Stories from Sunday, August 20, 2006

ORAN -Kelly and Bill Loper are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 6:48 p.m. July 5, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Nolan Michael Loper weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Linda and Michael Wheeler of Oran...

This is a Sikeston resident. I attended the rodeo tonight and happened to see an usher taking a tip from someone who was from out of town. I really didn't think that they could do that. That's their job and I don't think that's right. To all you kids out there that volunteered, it is your job to seat these people and not take their money...

SIKESTON - Building permits for Sikeston calling for construction of five frame dwellings in the city were estimated at a cost of $18,000 recently. SIKESTON - An ordinance revising the plumbing code was passed and approved to become eligible for federal funds in a city council meeting at 5 p.m. Friday...

I don't normally use any unsolicited e-mail correspondence in this column because much of that information cannot be verified. And as everyone knows, much of the so-called "facts" you receive over the Internet are much closer to urban legends than they are to facts. But I'll make an exception in this case...

SIKESTON - A man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting was taken into custody after rounds of tear gas were lobbed into a house early Saturday morning. Robert Eugene Madison was arrested by officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety after approximately a three-hour standoff at a house at 513 John R. Blvd. Madison is suspected in the shooting death of Shekiah Mitchell and injuring her boyfriend, Marcus Robinson...

SIKESTON - The YMCA of Southeast Missouri received a second big boost in its efforts to fund expansion of local facilities. On Friday Montgomery Bank $500,000 from Montgomery Bank toward the construction of the expanded YMCA facilities. The YMCA Board of Directors began fund raising for the expansion April 30...

SIKESTON -- Family and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Marsh are invited to attend a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in their honor from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 26 at the couple's home, 916 Hawthorne. Joe Marsh and Helen Wiggins were married Aug. 16, 1956, in Cuba, Mo. The family requests gifts be omitted from the celebration...

SIKESTON -- Lauren Kelly Wibbenmeyer and Jered D. Wisdom were united in marriage during a 4 p.m. ceremony June 17, 2006, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Sikeston. Monsignor Richard Rolwing served as celebrant. Parents of the bride are Kevin and Colyn Wibbenmeyer of Sikeston, and the bridegroom is the son of Clyde and Cherri Wisdom of Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Pamela Lynn Holland Alcorn and Robert Wayne Jones were united in marriage during a 6 p.m. ceremony Aug. 6, 2006, at a family home in Sikeston. Steven Palmer, elder of Community of Christ Church, officiated. The bride is the daughter of the late Jerry and Virginia Holland. Parents of the bridegroom are Robert and Sharon Jones of Sikeston...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Convention and Visitors Bureau once again introduced a family to the Sikeston Rodeo. On the final Saturday of Rodeo a family was "kidnapped" and invited to a night's lodging and box seats at the Rodeo. In addition local merchants donated items for a special gift basket...

SIKESTON - Richard H. Matthews, M.D., Ph.D., is the new medical director of Bethesda Regional Cancer Treatment Center. Matthews began his new duties Aug. 1. "Dr. Matthew has spent his career to date fighting cancer, both with excellence in treatment of his patients and with research and publication promoting new understanding and protocols in the field of cancer treatment," said Tammy Johnson with Bethesda. "We are pleased he has joined us to serve cancer patients in Sikeston."...

SIKESTON - Katie McGuire was selected as "Employee of the Quarter" at Bootheel Counseling Services. McGuire, who has been with the agency two years, serves as a children's case manager. In nominating McGuire, her colleagues noted she was "a hard worker, has a positive outlook, promotes quality care for her clients along with being compassionate and is genuinely interested in seeing others succeed."...

COLUMBIA - More than 140 high school students from across Missouri attended the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Leadership in Practice program at Stephens College in Columbia. Representing Sikeston High School were Andrea Coleman and Katelynn Austin. They were sponsored by the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce...

C Bar K Western World recently joined the Sikeston Factory Outlet Stores. Pictured from left for a ribbon cutting ceremony are, front row: Missy Marshall, Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce director; Kersten and Chad Tibbs, owners; and Leslie Winchester, vice president of SACC. Second row: Lisa Cox, Standard Democrat advertising executive; Cheryl and Darrell Abner and Ronnie and Jo Tibbs, owners' parents; and Melissa Massey, customer...

SIKESTON -- Ronald L. Grojean of Cape Girardeau and Faye Powell of Maumelle, Ark., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Renee Tiffany Grojean, to David Allen Yarnell, son of Kimmie and John Meinershagen of Versailles. A 1998 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice in 2002 from Columbia College in Columbia. ...

SIKESTON -- Steve and Teresa Eggers and Stanley and Kim Byrd of Sikeston have announced the engagement of their daughter, Tiffany Diane Byrd, to Joshua Carl Riley, son of David and Phyllis Watkins of Bertrand. A 2005 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School, the future bride is employed by Sikeston Motor Co. Her fiance works at Atlas Cold Storage...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs held the annual Red and Black Scrimmage on Friday night at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium. Other than curious fans that make their way to the practice field during the week, it was the public's first glimpse of the 2006 Bulldog football team...

Charleston quarterback Justin Clark (2) tries to turn the corner as Jerrell Quinn (40) pursues during the Bluejay scrimmage.

DEXTER - Grover C. Mosley, 88, died Aug. 18, 2006, in the St. Francis Medical Center at Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Raymond D. Bickings, 77, died Aug. 18, 2006, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers for services held Saturday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Vergia Olean Branson who died on Aug. 14, 2006, were: John Branson, Bill Branson, Chris Branson, Chad Branson, Justin Branson and Matthew Cain.

BERTRAND -- George Herbert Majors, 67, formerly of Poplar Bluff, died at 2: 25 a.m. Aug. 18, 2006, at his home. Born Feb. 3, 1939, in East Prairie, to the late George Herschel and Lera Lara Parker Majors, he was an administrative assistant with International Credit Union in Syracuse, N.Y. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he was a member of New Hope Baptist Church where he served as music minister...