Stories from Sunday, March 12, 2006

For the first time in school history, Sikeston Bulldogs advanced to the boys basketball state championship after defeating Ozark, 84-79, Friday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Sikeston played against St. Francis Borgia Saturday afternoon in the championship game. The final score to the game was Borgia,77, Sikeston, 62. Due to game scheduling, results were not available at press time. Look for complete coverage in Monday's Standard Democrat...

DEXTER - A Stoddard County business was totally destroyed by a fire early Saturday morning. According to Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken, at 2:20 a.m. Saturday, the department received a call from an unknown source that Holden Pallet Mill in Dexter was on fire. Upon Dexter Fire Department's arrival at the scene, the business was totally engulfed in flames...

SIKESTON -- With the devastation of Thursday's storm fresh on the mind, emergency management directors are hoping area residents will take the statewide tornado drill scheduled for Tuesday seriously. Tornado season appears to be upon us with several unconfirmed reports of tornadoes spotted Thursday...

SIKESTON -- Throughout the years Kenny Rogers Children's Center has never had a problem finding children to serve, but lately it has had a challenge recruiting therapists to Southeast Missouri. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to hire physical and occupational therapists to Southeast Missouri due to the nation-wide shortage," said Michelle Fayette, executive director of the Sikeston center, which provides physical, occupational and speech and language therapy to hundreds of children in the rural areas of Southeast Missouri.. ...

I don't know Rep. Terry Young but the Independence Democrat made headlines this week. Rep. Young proposed a bill in the House that would replace the "Handicapped parking" signs with new signs that say "Accessible parking." Now I assume Rep. Young had the best of intentions. She says the term "handicapped" is offensive to disabled people and "accessible" more accurately reflects their needs in special parking locations...

COLUMBIA -- With unconcious free throw shooting and timely big shots in the fourth quarter, the Sikeston Bulldogs advanced to the Class 4 championship game with an 84-79 semifinal victory against Ozark Friday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. The Bulldogs played St. Francis Borgia in Saturday's championship game. Results from the game will be in Monday's edition...

SIKESTON - R.D. Clayton has purchased a large tract of land fronting on Highway 60 west from P.V. Branum and will shortly open up a subdivision there. He plans to sell desirable building sites at big public auctions. SIKESTON - "The Juggler" by Toch will be a piano solo played by Miss Judy Matthews, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Matthews, at the community choir's annual spring concert Sunday at 3 p.m. in the junior high school auditorium...

You all have made my point. It is not a matter of your age, whether you be young or old. It is a matter of your ability to drive. You said, "I hope you're around when you're78." Yes I do, but I bet your grandchild hopes, I'm not driving. To all Senior Drivers. ...

POPLAR BLUFF -- With his team a mere 7-5 at the end of the first semester, Three Rivers coach Jack Childress made a risky move when he benched sophomore Missy Whitney. But it was a statement that had to be made. "I think it was a message that the team badly needed her," Childress said. "Whether it was because of injury or other things going on, I don't know, but we weren't getting everything out of her we could."...

ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- The Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) has $200,000 available in grant funding for physical education teachers who incorporate fishing and boating education into their curricula, offering up to $5,000 individual grants to help foster active leisure lifestyles and ethical attitudes about the outdoors...

SIKESTON - Keeping residents seeing better has Dr. Daniel Obermark seeing growth in his business. "Sikeston has been good to us," said Obermark. "We have really grown over the last 10 years." Since opening the doors to his office in Sikeston in January 1996, Obermark explained his goals have remained to provide personal attention to his patients as he attends to their eye health needs...

Health Facilities Rehab staff received their certification for the Worksteps Employment Testing System recently. Worksteps is a nationally recognized system designed to help industry fight the rising cost of work-related injuries and worker's compensation fraud and abuse. From left are: Paula Beck, OTR/...

SIKESTON - Angie Winters has joined the staff of Southern Aire, 616 S. Kingshighway. Specializing in highlights, color, permanents, manicures and pedicures, Winters is available for appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcomed...

