Stories from Monday, December 18, 2006

SIKESTON - The Malone Theater's Christmas present to the children of Sikeston is nine reels of comedies and one reel of animated film, all to be shown at the theater Friday afternoon. --- SIKESTON - Fire from a defective flue burned a large portion of the roof at the parochial residence of St. Francis Xavier Church...

I just got my Sunday Standard and I'm sitting here reading it and one SpeakOut says Bring back the draft. I want you to know something whoever you are. You probably don't have any children of your own that could be took over there. You don't understand how it is. ...

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town, Every shelter is full - we are lost but not found. Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare, We hope every minute that someone will care. They'll come to adopt us and give us the call, "Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!"...

Members of the Parma community collected donations recently for the Madrid County Salvation Army's bell-ringing fundraiser at the Sikeston Wal-Mart. The annual campaign begins the weekend before Thanksgiving and continues through Christmas with volunteers representing area communities and school clubs taking turns collecting the donations, according to Jerry Lathum of the organization. ...

NEW MADRID - The sale of bonds begins the funding process to improve school buildings in the New Madrid County R-1 School District. At the December meeting, the school board approved the sale of $8,000,000 in general obligation bonds to its municipal bond underwriter L.J. Hart and Company of St. Louis as well as $993,000 Zero Interest Qualified Zone Academy Bonds...

WYATT -- A Wyatt man died after being shot outside a bar over the weekend. James "Jamie" Robert Blasingain, 29, of Wyatt, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the chest with a .22 rifle at approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, said Terry Parker, Mississippi County coroner...

NEW MADRID - As the New Madrid City Council continues their budget work at tonight's meeting, the purchase of generators to prevent flooding is already assured funding. The city's 2007 budget will include a capital outlay of $150,000 to purchase two generators which will be permanently attached to the two main pumping stations, according to City Administrator John Gilbert. The decision to purchase the generators was made by the board earlier this month...

PERRYVILLE -- The third annual Bank of Missouri Heartland Hoopfest featured 16 high school teams with three area squads providing the majority of the drama in the day's most exciting, compelling contests. Scott County Central and Bell City took their heated rivalry on the road to the Perry Park Center for a down-to-the-wire 85-82 Braves' win. Then, in a battle of unbeatens, Charleston, top ranked in Class 3, fell 59-54 to Webster Groves, ranked fourth in Class 5...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Bulldog wrestling team participated in the Cape Central Tiger Classic on Friday and Saturday. Gavilan Bland, a 160-pound junior, was the most decorated Bulldog with a 6 -1 record for a second-place finish in the highly regarded tournament. "Gavilan had a great tournament," said Sikeston coach Chris Crosby. "To finish second in the Tiger Classic is a great accomplishment for him."...

PERRYVILLE - The Charleston Bluejays struggled a bit without starting point guard Shawn Sherrell but, nevertheless, had a nice showing against the unbeaten Class 5 Webster Groves Statesmen. "I can't take anything away from them, the second-ranked team in St. Louis, fourth in the state in Class 5, and we've got one hampered player and missing a point guard, so I'm leaving here feeling good," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer, of his team's performance...

SIKESTON - Lauren Bryan and Aaron Brown are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 2:32 p.m. Oct. 31, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Myles Cooper Brown weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Maternal grandparent is Belinda Bryan...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Luella Hobbs, 85, died Dec. 18, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville.

DEXTER - Bonnie Borders, 65, formerly of Parma, died Dec. 15, 2006, at her home. Born Nov. 21, 1941, in Como, to the late Claude and Pauline Gregory Lovette, she had lived the past several years in Dexter where she was a homemaker and attended the Lighthouse Christian Center...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Ruby M. Rogers, 81, died Dec. 18, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born May 13, 1925, at Bear Creek, Ala., she was the daughter of the late Frank and Lela Gaddis Cagle. On March 5, 1949, she married James P. Saulter who preceded her in death on Oct. 14, 1967. On Feb. 16, 1970, in Hayti, she married James Rogers who survives of the home...

MALDEN - Mildred Lenora Mallett, 91, died Dec. 16, 2006, at the Malden Nursing Center. Born July 11, 1915, in Lanty, Ark., to the late Elmer and Mary Frances Krissell Bizzell, she was a homemaker and affiliated with the Spoonerville Baptist Church in Malden...

CLARKTON -- Teresa Ann Lemonds, 50, died Dec. 15, 2006, at her home. Born Oct. 15, 1956, in Pocahontas, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Paul and Cora Sue Ferrell Hayes Jr. Survivors include: two sons, Paul Hayes and Phillip Bailey of Dexter; two brothers, Kenneth Hayes of Parma and William Drye of Farmington; two sisters, Diane Tilton of Tremble, Tenn., and Linda Carter of Parma; and three grandchildren...

SIKESTON - Patricia Louise Carroll, 72, died at 9:10 a.m. Dec. 16, 2006, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born July 18, 1934 in Cape Girardeau. On Sept. 9, 1957, she married Lloyd "Duke" Carroll who preceded her in death on Nov. 1, 2001...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Jamie Blasingain, 29, died Dec. 16, 2006, in Wyatt. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home of East Prairie.

SIKESTON -- Don Sorrells, 72, died at 1 a.m. Dec. 18, 2006, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home of East Prairie.

NEW MADRID -- Alberta Ramsey, 81, died Dec. 15, 2006, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. Born Feb. 18, 1925, in New Madrid, daughter of the late Albert Otis and Maude O'Bannon Allen, she was a member of the DAR and a lifetime member and choir member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church...

SIKESTON - Robert "Bob" Wefenstette, 74, formerly of Fulton, died Dec. 15, 2006, at his home. Born Sept. 12, 1932, in Columbia, son of the late Emmitt P. and Frankie Bullard Wefenstette, he owned and operated Bob's 66 Service Station near Millersburg for many years and was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Korean War...