Stories from Monday, July 17, 2006

Yesterday we closed our business and went to lunch. When we returned, the police had our street blocked off and all streets leading to our area, as there was a gas main leak between Satterfield Wrecker Service and the railroad track. We were allowed to get our puppy out of our shop and lock the shop down as it was taking all afternoon to get the leak stopped, the whole area was blocked by barriers and police. ...

SIKESTON - At the Malone, "Ziegfield Follies" with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. At the Rex, "Mrs. Parkington" with Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson. SIKESTON - Lance Walters, who will be a junior at Sikeston High School, was among 78 high ability secondary school students who attended the 11th annual Junior Engineers and Scientists Summer Institute in June and July at Greencastle, Ind...

CHARLESTON - James E. Moore III, former Scott County prosecuting attorney, died at 12:30 a.m. July 16, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was 66. Born July 31, 1939, in St. Louis to the late James E. and Verona DeVore Moore, he lived in Sikeston where he was a 57-year-member of the Sikeston United Methodist Church. In November 2004, he moved to Charleston and transferred his membership to the Charleston United Methodist Church...

Youngsters get ready to release their turtles during one of the heats in the turtle races held Saturday evening at the annual New Hamburg Picnic.

MATTHEWS - Ten years of hard work has paid off for the Matthews Fire Department and the entire town will reap the benefits. Recent inspection by the Insurance Service Organization led to a lower fire rating in the Matthews area. The ISO rates fire departments across the country on a 1-10 scale to determine home-owners insurance rates in a community. A one rating is awarded to the best departments and a 10 is given to the worst...

SIKESTON -- There's no middle road when it comes to short styles for young women this summer. "It's really short shorts or really long shorts," said Bobbi Tinnin, a member of management at Goody's Family Clothing in Sikeston. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Little of Sikeston said Bermuda shorts, which are knee-length, are a huge hit this year. "They're easy just to throw on and go," she said...

CHARLESTON -- A public demonstration of Mississippi County's new AutoMARK voting machines will be from 2-4 p.m. July 24 in the County Commission meeting room located on the first floor of the county courthouse. The demonstration, which will be conducted by County Clerk Junior DeLay, will provide the public with an opportunity to see how the machine works before the primary election Aug. 8...

LILBOURN - Fletcher Wayne Brimer, 33, died July 15, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 14, 1972, in Watervliet, Mich., he was the son of Melba (Fletcher) Clark of Lilbourn and the late Virgil Brimer. In addition to his mother, he is survived by: five sisters and brothers-in-law, LaDonna and Denson Taylor and Bridgett and Russell Masterson, all of New Madrid; Paula and Mike Roberts, Karen and Johnny Lively and Peanut and Barry Ash, all of Lilbourn; his fiancee, Sondra White of the home; one stepson, J.B. ...

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Betty Jean Utley, 58, formerly of New Madrid, Mo., died at 4:25 p.m. July 14, 2006 in her home. Born May 26, 1948 in New Madrid, daughter of the late J.L. and Georgia Reese Ergle, she had retired from Francis House after 12 years, where she had many special friends...

DUDLEY - Shirley Ann Shipman Temples, 84, died July 16, 2006, at her home. Born July 16, 1942, in Dexter, daughter of the late James C. and Edna Edwards Shipman, she was a member of the Peoples Full Gospel Church in Dudley and along with her husband, she was the co-owner of Temples Auction Service in Dexter...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers for funeral services conducted today at Ponder Funeral Home for Lola Adcock, 79, who died July 14, 2006, were: Mark Andracsek, Jason Adcock, Aaron Adcock, Lyle Miller, Roy Miller and Wesley Davis.

EAST PRAIRIE -- City Administrator Kathie Sue Simpkins, 51, died at 7:20 a.m. July 16, 2006, at her home, following an inspirational hard-fought battle against cancer. Born April 2, 1955, in Cairo, Ill., daughter of Earl D. and Mary Alice Furlong Simpkins, she chose to spend her life in her hometown, where she was a 1973 graduate of East Prairie High School. In 1978, she graduated from Southeast Missouri State University, where she majored in business administration/marketing management...

SIKESTON -Maeola Conley, 95, died July 16, 2006, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Dec. 5, 1910, in Louisville, Ky., daughter of the late Charles and Louvella Hazel Tucker, she was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sikeston...

MOREHOUSE - Evelyn J. Lewis, 79, died July 16, 2006, at the High Point Regional Medical Center in High Point, N.C. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home of Sikeston.

POTEAU, Okla. - Cody Shay Baker, 20, died July 15, 2006, at Hartford, Ark, of injuries sustained in a car accident. Born May 12, 1986, in Sikeston, Mo., son of Steven Baker of Sikeston and Kathy Reece Scarbrough of Poteau, he was a factory worker. In addition to his parents, survivors include: one brother, Bryce Baker of Sikeston; grandparents, Paul and Mary Baker of Clarkton, Mo., and Roger and Jean Reece of Malden, Mo.; aunts and uncles, Dawn and Mackie McKinley of Charleston, Mo., Teresa Pope of Sikeston, Sandra and Terry Smith and Betty Pattillo of Gideon, Mo., Roger Reece and James Baker of Malden and Jack and Amy Baker of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and several cousins and friends.. ...

EAST PRAIRIE - Joyce Lay, 63, died July 17, 2006, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at this time with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

PUXICO - Claude Rowark, 82, formerly of Cahokia, Ill., died July 13, 2006, at Southeast Hospital at Cape Girardeau. Born June 10, 1924, in Sikeston, he worked for General Motors, retiring in 1983, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Puxico...

NEW MADRID -- Elva May Chesser, 97, died July 14, 2006, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 19, 1909, in Mississippi, to the late Claude and Delia Rider Lancaster. She married Frank Blackwell, who preceded her in death. One son, Terrell Blackwell, also preceded her in death...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston's Ron Baker played a major role in leading the Texas Stars to the 2006 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Men's 50-and-Over Fast Pitch National Championship earlier this month in Prescott, Ariz. Baker's stellar performance earned him first-team All-American honors as an outfielder. He won the tournament batting championship, going a torrid 15-...