Stories from Tuesday, August 22, 2006

In truth, I shouldn't allow things to bother me. But being human (though some would disagree with that assessment), I read articles that make me wonder how we arrived at this point in our system of justice. I sincerely hope you share my concerns and perhaps my passions...

EAST PRAIRIE -- After waiting all summer for Congress to release funding, East Prairie R-2 school district is finally ready to move forward with its renovations plans. "We're so glad to be able to get started," Scott Downing, superintendent, said. Downing noted the community has been very patient as the district waited for authorization of its funds...

NEW PORT, Ark. - Jeannie Miller, 58, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Aug. 20, 2006, at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs. She was born Aug. 7, 1948, to Eugene Winters and Madia Edwards in Newport, Ark. A 1966 graduate of Sikeston High School, she had been an area resident for the past 28 years and was a member of the Mountain View Church of Glenwood Springs...

NEW MADRID - Louis C. Boulton, 87, died Aug. 21, 2006, at Beverly Health Care in New Madrid. Born July 29, 1919, at Obion County, Tenn., to the late William Riley and Nettie Haynes Boulton, he was a retired farmer. On April 16, 1938, at Union, Tenn., he married Ira Evelyn Bird who preceded him in death on April 14, 1994...

NEW MADRID - Charles Toler, 70, died Aug. 19, 2006, at his home. Born Dec. 21, 1935, in Cardwell, to the late Charles Monroe and Elsie McCormack Toler, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in New Madrid. Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Roy A. and Tammy Toler of Cape Girardeau; one brother, Tommy May of New Madrid; and one sister of St. Louis...

DEXTER -- Pallbearers for services conducted Monday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Al Denny, 72, who died on Aug. 19, 2006, were: Mark Rinehart, Ken Rinehart, Eric Rinehart, Rob Chism, Casey Ash and Roy Kuncle.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Richard Craig Bomar, 50, formerly of Blodgett, died Aug. 21, 2006, at his home. Born March 20, 1956, in Greenville, S.C., son of Richard Harrison and Dora Dean Shelby Bomar of Cape Girardeau, he had lived most of his live in the Blodgett area before moving five years ago to Cape Girardeau where he was employed as the manager of the AM and PM Convenience Store. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and of the Baptist belief...

SIKESTON -- Shekiah Denise Robinson, 25, died Aug. 18, 2006, at her home. Born May 11, 1981, in Sikeston, daughter of Jerry Lee and Irean Mitchell of Sikeston, she was a graduate of Sikeston High School and employed by Unilever/Good Humor Breyer. On May 27, 2006, she married Marcus Tyrone Robinson who survives of the home...

WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. - Thomas Michael Cutlip Sr., 55, formerly of Barboursville, died Aug. 17, 2006, at his home. Born Feb. 9, 1951, in Widen, W.Va., son of Myrtle Collins Wilson Litten of Hurricane, W.Va., and the late Foster Ford Wilson, he had worked at Noranda Aluminum and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served in Vietnam...

DEXTER -- Pallbearers for services conducted at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home on Monday for Helen Cates, 80, who died on Aug. 16, 2006, were: David Hadley, Gene Wisley, Caleb Johns, Jerry Kinnaman, Joseph Jodie Benes and Jimmy Green.

SIKESTON -- Missouri's blood donor pool will soon expand. A new law approved by the state legislature lowers the minimum age for blood donors to 16 with parental consent, according to Freida Cardwell, chairman of the American Red Cross blood services for the Sikeston area...

CARUTHERSVILLE - A 7-year-old boy is recovering after being bitten by a pit bull. According to report from the Caruthersville Police Department the youngster was among several children playing at a residence at 3:30 p.m. Monday. As Amard Bates began playing with the dog, it bit the boy on the hand...

CARUTHERSVILLE - Approximately 20 marijuana plants were confiscated Monday morning in southern Pemiscot County. According to Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell, Pemiscot County deputies, agents with the Bootheel Drug Task Force, Mississippi County Arkansas Sheriff's Department and Arkansas State Police Air Force Support Division located and confiscated the plants around the Steele, Cooter and Holland areas. The seized plants estimated street value is around $15,000...

SIKESTON -- Each year school districts and their teachers face tougher challenges as a result of the federal No Child Left Behind law. Tremendous pressure is placed on teachers because if students don't achieve at the required levels, school districts can be penalized...

SIKESTON - Miss Louise Jackson and Miss Margaret Lambert entertained on Sunday afternoon with a bridge party. SIKESTON - Cutting electrical wires to get copper for resale has become wide-spread in the Bootheel. James C. Stephenson, manager of the Scott-New Madrid Mississippi Electric Cooperative, reported today...

I was wondering if any school in the area is giving computer lessons? Anyone or any school in the area within 20 miles of the Sikeston area. I was reading SpeakOut today and I don't agree with the one that says the farmer gets it all. It's not the farmer, it's the teachers. ...

MARSTON - Veronica Hamilton and Byron Minner are the parents of their second child, second son, born at 2:38 p.m. July 8, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Kayden Gage Minner weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Glendell Hamilton of Marston and the late Robert Hamilton Sr...

10 ways for parents to help teachers Mimi Doe of PAT offers the following top 10 ways for parents to help teachers: 1. Create a smooth takeoff each day. Give your children a hug before they venture out the door and you head to work. Look them in the eyes and tell them how proud you are of them. Your child's self-confidence and security will help them perfrom well both in school and in life...

I can appreciate what mixed martial arts competitions are trying to do but I'm not sure they are achieving their goal. The idea behind the current MMA competitions is to determine who the best martial art fighters are. The Ultimate Fighting Championship began as an exhibition to prove that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the best fighting system by presenting "style versus style" matchups...

SIKESTON - The start of the softball season for the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs didn't go as well as hoped against the Farmington Knightettes at the Sikeston Complex. Many knew that losing three all-conference caliber players from a season ago would be arduous for head coach Tiffany King and her returning Lady Bulldog players...