Stories from Thursday, March 16, 2006

SPRINGVILLE, Tenn. -- James Webb "Jimmy" McKeel, 64, died at his home March 15, 2006, following an illness. Born April 16, 1942, in Paragould, Ark., son of James Clark and Willo Mae Webb McKeel of Rector, he taught school for 31 years in New Madrid County, Mo., where he was a basketball and baseball coach. For the last six years he served as minister of Bethlehem Church of Christ...

SIKESTON -- Mary Frances Bucher passed away Tuesday evening, March 14, 2006, at her home after an extended illness. She is survived by: three daughters, Melinda Shelton of Houston, Texas, Mary Beth Woodward of Atlanta, Ga. and Martha Pearce of Mobile, Ala.; and one son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Cathy Bucher of Sikeston. ...

NEVADA - Gertrude Olia Ryan Downie, 91, died March 10, 2006, at the Christian Health Care in Nevada. Born March 7, 1915, in Union County, Miss., daughter of the late Joseph Patrick and Olia Elgin Bryant Ryan, the family moved to Southeast Missouri when she was a child, and she graduated from Portageville High School. ...

CHESTERFIELD - Bonnie Lou Schindler, 82, formerly of Morehouse and Dexter, died March 13, 2006, in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital at St. Louis. Born May 18, 1923, at Dry Valley, daughter of the late William and Virginia Snider, she was a homemaker and a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary at Wappapello...

DEXTER - Glenda Fay Wren Johnson, 61, died March 14, 2006, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare. Born July 7, 1944, in Flint, Mich., daughter of the late Lloyd and Geneva Henson Wren, she was a homemaker and a member of the Faith Apostolic Church in Sturdivant...

PARK HILLS - Joseph Tisher, 83, died March 14, 2006, at Mineral Area Hospital. He was born May 24, 1922, in Hickman, Ky. His wife, Ruby Bailey Tisher, survives of the home. Other survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Ralph and Lori Tisher of Hermann and Ron and Regina Tisher of Park Hills; one daughter and son-in-law, Pamala and Gary Brownfield of St. ...

PUXICO - Neal Hendrix, 71, died March 15, 2006, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born Sept. 27, 1934, in Puxico, son of the late Wilburn and Pauline Hancock Hendrix, he returned to Puxico in 1967 after having lived several years in Alton, Ill. He owned and operated Neal's Garage and was a transmission specialist...

DEKALB, Ill. - Juanita Lorene Slinkard, 90, died at 12:35 p.m. March 13, 2006, at Pine Acres Care Center. Born April 16, 1915, in Diehlstadt, daughter of the late William Harvey and Stella Jennings Griffith, she had worked as a seamstress for a clothing manufacturer...

NEW MADRID - William Mann "Manny" Leuer, 63, died March 10, 2006, at his home. Born Jan. 30, 1943, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to the late Harry F. and Mary Claire Mann Leuer, he was in radio sales and a graduate of Murray State University. Survivors include: one brother, Harry Francis Leuer Jr. of Snowlake, Miss.; and one aunt, Sallie Marie Sterling of Valley Park...

SIKESTON - Geneva DeWitt, 86, died March 15, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 9, 1919, in Hagarville, Ark., to the late Earl Jefferson and Criner Snow Newton, she was a housewife and of the Baptist faith. In 1938, she married Wallace "Link" DeWitt, who preceded her in death on Jan. 5, 1975...

Ricky Skelton, Jr. took first place in the Junior Dragster division at the Sikeston Drag Strip Saturday. In the photo from left is Dale Moser, Ricky "Little Possum" Skelton Jr., and Rick "Possum" Skelton Sr.

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs boys basketball team will be honored with a team recognition ceremony to be held today at 2:15 p.m. at the Sikeston Field House. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend.

SIKESTON -- Approximately 265 Scott County senior citizens will be acknowledged for their volunteer work Saturday during a Retired Senior Citizens Volunteer Program's annual recognition at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland. Retired Senior Volunteer Programs in Scott and Cape Girardeau counties provide a variety of opportunities for retired persons age 55 or older to participate more fully in the life of their community through significant volunteer service, said Tina Dohogne, executive director...

Scott County Judge David Mann speaks to a youth group at Tanner Street Church of God Wednesday night. Judge Mann let the 20-plus members become a judge, he gave a scenario and they did the sentencing of the mock defendant. Through the process those attended learned about the various fines and penalties for different offenses...

I couldn't help but feel pride this morning when I read about the aftermath of the deadly tornadoes that struck central Missouri. The small town of Renick - population a shade over 200 - was ground zero. Four lives were lost in the small town and virtually every structure in the community suffered some degree of damage. But unlike New Orleans, the residents of Renick took matters in their own hands...

I would like to make a comment to the individual that ran into my wife and son's vehicle Sunday night, March 5th, at the intersection of HH and H in Miner/Sikeston and fled the scene. Please turn yourself in and get some help. You are a threat to yourself and everyone on or near the streets. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Col. Charles L. Malone, Sikeston, has been awarded the Legion of Merit for his work as commanding officer of the War Department Personnel Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. ORAN - The annual school election of Scott County Enlarged School District R-3 will be held April 5 in the high school gymnasium. Voters will choose two directors for three-year terms and one director for a term of two years, and vote on a proposal to authorize a tax levy of $2.35 on $100 assessed valuation...

CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Bluejays return to the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown for the fourth straight year, chasing the state championship that has eluded them the past 10 seasons. No doubt, with a runner-up finish in 2005 and two third-place finishes the previous two years, the Bluejays own a record that most programs would envy...