Stories from Sunday, March 4, 2007

Since I first ran for elective office in Scott County in 1972, I have been especially blessed in many ways, not the least of which is the enduring friendships which I have developed all across the country. As most of my friends are now aware, I was recently indicted by a Scott County Grand Jury. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- Eileen Crowe died March 3, 2007, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.

CATRON -- Randy Porter, 58, died March 2, 2007, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid.

BENTON -- Dale Rogers, 71, died at 3:35 a.m. March 2, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 18, 1935, in Lincoln, Ark., son of the late Benjamin Franklin and Minnie Maye Leverett Rogers, he was employed as a salesman/repairman at the 76 Truck Stop in Matthews and lived in Scott City before moving to Benton 25 years ago...

CANALOU - David Jewel Chaney, 36, died at 4:01 a.m. March 3, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 10, 1970, in Dexter, son of John L. and Gloria A. Drake Chaney of Canalou, he earned an associate degree in computer networking technology. ...

SIKESTON -- Student leaders from Sikeston Senior High School grappled with the idea of whether or not to ban smoking in public restaurants and bars within Sikeston city limits during a mock City Council meeting Friday at City Hall. The event was part of the Sikeston Optimist Club's annual "Youth in Government Day," which has aimed to promote a greater understanding of government for about 30 years...

Mollie Landers is the Standard Democrat Calendar Girl for March. Landers, the fourth alternate in the 2006 Miss Sikeston contest, is the daughter of Rick and Shannon Landers. After graduation from Sikeston High School in May, she plans to attend the journalism school at the University of Missouri-Columbia...

SIKESTON - Grover C. Baker of Sikeston this Monday morning took over duties as collector of Scott County, succeeding C.E. Felker. SIKESTON - Remodeling of Buckner-Ragsdale Co., 124 E. Front St., will include a new front door for the store and adjacent building, formerly used by the P.N. Hirsch Co. The men's wear department will be in the old section and the women's wear department will occupy the former Hirsch section...

I am not one prone to paranoia. I do not see the bogeyman lurking around every corner. And unlike some on the extreme right wing of society, I do not believe in suspicious black helicopters nor a secret plan for a New World Order. I do not believe United Nations' troops are poised to take over our military. Heck, I don't even believe in Bigfoot...

This is to Mike Marshall. Mr. Mayor, when are you going to do something about these people putting their trash out on the trash days and the dogs and cats getting in it and then it blowing in other people's yards? I'm getting tired of picking everybody's dadgum trash up out of my yard. ...

CHARLESTON -- The budget and hiring a new police chief will be the first tasks to address for Charleston's new city manager. Daniel M. Gruen, 44, was named city manager Feb. 20. Originally slated to begin his duties Feb. 27, Gruen was delayed by housing issues and will step into office Monday...

VANDUSER - Tammy Blagg is the parent of her third child, second son, born at 8:13 a.m. Jan. 26, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Benjamin Alexander Blagg weighed 7 pounds and was 19.5 inches long. Grandparents are Cindy Palan and Ralph Bailey...

The Sikeston Board of Realtors has elected officers for 2007. Serving as president is Myrna Johnson with Faye Walborg as vice president and Sharon Medlin as the secretary/treasurer. Local director is Jeris Goetz. Pictured left: Kelles Wade, broker/owner of Wade Realty, was named the 2006 Realtor of the Year at the annual banquet of the Board of Realtors...

BENTON -- Family and friends of the Rev. Dale Huff of Benton are invited to attend his 80th birthday celebration from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall at Unity Baptist Church in Benton. Born March 10, 1927, Huff served as pastor of Unity Baptist Church for 30 years. He currently serves as pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Marc and Jane Eaves have announced the engagement of their daughter, Marcie Ann, to Andrew Charles Lawson, son of Bill and Lisa Lawson of Sikeston and Laura and Dave Martin of St. Peters. A 2001 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride graduated in 2005 with a degree in biology from the University of Alabama. She is employed as the community health initiatives manager with the American Cancer Society...

BERTRAND -- Johnny and Edie Watkins of Bertrand and George and Kimberley Puddy of Tracy, Calif., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Christina Lee Watkins, to Billy Joe McCoy, son of Mike and Jane Surface of Sikeston. A 1990 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride is employed by Specialized Hauling...

SIKESTON -- Lisa Haynes has announced the engagement of her daughter, Andrea Javonne Fitcher, to Michael Lee Meeks, son of Rick and Debbie Aters of Sikeston. The future bride is a full-time nursing student at Southeast Missouri State University. Her fiance is a 2000 graduate of Sikeston Senior High School and works at Atlas Cold Storage...

Miner Police Chief Roger Moore, left, recently presented Officer Ryan Medlin with the Miner Officer of the Year Award for 2006. Medlin led the department in drug and DWI arrests in 2006, according to Moore. During the presentation of the award at February Miner Board of Alderman meeting, Moore described one of Medlin's vehicle stops that resulted in the discovery of $13,000 in cash along with marijuana and prescription drugs. ...

BENTON - Two local merchants have shown their support by making equipment donations to the Scott County Sheriff's Department. Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said that Minor Harley Davidson in Scott City donated a 2007 Suzuki four-wheel-drive four-wheeler, valued at $6,899, and Trailer Express in Miner donated a trailer valued at $800...

At our Feb. 22 General Membership Luncheon the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce gave the annual report. It was a successful year for Chamber with lots of the usual items being given out such as maps and phone books. Unfortunately, it was also a busy year for us as far as sending out "Red Alerts" to our members. ...

EAST PRAIRIE - Longtime ag pilot Mike Hall has joined Aerial Crop Services as a pilot and operations manager. To mark the occasion, Aerial Crop Services hosted a fish fry for growers and area fertilizer and chemical representatives recently. Formerly an ag pilot for Kewanee Ag service, Hall said he is proud to be affiliated with ACS and looks forward to building a relationship with its customers...

GREENVILLE -- The Delta girls basketball team remained perfect and set up yet another sectional matchup with rival Scott County Central by routing second- seeded Lesterville 56-35 on Friday in the finals of the Class 1 District 2 tournament. The Bobcats, ranked No. 1 in Class 1, improved to 26-0. Delta will face Scott County Central (19-7) in the sectional round Tuesday at Poplar Bluff High School. This will be the fourth straight sectional meeting between the teams...

NEW MADRID -- The Kelly Lady Hawks captured their third straight district title with a 67-52 victory over the New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles in the Class 3, District 1 final on Friday night. Kelly opened up the contest on a 12-2 run against an inexperienced Lady Eagle team. The Lady Hawks forced NMCC to commit nine turnovers in the first quarter...

NEW MADRID - The Charleston Bluejays easily advanced to sectional play with an 81-50 win over the Scott City Rams in the Class 3, District 1 final at New Madrid County Central. The 'Jays jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead to start the first quarter and were never challenged the rest of the way...