Stories from Thursday, September 21, 2006

We are truly a nation of superlatives. Let me explain.On today's leg of my Western swing, I have seen the Largest Cross in the Northern Hemisphere, the Largest Steak served in any Texas restaurant (72 oz.), and the World's Largest Petrified Tree. And that's just today!...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulldogs shutout the DeSoto Dragons at the Sikeston Complex on Wednesday night, 1-0. Sikeston keeper Scott Droddy recorded his first shutout of the season and senior Blake Taylor scored the only goal of the game to lift the Bulldogs...

JACKSON -- If there is one program in Southeast Missouri that has set the standard the last 10 to 15 years, it's the Jackson Indians. Although the program hasn't been as dominant since a tremendous run from 1994-2001, the Indians still are arguably the top team in the region nearly every year, winning league titles three straight seasons...

SIKESTON -- Officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety are investigating an incident that occurred early this morning. According to a DPS incident report, officers responded to Missouri Delta Medical Center at just after 6 a.m. today after a report of a man with stab wounds...

SIKESTON -- After 30 years with Bootheel Counseling Services, Ron Steinmetz is retiring from the agency. Steinmetz has been with Bootheel Counseling Services since it was established. "I opened our doors for clients on Jan. 2, 1976," Steinmetz recalled. "I was one of the first three staff members and served as the executive director but obviously my role back then was to be a clinical therapist."...

POCAHONTAS, Ark. -- Charles Lea Meadows, 80, formerly of Dudley, Mo., died Sept. 19, 2006, at Pocahontas. Born Jan. 2, 1926, in Melbourne, daughter of the late Jewell Hindman and Frances Johnson Miller, she was a former member of the Dudley Church of God where she was active with the Ladies Willing Workers. A former member of the Art Society of Dexter, Mo., she was a former seamstress for Elder Manufacturing Co...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Lois Lucille Keen Delk, 82, died Sept. 13, 2006. Daughter of the late Curtis and Ruth Macko Keen, she had worked in the plastics assembly line at RCA for 26 years, retiring in 1985. She then worked for the Caravan Club with the Murat Temple, Scottish Rite and the Lilly Endowment Fund until 2002. She was a member of Thompson Road Baptist Church and Silver Authors...

DEXTER -- Sylvia Stickles, 93, died Sept. 19, 2006, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Born July 5, 1913, in Dexter, daughter of the late John and Phoebe Harrell Pullum, she had lived all her life in Dexter and was affiliated with the Assembly of God Church...

BUTLER -- The Rev. Joe Bob Woodiel, 73, died Sept. 18, 2006, in Kansas City. Born Sept. 4, 1932, in Austin, Ark., son of the late Rheuben and Pauline Pounds Woodiel, he was an ordained Southern Baptist minister for 57 years. During this time he served as pastor in churches throughout Missouri and Arkansas...

DEXTER -- Pallbearers at services conducted Wednesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter for Charles Ray Gallamore, 64, who died Sept. 17, 2006, were: Brenden Stevenson, Joe Skaggs, Daniel Barks, Leslie Skaggs, Curt Gallamore and Cory Stevenson...

DEXTER -- Pallbearers at funeral services conducted Wednesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter for Terry Scroggins, 46, who died Sept. 18, 2006, were: Garry Scroggins, Barry Scroggins, Don Prunty, Billy Scroggins, Derek Driskill and Kevin McCormick...

BERNIE -- Howard Zimmerman, 89, died Sept. 20, 2006, at Malden Nursing Center in Malden. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.

The campaign presently being waged by Missourian for Lifesaving Cures is misleading voters by not providing the full story about human cloning, embryonic stem cell research and the exploitation of women through egg harvesting. While Paul Harvey's radio show always includes the segment "The Rest of the Story", voters in Missouri are not getting the "rest of the story."...

I'd like to speak out against the stalker giving me the dirty looks. You know who you are, driving by giving me dirty looks. I just want you to know that I am not afraid of you. If I was you, I would go away somewhere. I don't know what else to tell you except that you need to watch your step and lay low and leave people alone, especially old women. By the way, I'm not intimidated by you...

SIKESTON - Construction projects totaling $18,000 will be started soon in Sikeston, it was learned today from an inspection of records at the city clerk's office. SIKESTON - George Dawes, attorney for the state highway department, was released Thursday from Missouri Delta Community Hospital following a single car accident Wednesday night...

HAYTI -- A major supplier of methamphetamine in the northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri areas was arrested Monday in an undercover operation by several law enforcement agencies. According to Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell, the sheriff's department and Bootheel Drug Task Force with assistance from the Second Judicial Task Force and Blytheville, Ark., Police Department arrested Arther James, 29, and Freddie Taylor, 38, both of Blytheville for delivering a controlled substance...

SIKESTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has forgiven over $5 million in debt being assessed on 40 Missouri schools. Among school districts affected by Wednesday's announcement was New Madrid County R-1, which will have $222,731.59 in commodity values credited to its school food service account...

MOREHOUSE - A company which can trace its roots in Southeast Missouri to the late 1800s is closing its manufacturing operation here. The Rowe Companies and its manufacturing subsidiary Rowe Furniture Co. filed a petition Tuesday seeking protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. A manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture, Rowe has facilities at Morehouse and Poplar Bluff...