Stories from Thursday, September 7, 2006

PORTAGEVILLE - Gloria Jean Sisson, 63, died Sept. 1, 2006, at her home. Born July 5, 1943, at Portageville, daughter of the late James and Bessie Mae Drake Sisson, she attended Scott School in Portageville. She was a member of Bethleham Missionary Baptist Church in Swift and attended New Beginnings Apostolic Church...

SAN ANTONIO - John Harrison Bloomfield, 73, beloved husband and father, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 4, 2006. He was born May 13, 1933, in Sikeston, Mo., where he grew up. John enjoyed a 32-year career with Continental Airlines. He was a man of strong faith, family and integrity. ...

BENTON - Herbert H. Seiler, 80, died at 10 a.m. Sept. 6, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 25, 1926, at Oran, son of the late Herman and Mary Snider Seiler, he was a farmer and a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a technical sergeant...

SIKESTON - Lawrence Wesley McCain, 68, died at 5 p.m. Sept. 6, 2006, at the emergency room of Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born April 13, 1938, in Sikeston, to the late Ernest and Fern Goetz McCain, he was owner and operator of McCain's Construction Company and attended the New Life Chapel of the First United Methodist Church...

GREENBRIER, Ark. -- Dr. Ron E. "Ronnie" Blair, 59, formerly of Catron, Mo., died Sept. 5, 2006, at his home in Greenbrier. Born May 11, 1947 in Catron, son of the late Clifton Edward and Alfredia York Blair, he was a doctor of veterinary medicine having received his degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Sadie Buttry, 90, formerly of Stoddard County, died Sept. 5, 2006, at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis. Born Aug. 29, 1916, in Kinder, daughter of the late John and Myrtle Hill Atchison, she had lived in Puxico before moving to St. Louis 46 years ago...

SIKESTON - The joy bells of heaven were ringing throughout the heavenly realm because another one of God's precious children was entering Heaven's gates. Jennie Lou "Jenna" Richards had successfully completed her earthly journey in Sikeston, Mo., on Sept. 7, 2006. Her parents, Ray and Willie Richards, together with many other family and friends who preceded Jenna, were excitedly awaiting her arrival in the celestial city...

PINHOOK - Wallace S. Peebles, 79, died at 4:20 a.m. Sept. 7, 2006, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

SIKESTON - Richard Jay Hutchison, 57, died Sept. 6, 2006, at Hunter Acres Caring Center. Blanchard Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

SIKESTON -- Vernon E. Magee, 72, formerly of Mississippi County, died at 4 p.m. Sept. 6, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born April 15, 1934, in Crocket County, Tenn., son of the late J.W. and Zora Stinnett Magee, he had lived in Mississippi County near Brewers Lake for 38 years until moving to Sikeston in 1990 and had been employed in farming until ill health forced his retirement in October 1988. He was a member of Wyatt Baptist Church...

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Lt. Earl Dawson, formerly of New Madrid, Mo., died Aug. 12, 2006. Born in 1952, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. In June 1987, he began working as police officer with Indiana State University and then completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. In 1995, he was promoted to the detective division of ISU; then in 1997, he was promoted to his recent position of lieutenant and supervised the Uniform Patrol Division and Community Service Officer Program...

Lake in the Hills, Ill. -- Charles E. Denning, 64, died Aug. 11, 2006, following an extended illness. Born May 10, 1942, in Missouri, son of the late F.U. and Ethel Stokes Denning, he lived in the Chicago area. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a retired 36-year employee of Xerox...

DIEHLSTADT - Pallbearers for funeral services held Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home for Mary Elizabeth Claycomb, 72, who died Sept. 2, 2006, were: Larry Brazel, Ronnie Michael, Doug Heuring, Darrel Watson, Billy Watson and Kenny Wells.

On Aug. 9 I had a heart attack and two EMT's came to my house, pouring down rain, right in the middle of rodeo time. And one little girl that was helping get in the gurney got hurt. The gurney flipped and hurt her wrist. And bless her heart, she still took the best of care of me anybody ever could. ...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lambert will leave Friday for Muskogee, Okla., where they will be located. Mr. Lambert has leased the airfield there from the city. SIKESTON - There will be a meeting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the dining area of the Missouri Delta Community Hospital for all girls who want to be candy stripers this year...

CHARLESTON -- For the 121st time, the Sikeston and Charleston football teams will meet on the gridiron on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Marshall Field. The Bulldogs own a commanding 83-33-4 advantage on Charleston, but it's been the Bluejays that have been celebrating lately, winning the last two seasons...

PORTAGEVILLE - The Portageville Bulldogs football team will look for their first victory of the 2006 season as SEMO South Conference foe Scott City Rams will invade Vic Reaves Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m. Last week, the Bulldogs lost 35-7 to Piggott, Ark. while the Rams lost at Malden, 33-14...

BENTON - The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs softball team dropped their eighth straight on Wednesday afternoon to the Kelly Lady Hawks 17-2 in four innings. Sikeston has struggled early in the season with their bats, but did put together some offense against the Lady Hawks...

CARUTHERSVILLE - An autopsy will be conducted today on a man found dead at a residence in Holland. Pemiscot County deputies were notified about 1 p.m. Wednesday of a man receiving a gunshot wound to the head. Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell said the deputies found the man lying in middle of the living room floor at the residence...

As one who keeps a fairly close eye on the Medicaid issue in Missouri, I'm disappointed that the GOP sponsors of reform legislation failed to agree and now a special session of the Legislature appears unlikely. Gov. Matt Blunt said earlier he would call the special session to restore Medicaid cuts to nearly 3,000 disabled Missourians if lawmakers would also approve legislation to address fraud by medical providers. ...

SIKESTON -- Looking for a way to contribute to your community? Support your local United Way. The Sikeston Area United Way is kicking off its 2006-2007 campaign today, according to Anna Ferrell, chairperson for the campaign. "We are still an active and vital part of the Southeast Missouri area," Ferrell said. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A class action lawsuit was filed Wednesday on behalf of Missouri rice growers whose crop values have plummeted in recent weeks due to the contamination of their commercial rice supply with a genetically engineered rice which has not been approved for human consumption by the United States Department of Agriculture...

SIKESTON -- Tony Barborek clutched the scorched American flag that managed to escape Tuesday night's fire at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3174 in Sikeston. "They thought we'd might like to have it," the VFW quartermaster said as he scanned what was left of the building Wednesday morning...

BENTON -- Two Scott County teenagers are in custody in connection to the vandalism spree that included slashing tires and spray painting buildings and vehicles in Oran. Heather Turner, 17, and Melba Hays, 17, of Morley are charged with property damage and tampering. They are being held in Scott County Jail on $10,000 cash bond set by Judge David C. Mann...