Stories from Monday, November 20, 2006

Gregory Barnes, 6, is a little shy telling Santa Claus what he wants for Christmas Saturday afternoon. Santa visited the Sikeston Downtown Christmas Open House.

ORAN - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security made a $64,828.00 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program award to the Oran Fire Protection District. This is the third AFG award to the Oran Fire Protection District since 2003. The first award was received in August of 2003 for $149,481.00 (total purchase $166,089) for the purchase of Fire Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment. ...

SIKESTON -- If you haven't had your heating equipment checked for the winter season, then now is the time to do so. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round, the National Fire Protection Association said...

Dennis Bohannon, director of "The Wizard of Oz,"auditions youngsters for roles as Munchkins Saturday afternoon at the Sikeston Little Threatre's Albritton-Mayer Cultural Center. The musical will be performed in late February and early March 2007.

SIKESTON - Douglas MacArthur Cammon, 63, died Nov. 16, 2006, at his home. Born May 21, 1943, in Lambert, Miss., son of the late Willie and Geneva Boyd Cammon, he had been a long-time employee of Cargill Inc. His wife, Brinda Cammon, preceded him in death...

KENNETT -- Thomas Earl Branum, 87, died Nov. 18, 2006, at Kennett. Born July 13, 1919, at Hornersville, son of the late Thomas Jefferson and Alice Hastings Branum, he was affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Kennett. He married Juanita Pepple who preceded him in death. He later married Betty Averett who survives of the home...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Lester Wilson, 82, died Nov. 19, 2006, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.

PORTAGEVILLE - A.J. Silman, 91, died Nov. 20, 2006, at his home. Born Jan. 1, 1915, in Farmfelt, he was the son of the late Arthur and Bethany Ketchum Silman. On Oct. 8, 1943, in New Madrid, he married Margie Maxine Gray who survives of the home. Other survivors include: six sons, Delbert Silman, Meril Silman and Danny Silman of Portageville, Robert Silman of Marston, Jerry Silman of Hitchcock, Texas, and Phillip Silman of Lilbourn; four daughters, Jo Ann Vaughn of Bakersville, Calif., Nancy Edgar of Portageville, Barbara Dabney of Columbus and Terri Joiner of Malden; three brothers, Ben Silman of Poplar Bluff, James Silman of Richland, Mich., and Loren Ray Silman of White Cloud, Mich.; and three sisters, Alma Ruth Gurley of Wilcox, Ariz., Eunice Estes of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Betty Silman of the state of Michigan.. ...

HESSTON, Kan. - Mary Henson Hopkins, 99, died Nov. 17, 2006, in Hesston. Born March 15, 1907, at St. Marys, Mo., daughter of the late Urban and Blanche Conrade Birch, she graduated from Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She taught school for 30 years in southeast Missouri and was a member of Missouri and Stoddard County Retired Teachers Association and the First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, Mo...

I too appreciate Chief Juden and all the work he had done, but I was just wondering if the noise ordinance has been lifted. We are on the west side and it is terrible over here again. And it feels like no one ever checks it unless they are called. I know he is doing all he can do and he has men doing all kinds of things and it may not be important. ...

SIKESTON - Little John Robinson, 5-year-old son of Don Robinson, head of the Robinson Flying School, is happy again, after a night and half a day of misery. For weeks, his parents had been trying to find where they could buy a Shetland pony for their son. Finally, they found one and it was delivered last Saturday...

BENTON -- If you've purchased a home this year don't forget to make sure you get your tax bill for it. "If you bought the house, you bought the taxes that go with it," said Scott County Collector Mark Hensley. Unless the collector is notified of the sale, tax statements for real estate property are probably going to be sent to the person who owned the property at the beginning of the year, Hensley explained, while the person owning the property at the end of the year is actually responsible for paying the taxes.. ...

DEXTER -- Audie Burnett McGhee, 89, died Nov. 17, 2006, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Born April 6, 1917, in Parma, daughter of the late Charley and Lora Bean Chapman, she was a retired nurse's aide and of the Baptist belief. On Oct. 1, 1932, in Grayridge, she married Boyd Burnett, who preceded her in death on Dec. 25, 1987. She later married Weson McGhee and he preceded her in death...

NEW MADRID -- Donald Lee Ritchie, 67, died Nov. 17, 2006, at Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 15, 1929, in Clarksville, Ark., he was the son of the late Elbert and Minnie Ritchie. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mable Ritchie, and one brother, Junior Ritchie...

Recently I had an occasion to reside at a nursing home facility. I would like to add that I received excellent care. I saw something that saddened me deeply. Sometimes different organizations and church groups would make a commitment to provide an activity or a church services for the residents. It was disappointing to see that they did not show up...