Stories from Saturday, March 17, 2007

Is the Standard Democrat a biased newspaper? I think that's a legitimate question. If you haven't noticed - and surely you have - journalism has changed a tad bit over the years. Activist journalists are as dangerous as activist judges. Perhaps even worse...

SIKESTON - Mrs. Cecil Link hosted a surprise birthday party for her sister, Mrs. Robin West. SIKESTON - The congregation of the First Christian Church unanimously called for the Rev. Duward Penry to succeed the Rev. Myron Neal as pastor. The Rev. Penry currently serves in the position as minister of the church...

This is to anybody who has one of the new dollar coins without "In God We Trust" on them: leave your phone number in SpeakOut. I will pay $1.10 for each of these faulty coins. I like numismatic irregularities and would be happy to add them to my coin collection...

BENTON -- A former police officer for the cities of Chaffee and Jackson has posted bond after turning himself in on a felony stealing charge Friday. David Rubel, 37, of Chaffee, turned himself in at the Chaffee Police Department and posted a $15,000 bond, according to a press release from the Scott County Sheriff's Department...

SIKESTON -- If you haven't noticed the local "Seek God for Our City" efforts, all you need to do is open your eyes. In addition to being featured on the marquises of participating churches, there are 14 "Seek God for Our City" signs placed at major intersections and Dennis Ziegenhorn's familiar "people" signs at various other locations...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is seeking public assistance in the investigation of possible criminal conduct within cemeteries in and around Sikeston. DPS Director Drew Juden said over the past several weeks numerous complaints have been received by the city of Sikeston and the Sikeston City Council concerning the care and appearance of the Memorial Park and Garden of Memories cemeteries. Both are owned by Michael Graham Jr. and Associates of Houston...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulldogs baseball team is ready for redemption after a disappointing season last year. The Bulldogs lose only one everyday starter from last season. However, all- state first baseman Tyler Baker will be missed as he led the club in every major offensive category in 2006...

Top Photo: Seniors Shawn Sherrell (14), Jamarcus Williams (32) and Justin Clark (40) celebrate after winning the Class 3 Missouri State High School basketball championship game in Columbia Middle photo: The Charleston team cheers from the bench during the final minute Friday, March 16, 2007, of their 66-48 victory over Pembroke Hill in their Class 3 Missouri State High School basketball championship game in Columbia...

COLUMBIA -- Every blow of the whistle in the second half of Friday's Class 1 semifinal boys basketball game seemed to help previously undefeated LaPlata stay with Bell City, but the Cubs eventually pulled away for an 82-60 win at Mizzou Arena. Bell City (28-4) extended its winning streak to 24 games and will face Jefferson at 4:30 p.m. today in a rematch of last year's championship game...

COLUMBIA -- For four years the Charleston Bluejays left Columbia without the big prize, but Shawn Sherrell and his senior teammates made sure that they wouldn't be denied in their final trip to the MSHSAA Show Me Showdown. Sherrell put on a show in the Class 3 state championship game Friday afternoon at Mizzou Arena as the Bluejays rolled past Pembroke Hill 66-48 to capture Charleston's 10th title in school history and the first since 1996...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Britt will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary during a reception from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 at the East Prairie Full Gospel Church. Hosting the reception are the couple's son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Lisa Britt; and grandchildren...

SIKESTON -- Patti Goins has announced the engagement of her daughter, Ashley Marie Farnham, to Ryan M. Merideth, son of Nancy Driskill and Mike Merideth, both of Sikeston. The future bride is a 2003 graduate of New Madrid County Central High School...

BENTON -- A year after breaking ground, construction of Kelly High School's two new buildings is right on schedule with an estimated completion time set for the end of June. "It seems to be going really well now, and all the different crafts are in there working," Superintendent Don Moore said...

HUNTERVILLE, N.C. -- James Digges "Boone" Hunter, 42, formerly of New Madrid, Mo., died March 12, 2007, at his home. Born Sept. 22, 1964, in Sikeston, Mo., son of Marie Householder Hunter of New Madrid and the late John Alfred Hunter, he was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and an information technician for IBM Corp...

JACKSON -- Frieda Clara Scheffer, 91 years of age, passed away peacefully at her home March 16, 2007, surrounded by her family. She was born to Lawrence and Mathilda Bullinger Schaefer on May 2, 1915. She married Paul Scheffer in 1938. Together they had seven children: Paul Joseph Scheffer and Marcy of Oak Ridge, Elaine Haney and David of East Prairie, Dorothy Lynch of Morehouse, Ellen Chrostoski of Sikeston, LaDonna Triplett and Jamie of Eldorado, Ill., Arthur Scheffer and Loretta of Galatia, Ill., and Robert Scheffer and Sandi of East Carondolet, Ill.. ...

LOUDON, Tenn. -- Ruby K. Medlock Staples, 90, formerly of Charleston, Mo., and Memphis, died at 9:10 a.m. March 17, 2007, at Baptist Health Center in Lenoir City. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

SIKESTON -- Pauline Gray "Polly" Hill, 92, died March 16, 2007, her daughter's home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home.

DEXTER -- Nelson Otis Kitchen, 92, died March 16, 2007, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born April 1, 1914, in Bernie, son of the late Lewis Oliver and Olive Ellen Christian Kitchen, he had resided around the Puxico and Dexter area all his life. A retired truck driver, he was a member of the First Christian Church in Dexter...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for services held Saturday at the Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston for Raymond Bloemer, 89, who died March 15, 2007, were: Fred Drury, Marty Williams, Brad Bloemer, David Monje, Phillip Monje, Matt Monje, Chuck Largent and Darrin Hillis...