Stories from Sunday, June 18, 2006

SIKESTON CORPORATE GAMES STANDINGS...

Winners of first place in the second session of the Bootheel Dart League, sponsored by Cronies Sports Bar, were, from left: Rob Rice, Brandon Aycock, Scott Keffer and Michael Bewley.

Alan Wire took first place in the Sikeston Corporate Games XI 8-ball competition. Pictured are Mary Pierce and Shane McCutchen.

PUXICO -- Nellie B. Linson, 104, died June 16, 2006, at her daughter's home in Poplar Bluff. Born Jan. 2, 1902, in West End, Ill., daughter of the late Louis Everest and Mary M. Trombley Boismenue, she was the only living charter member left of the Assembly of God Church in Puxico. She attended the Egypt Church in Puxico...

CHALESTON -- Frances Welch, 89, died at 4:10 p.m. June 16, 2006, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Dec. 5, 1916, in Diehlstadt, daughter of the late Atlas and Colna Stone Summers, she lived in Diehlstadt most of her life, where she was a member of the Southern Baptist Church...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Darryl John Dumey, 40, died June 15, 2006. Born March 7, 1966, in Cape Girardeau, son of Larry Ralph Dumey of Scott City and the late Dixie Lee Glastetter, he was a service coordinator for the American Red Cross and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church...

SIKESTON - Taxes were hiked by the city council in a meeting held at the city hall Wednesday night. The tax rate was set at $1.25 on a hundred dollar valuation, a raise of 25 cents from last year's review. SIKESTON - I.O. Whitworth Jr., P.E. of Sikeston, has been elected president of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers. ...

On very rare occasions people are not killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. More often than not they are killed, or paralyzed. When it comes to a motorcycle helmet, there is no question. Bikers say it should be their choice. It's my choice if I want to pay for a nurses aide to wipe your behind for the next 40 years because you had a right to ride without a helmet. I will never support a no helmet law in Missouri. It needs to go further and make strapless helmets illegal...

Three national news reports caught my attention this week. Granted, they are unrelated in any form or fashion but they all either have or will impact your life and mine somewhere down the road. And thus, they generated my interest. First, hurrah for the Supreme Court. ...

SIKESTON - It may be their names on the August ballot, but Gary Branum and Steve Hodges, candidates for state representative for the 161 District, say the work leading up to election day is a family affair. Sending e-mails, walking door-to-door, encouraging people to register to vote, it's all in a day's work for the families of Branum and Hodges...

SIKESTON -- Back-to-school shoppers will get their sales tax holiday in Sikeston and surrounding areas this year. Council members decided during a special meeting Thursday to not pass an ordinance opting out of the three-day tax break for school supplies...

4-4, 3.14 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 24 walks, 49 innings pitched ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ .438, 5 HR, 24 RBIs, 56 runs, 8 doubles, 2 triples ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

5-6, 1.93 ERA, 100 strikeouts, 14 walks, 69 innings pitched ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .517, 3 HR, 23 RBIs, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 21 runs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

Austin Dumey personifies the prototypical blue-collar baseball player. He conducted his on-field business with very little flash or fanfare, just a lunch-bucket work ethic and workmanlike efficiency. Dumey, a senior infielder and pitcher for Oran High School, is the 2006 Standard Democrat Player of the Year...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulls continued their winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Farmington Firebirds in Kitty League action on Friday night at VFW Stadium. With the win, the Bulls have won two in a row and four of the last five games. Sikeston got a good combination of solid pitching and clutch hits to put out the Firebirds...

SIKESTON -- The Class 1 All-Region and All-District soccer teams were released with several Sikeston athletes being honored. All-Region, comprised of District 1 and District 2 athletes, had Sikeston sophomore Jordi Ferrell and freshman Abbi Keefer selected...

