Stories from Tuesday, April 18, 2006

There's an old saying about telling a lie. It says if you're going to tell a lie you might as well make it a big one because people will believe a big lie easier than a small one. That warped logic was not lost on a Missouri couple who concocted a tale of sextuplets to help gain donations for their mounting financial crisis. After all, if you're going to lie, make it a big one!...

NEW MADRID -- Gertrude Burrage, 57, died April 17, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.

CHARLESTON -- Rena Mae Swope, 76, died April 12, 2006, at her home. Born March 2, 1930, in Clarkton, daughter of the late Larkin and Lillie Mae Ralston Swope, she was a former member of the New Promise Land Church in Chicago. Survivors include: one niece, Dorothy Strong of Evanston, Ill.; and great-...

BETHESDA, Md. -- Eleanor Hempstone Bowman, 81, pianist, singer, teacher and historian, died of sepsis and pulmonary complications on March 24, 2006, and was interred Monday at Arlington National Cemetery. She was the wife of Col. John W.Bowman, USMC, Ret., son of Scott County Milling Company owner Lee Reed Bowman (dec.) and the late Verna Cox Bowman. She is to be buried next to her husband...

ESSEX -- Wanda Sanders, 66, died April 17, 2006, at her home in Essex. Born Nov. 4, 1939, in Choctaw, Ark., daughter of the late George Landy and Sallie Jewel Robison Maddox, she had lived in St. Charles, Ill., before moving to Dexter in 1970. In 1991, she moved to Essex, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Joseph "Joe" Eugene Mitchell, 66, died April 16, 2006, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born March 25, 1940, in Harrisburg, Ill., the son of the late Liston and Iva Corrine Hutcheson Mitchell, he was a pipeliner for 46 years and was currently working for H.C. Price and Company. He was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church and Teamsters and Operators Union...

SIKESTON -- J.R. Jerry Watson, 81, died April 15, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 19, 1925, in Portageville, son of the late Payton and Melvie (Baker) Watson, he owned and operated Midland Engineering and had worked for Clinton Construction Company before retiring. He was a recipient of the United States Army Bronze Star for his service during World War II and had been a member of the Sikeston Jaycees and secretary of the Sikeston Country Club...

SIKESTON - Carl Robert Hazel Sr., 78, died April 16, 2006, at his home in Sikeston. Born March 3, 1928, in Springfield, Mo., son of the late Arthur and Ruby Gail (Letterman) Hazel, he attended school in Srpingfield, graduated from Aurora High School, was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ, House Parents at Shady Acres Children's Home, the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, AM Radio Relay League, Inc. ...

BLODGETT -- Racers from Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Alabama came together April 8 to race for the $23,000 Purse offered by SEMO RACEWAY for their 5th Annual Coca Cola Spring Showdown. Saturday's race had 171 drivers participating in the first race of the seasons in spite of the adverse weather conditions and cold temperatures...

SIKESTON - Dr. A.D. Martin this week purchased a valuable building lot on North Park Avenue from John Welter. SIKESTON - Cline Ables was elected president of the Sikeston Home Builders Association at an organizational meeting Monday at the Imperial Lanes. Thirty were present...

I am a working single mother of two. I do not get government aid. I am not in public housing or Section 8. I would like to ask some of the mothers or parents who are, how do you go about getting those 2000 year vehicles that you are driving? You know you ride through the projects and you are driving 2005 vehicles sitting on 18-inch rims. I'm just wondering if the government is paying your rent, or they paying your truck note too? Just curious...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Sikeston tennis team stayed undefeated on the season with a 7-2 victory against Poplar Bluff to improve to 5-0. Sikeston will host Cape Central today at 4 p.m. "I thought we really played well today," said Sikeston coach Brian James. "We had some guys playing up some spots in the lineup that really stepped it up and got some big wins for us. Our doubles play was really strong today. We were aggressive at the net and served pretty well at times."...

KENNETT -- After finding out their best left-handed hitter and pitcher was out for the season, the Kennett Indians didn't seem to be themselves Monday. The Indians committed three errors and were held to just one hit in an 8-3 loss to the New Madrid County Central Eagles at Indian Park in SEMO Conference action...

DEXTER -- Its name may be changing, but members of Southeast Missouri's Cotton Boll Area Council Inc. say don't expect a change in the quality or delivery of services to its Girl Scouts. As part of the Girl Scouts of USA's recent decision to realign its councils nationwide, the Cotton Boll Council headquartered in Dexter will join four other councils to make one new Girl Scout council...

SIKESTON -- Charles and Susan Hoffman have announced the engagement of their daughter, Courtney Elyse, to Christopher Gaylon Newton, son of Gaylon and Tammy Newton. The couple are both graduates of Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton. The prospective bridegroom is a supervisor at Elfrink Transportation in Cape Girardeau, and the future bride is employed at Staples...

LILBOURN - A search is under way for a suspect in an armed robbery. At approximately 10:50 p.m. Sunday, a black male, armed with a gun, entered the Casey's General Store, located at the intersection of routes D and U, and demanded money. After receiving an undetermined amount of cash, the man fled the store and was last seen heading north on foot...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston residents should begin making arrangements now to take advantage of the annual community cleanup campaign. The nine-day opportunity to get rid of junk and yard trash begins Saturday, according to Steve Lee, street superintendent, and continues through April 30...

BENTON - Jimmy Johnson and Shakilia Hoskins are the parents of their second child, first daughter, born at 8:27 a.m. March 13, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Angel-Jo Marie Johnson weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 16.75 inches long...