Stories from Monday, March 27, 2006

CEDAR PARK, Texas - Linda Louise Garner, 55, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died at 7 p.m. March 25, 2006, at Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

EDMOND, Okla. -- Larry J. Miller, 64, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died March 24, 2006, in Edmond. Born Aug. 16, 1941, in Sikeston, son of Bernice Miller Hartlein and the late Leon Miller, Larry graduated from Sikeston High School in 1959 and served three years in the U.S. Army. On Dec. 22, 1961, in Sikeston, he married Carolyn McClanahan. After retirement from Noranda Aluminum, Larry and Carolyn moved to Edmond to spend their retirement years near where their children now reside...

SIKESTON - Celia "Maw" Ross, 75, died March 25, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Jan. 28, 1931, in Eddyville, Ky., son of the late Joe E. Robertson and Tyline Tucker, she was a teacher in the D.A.E.O.C. Headstart Program for over 20 years and a member of the Temple of Faith General Baptist Church...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Lucille Louise Graham, 83, died March 26, 2006, at the Portageville Nursing Center. Born Aug. 24, 1922, in Greenway, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Westley and Sally Vannada. On Dec. 18, 1937, she married William Cecil Graham who preceded her in death on Nov. 9, 1984...

CHAFFEE -- Lucille Lee, 88, died at 10:15 p.m. March 23, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born June 28, 1917, in Rockview, daughter of the late Leonard August Tucker and Lena Caroline Hoefler, she was a homemaker and member of Trinity Gospel Church in Sikeston, where she taught Sunday school for many years...

HAYWARD - H.T. Roberts, 76, died March 24, 2006, at his home. Born Feb. 23, 1930, in Pemiscot County, son of the late Talmus and Dona McKnight Roberts, he was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during the Korean War, and a member of the Assembly of God Church in Portageville...

EAST PRAIRIE - Max Elmer Jenkins, 63, died at 5:15 a.m. March 26, 2006, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Dec. 31, 1942, in East Prairie, to the late Max Leonard and Irene Boyd Jenkins, he had lived most of his life in Mississippi County and was a self-...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Michael Glenn Swilley, 38, died March 24, 2006. Born Oct. 26, 1967, in Sikeston, son of Donald Lee and Glenna Luell Childers Swilley of Sikeston, he was a 1986 graduate of Sikeston High School and a member of the First Baptist Church of Sikeston...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Andy Smithson Jr., 62, formerly of Osceola, Ark., died March 26, 2006, at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems in Hayti. Born Nov. 9, 1943, in Savannah, Tenn., son of the late Andrew Walter Smithson and Mamie Fay Cummings, he had lived in the Osceola area during his lifetime and was a truck driver...

SIKESTON -- Imogene Butler, 89, died March 25, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 10, 1916, in Idalia, daughter of the late John Frank and Bertha Ora Triplett Rankin, she had attended Tanner Street Church of God in Sikeston and before her retirement had worked for the Rural Electric Association in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Mike Witzel, 52, died March 25, 2006, at his home. Born Feb. 11, 1954, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Gus and Josie Schriener Witzel, he had worked for Nova Brik for 21 years and was a member of Tanner Street Church of God. On June 30, 1972, he married Linda Hency who survives of the home...

DEXTER - Mildred Marie Payne, 83, died March 26, 2006, in the Cypress Point Health Care. Born Nov. 7, 1922, at Gibson, daughter of the late James and Fannie Cashion Stafford, she and her husband were the owners of Payne's Shoe Store in downtown Dexter for over 30 years. She was of the Pentecostal belief...

PUXICO - Sally McGowen, 49, died March 24, 2006, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Born April 5, 1956, in Bloomfield, daughter of Eva Mae Hazel Phillips and the late Everett Phillips, she had lived in Puxico and Dexter all her life. On Dec. 17, 1981, she married Rick McGowen who survives of the home...

My name is Cathy Enfield. I am a person with a developmental disability. I live in Independence, Mo. I am active in the community, and I live in my own home, however I do require assistance with some things in order to do so. As my disability affects my speech and writing skills I have asked my father to assist me with this letter...

I received a letter stating that H and R Block was being sued and that I could reply to the lawsuit and possibly receive some money if the court said that H and R was in the wrong. Could you please check into this for me? A $250 million lawsuit accuses H&R Block Inc. of fraudulent marketing of its retirement accounts. The suit was brought by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer....

SIKESTON - Warm weather and light showers in the Sikeston area during the past few days continued to be of great benefit to early gardeners. The low temperature registered during a four-day period was 44, while high marks range from 67-75. SIKESTON - Sikeston's baseball, tennis and golf teams are looking forward to a good season this year. ...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs baseball team dropped to 1-1 on the season with an 11-4 loss to Class 5 power DeSmet on Saturday afternoon at VFW Stadium. "We had chances early in the game," said Sikeston coach Kevin Self. "We had first and third with one out in the first inning and we had second and third with nobody out in the second inning and we only got one out of that. I thought we hit the ball decent. But against a team like that, you've got to score more than four runs."...

JEFFERSON CITY -- A Sikeston resident was appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt to serve on one of his councils. Appointed to the Governor's Council on Disability was J. Blair Moran, 58 of Sikeston. The Governor's Council on Disability serves as the advocate for Missourians with disabilities in state policy making. ...

Brooke Reed, a 2006 poster child of the Kenny Roger's Children Center telethon, dances during the final moments of the telethon Sunday at the Sikeston Field House. Over $250,000 was raised during the two-day event.

SIKESTON - Authorities are still seeking a 16-year Sikeston resident in connection with a shooting Friday evening. At approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers were alerted to a shooting reported at 845 Ruth St. The 15-year-old victim, Corey Simmons, was shot in the left shoulder by the 16-year-old, according to a news release issued by DPS Director Drew Juden...

Jack Tucker, pictured, is the new fire chief for the city of Miner and Dwayne Hawkins has been named assistant fire chief. "Both Mr. Tucker and Mr. Hawkins have been dedicated members of the Miner Fire Department for many years and with their knowledge and leadership, we feel the department is in excellent hands," said Mayor Mitch Thompson and the Board of Alderman in a press release announcing the appointments...

BLOOMFIELD -- Mementos and trophies brought back by soldiers from the Vietnam War are now historical artifacts - and the Stars and Stripes needs them. The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library is planning a dedication ceremony for its new Vietnam War exhibit on July 22. In addition to officially opening the exhibit, the event will include guest speakers, re-enactors and a Vietnam War Living History Day...