SIKESTON -- High school cheerleaders in Missouri were sidelined last week when the Missouri State High School Activities Association announced it soon wouldn't be sanctioning state competitions anymore. But, in typical cheerleading fashion, local cheerleaders and their coaches are taking a positive approach to the situation and bouncing back in perfect form...

YMCA T-ball coach Bobby Crosier pays attention to the goings on of the game while his son, Kramer, prefers to play in the outfield.

SIKESTON -- Erin Bell had worked towards becoming the next Miss Missouri for months. She had a personal trainer, a voice coach and several mock interviews. But all that didn't prepare the Sikeston resident for the shock of being one of the top two contestants and becoming the first runner-up at the state pageant in Mexico, Mo. June 7-10...

The Sikeston and Miner Convention and Visitors Bureau benefited from the Heartland Writers Conference this past weekend, almost, as much as the writers did. Although we did not attend the conference as a writer, we were out at the Conference to take the group goodie bags and assist the schedulers of the conference. Our intent was to meet and make contacts with writers who would be interested in writing articles on our area that we can use for advertisements in magazines, newspapers, etc...

Brad Hoyer and Brandon Hoyer of Brad's Rebuild look at the engine of a 2006 Chevrolet HHR LT Sedan Monday afternoon at Fisher Auto Parts. The Hoyers won the vehicle Saturday night at the NASCAR Busch Series Federated Auto Parts 300 at the Nashville Superspeedway. Over 2,000 race fans visited the Federated Auto Parts VIP tent with only 12 receiving a key for the official pace car for the race. The key the Hoyers received started the vehicle...

SIKESTON -- As baby boomers approach their senior years, changes are in store for the American work force. And if Mildred Chambers, RN supervisor at Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston is an example, the transition will go well. Chambers recently received a certificate of recognition for her being a candidate in the 16th annual Outstanding Older Worker Contest, a competition which emphasizes the unique contribution older workers bring to the work force and encourages employers to hire more mature workers.. ...

SIKESTON - Efforts by two local businesses to help others fulfill the American dream of homeownership earned recognition from the from USDA Rural Development. Faye Walborg and the Century 21 Premier Realty staff and the staff at First Midwest Bank were presented certificates of appreciation. The presentations were in conjunction with the proclamation that June is Homeownership Month...

PATTERSON -- Mark and Judy Davis have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Davis, to Ben Wilson, son of Michelle Wilson of Sikeston and the late Steve Wilson. A 1999 graduate of Clearwate High School and a 2003 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, the future bride is employed as a sixth grade teacher at Central Middle School in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON -- Larry and Shelby Barker of Muskogee, Okla., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Meredith Helen, to Jonathan Allen Quillman, son of Mickeal and Trienna Quillman Sr. of Sikeston. A 2004 graduate of Fort Gibson High School, the future bride earned an associate's degree in general studies from Connors State College in May. She is employed by Harps Pharmacy...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Brittney Rae Parson and Jeffrey Scott McNiell were united in marriage May 20, 2006, at the First Church of God in Poplar Bluff. Richard Triplet performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Albert and Lisa Parson of Poplar Bluff, and the bridegroom is the son of James and Wilda McNiell of Sikeston...

NEW MADRID -- James "Buck" LaFerney, 74, died June 15, 2006, after a lengthy illness. He died peacefully at his New Madrid Home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Nov. 3, 1931, in Conran, to the late Albert LaFerney and Hazel Howard LaFerney Pardon. He was a graduate of Marston High School and served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean Conflict. After 30 years of service at General Motors he returned to Missouri and the Mississippi River where he enjoyed his love of fishing...

CHARLESTON -- Joseph T. "Joe" Groves, 77, died at 4:40 a.m. June 15, 2006, at the Charleston Manor. Born Oct. 4, 1928, in Caruthersville, son of the late William and Ellie B. Hutson Groves, he had lived most of his life in Mississippi County where he was employed by the Brown Shoe Company in Charleston until his retirement. He was a member of the Elm Street Baptist Church...