, Bob Fralick and Brian Cross.

I'd like to speak out about the Bell City - Risco game. I went to the game, I am from neither town, I was just curious. I have heard so much about the Bell City team. I was hoping the team would show a little class and sportsmanship. If I counted right, there were three or four technicals on Bell City and one of the kids got a technical for hanging on the rim and they celebrated because he got the technical at mid-court. ...

MATTHEWS - The Sikeston Bulldogs defeated the Matthews High School Pirates basketball team 39-3 in a game played at Matthews Tuesday night. VIETNAM - The American GIs in Vietnam want their conversation at 50 or 60 plasters, and the bar girls would rather have it at 100 plasters. ...

Storm winds caused damage in and around Benton Thursday including split and uprooted trees. Other damage, such a barn being ripped apart, was also reported. Weather advisories warned of winds reaching speeds of up to 60 mph.

CHARLESTON -- A county nuisance ordinance was signed by Mississippi County commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday. The county ordinance will regulate the disposal and storage of refuse, tires, appliances and litter to address the risk of diseases in the county...

COLUMBIA -- Two Sikeston wrestlers competed in the Class 3 State Championships on Thursday. Sophomore Gavilan Bland (152 pound) is still alive after the first day. He lost his first match to Chris Dopp of St. Charles West by pin in 1:35. Dopp is 27-0 this season...

Michael Jensen's opinion piece on proposed changes to voter identification laws ("Voter identification will help fight fraud", 2/14/06) mischaracterizes the current status of Missouri's election law. Readers should be aware of this oversight. Though Jensen correctly notes that a bill pending in the General Assembly would "require voters to show photo identification when they vote," he later adds unnecesary confusion by declaring, "it makes all the sense in the world to require a voter to identify themselves (sic)." That statement incorrectly suggests to readers that Missouri law does not presently include a polling place identification requirement for voters.. ...