Stories from Thursday, November 16, 2006

NEW MADRID - The city of New Madrid is putting the lid on its trash business. In a recent meeting, the New Madrid City Council awarded the trash bid contract to Allied Waste Services of Dexter. The new service will begin in January. According to City Administrator John Gilbert, the change is a result of several problems faced by the city including employee turnover, insurance issues, operation cost increases and citizen complaints with dog problems...

Scott Welton Standard Democrat SIKESTON -- Traveling without a seat belt for Thanksgiving is strictly for the birds, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation -- especially if you drive a pickup truck. "It's always an important message to let folks know to buckle up, but especially during this time of the year when there are more drivers on the highways," said Angie Wilson, community relations manager for MoDOT's southeast district. ...

SIKESTON - In their last home game, and the second to the last game of the season, the Bulldogs will play East Prairie Friday night. SIKESTON - Fire and smoke destroyed the entire supply of drugs and dry goods and much of the building at Shy's Rexall Drug Store in the Midtowner Shopping Center Thursday. Insurance claim adjuster will look at the loss today. No estimate on loss was available...

Now that the Democrats have gotten in, what are they going to do with all the Mexicans that need to be taken back home and stop any more from crossing? l bet they do nothing. You're right, Notre Dame does have excellent academics, but it doesn't have excellent academics because it is expensive. ...

Sikeston forward Michael Porter drives to the basket while James Bonner (partially blocked) and Brandon Washington defend during practice at the Field House on Wednesday. The Bulldogs will open the season on Nov. 28 against defending Arkansas state champion Blytheville...

SHERIDAN, Ark. - The Rev. Basil Edwards, 91, died Nov. 14, 2006. Born Nov. 11, 1915, the son of the late Oscar J. and Hazel Harper Edwards, he was also raised by his stepmother, Elva Edwards. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church at Sheridan and had served as pastor of Assemblies of God Churches in Leola, Harrison, Warren, West Memphis and Little Rock. He formerly served on the Arkansas Assemblies of God Executive Presbytery Board...

NEW MADRID - Hazel Mae "MeMe" Barbre Horton, 78, died Nov. 14, 2006, at her home. Born Nov. 24, 1927, in the Yellow Dog Community, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Goldie Summers Barbre. On Sept. 28, 1946, she married Baz B. Horton, who preceded her in death on Sept. 4, 1990...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Willie E. Williams, 80, died at 3 p.m. Nov. 15, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

NASHVILLE, Ark. -- Jordan Nicole Mauk, 12, died Nov. 10, 2006 in Nashville. Born Feb. 12, 1994, in Texarkana, Texas, daughter of David and Annette Purifoy Mauk of Nashville, she was a sixth grade student at Nashville Public School. She attended the Sunset Church of Christ in Nashville, was a member of the 4-H Shooting Stars, in the Elementary Band and was a fifth-year student in the Nashville Dance Academy...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Earl R. Bissel, 83, died Nov. 14, 2006, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. Born Jan. 15, 1923, in Arkansas, he was the son of the late Guy and Minnie Ross Bissel. He married Imogene Taylor who preceded him in death in 1997. Also preceding him in death were: two sons, Kenny Bissel and Billy Wayne Bissel; one sister, Mae Ella Bissel; and three grandchildren...

DEXTER -- Donald Eugene McCollough, 64, died Nov. 14, 2006, near Bloomfield. Born Aug. 30, 1942, near Dexter, son of the late Alfred L. and Thelma Eaton McCollough, he was a construction superintendent for Brown Construction at Dexter, a former scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 70 in Dexter and of the Christian belief...

SIKESTON - Douglas Cammon, formerly of New Madrid, died Nov. 16, 2006, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Richards Funeral Home of New Madrid.

Our 4th grade class is currently studying the regions of the United States. We are learning about each state and their environment, landforms, and pecial places of interest. We are asking for your help. We would like people to send us postcards that show us what your state is like. ...

PORTAGEVILLE - The Portageville Lady Bulldogs basketball team looks for a stellar year with four starters returning for the 2006-07 season. Last season, Portageville lost to Doniphan in the Class 3, District 1 semifinals and finished the year at 17-10. The Donettes finished the year by making the final four...

SEMO NORTH Cape Central Tigers (4-7) Jackson Indians (6-4) Poplar Bluff Mules (3-7) Sikeston Bulldogs (2-8) SEMO CENTRAL Caruthersville Tigers (7-5) Charleston Bluejays (3-6) Dexter Bearcats (8-2) Kennett Indians (1-8) NMCC Eagles (8-3) SEMO SOUTH...

Attorney General Jay Nixon will make a lot of new friends if he's successful in adding automated political calls to the state's No Call List. Nixon on Wednesday urged lawmakers to approve legislation that would halt the non- stop political calls during the campaign season. Many Missourians reported getting dozens of calls on behalf of candidates or ballot issues...

Shelia Wilson, Falkoff's Men's Store employee, decorates the store Wednesday. The Downtown Merchants Association is preparing for their Downtown Christmas Open House which starts Friday with Santa Claus at the Depot parking lot at 5 p.m. Also there will be the Sikeston Public Library story time, free carriage rides, carolers and other activities. The open house ends Saturday...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Five adults and two children were injured in an accident involving two freightliners and two other vehicles Wednesday in New Madrid County. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 5:14 p.m. on Interstate 55, one mile north of Portageville, the accident occurred when southbound motorist Nirmal Singh, 43, of Bramtton, Ontario, Canada, lost control of his freightliner. The vehicle overturned across both southbound lanes...

Steve Forbis, a Sikeston Rotary Club member, places new auction items on display Wednesday night at the Clinton Building. Tonight is the final night of the Rotary Auction, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. A complete list of auction items is provided on Page 7 of today's Standard Democrat...

NEW MADRID - A man accused in the home-invasion and murder of an elderly New Madrid resident will not face trial. A preliminary hearing for Bobby L. Mays Jr., 27, of Howardville was conducted Monday in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court. Mays and Cornelius Sutton, 18, of New Madrid, were charged with first degree murder, first degree robbery and armed criminal action for the murder of Charles "Charlie" Toler, 70, on Aug. 17...

BLOOMFIELD -- A Dexter man was found dead Tuesday night on a farm outside Bloomfield. According to Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, a 911 call was received about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday reporting a man, Donald E. McCollough, 64, of Dexter, was unresponsive at a farm located on 21044 County Road 550 near Bloomfield...