Kirby's Sandwich Shop was named the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce Spirit Award winner for March. Presenting Don Newton, owner, with the window placard is Missy Marshall, executive director of SACC. Standing from left are: Stephanie Palaski, Irene Watkins, Teresa Vanpool and Sharon Kirby...

SIKESTON -- Terry and Regina Lambert and Ron and Cindy Ressel have announced the engagement of their daughter, Beth Suzanne Lambert, to Jason Thomas McLemore, son of Edward and Menetta McLemore of Sikeston. A 1999 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride is also a 2003 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education. She is employed as a third grade teacher for Sikeston R-6 Schools...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Ricky and Kerri Penrod have announced the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Karrinn, to Jason Andrew Akin, son of Dale and Cheryl Akin of Bradford, Tenn. A 2000 graduate of East Prairie High School and a 2004 graduate of Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., where she was an active member of Alpha Omicron Pi, the future bride received a bachelor's degree with university honors in elementary education. ...

OAKVILLE -- Mr. and Mrs. Gerald R. Eddens, formerly of Sappington, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie Ann, to USAF Staff Sergeant James Ray Gentry, son of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Gentry of Sikeston. The future bride is a graduate of Nerinx Hall High School and the University of Missouri-Columbia. ...

SPRINGFIELD -- Frank and Linda Vice have announced the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Lynn Vice, to Jason Andrew Showmaker, son of Philip and Julie Showmaker of Sikeston. A 2002 graduate of Kickapoo High School in Springfield, the future bride expects to graduate summa cum laude in May from Truman State University in Kirksville, where she will earn a Bachelor of Arts in history...

TYLER, Texas -- Carmen Merideth Trent and Matthew Kyle Carpenter have announced their engagement. A 2005 graduate of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, the future bridge is the daughter of Paul Trent and Andrea Harber Trent, both of Tyler. She is the granddaughter of Warren and Jewel Harber of Sikeston, Mo...

SIKESTON -- Kevin and Colyn Wibbenmeyer have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Kelly, to Jered D. Wisdom, son of Clyde and Cherri Wisdom of Sikeston. A 2001 Sikeston High School graduate, the future bride expects to receive a bachelor's degree in elementary education in May from the University of Missouri-Columbia...

CHARLESTON -- Wes and Sheila Francis have announced the engagement of their daughter, Tiffany, to Patrick Newton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Newton of Essex. The future bride is a 2005 graduate of Charleston High School and currently attends Three Rivers Community College...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Dorthy Wasson, 84, died at 1:15 a.m. March 10, 2006, at East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Jan. 27, 1922, in Commerce, daughter of the late T.J. and Mary Alice Edgeman Hockersmith, she lived in Mississippi County most of her life and was of the Baptist belief...

ADVANCE - Charlie Garner, 92, died March 9, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 23, 1914, at Hiram, son of the late Bob and Roselyn McCollough, he was a retired farmer and had worked as a mechanic at Mirly's Implement Co. in Advance...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers for funeral services held Saturday at Ponder Funeral home for Cheryl Peet, 37, who died March 9, 2006, were: Gary Peet, Kem Peet, Danny Peet, Steve Peet, David Peet and Aaron Peet.

SIKESTON - Rikki "Rik" Dale Lambert, 47, died March 10, 2006, at his home. Born June 16, 1958, in Sikeston, son of Larry Lambert of Sikeston and Sandy (Cauthorn) and Bob Lutes of Sikeston, he followed in the family business and was a self-employed floor contractor and a member of the Sikeston Elks Lodge...

FESTUS - Marie Trucks, 78, formerly of Sikeston, died March 11, 2006, at the Festus Manor in Festus. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home.

SENATH - Ethel Sloan, 81, formerly of Sikeston, died March 10, 2006, at Senath Nursing Home. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home.

SIKESTON - Connie Faye Graham, 55, died at 12:30 a.m. March 11, 2006, at her home. Born July 31, 1950, in Sikeston, daughter of Ruth Burns Webb Phillips of Sikeston and the late Kenneth L. Webb, she was a homemaker, a lifelong resident of Sikeston and a member of Tanner Street Church of God...