Stories from Wednesday, March 21, 2007

After spending every waking hour for four straight days watching college basketball, I decided to unwind Monday and find out what I had missed in the world by reading some news online. Of course 10 minutes later I was dreaming of more basketball and a world with less idiots...

The annual Kenny Rogers Children's Center Telethon is this Saturday and Sunday and for those who have not enjoyed this two-day event, you've honestly missed something. Few events in our community are as worthwhile, enjoyable and entertaining as the Telethon. This year's show promises to offer something for everyone...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston boys track and field team opened the season with a victory while the girls were nipped in a quadrangle held at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium. The Bulldog boys rolled to the victory with 97 1/2 points, holding off New Madrid County Central (41), Scott City (38) and Charleston (8). Sikeston's girls scored 53 points, falling short of first place NMCC (64). Scott City had 40 points and Charleston had eight...

SIKESTON - Elmer "Moe" Gray, 79, died March 16, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born June 14, 1927, in Sikeston, to the late John and Millie Gray, he worked as a farm laborer and later as a mechanic at 76 Truck Stop in Matthews, from which he retired in 1992...

SIKESTON -- John C. "Jayce" Matthews III, 33, died March 1, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Nov. 27, 1973, in Cape Girardeau, son of John C. Matthews Jr. of Millersville and Ann Bess Matthews of Sikeston, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. He graduated from Sikeston High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University and was a call center customer service representative...

DEXTER - Pallbearers for funeral services conducted Tuesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, for Jim Daniels, 63, who died March 17, 2007, were: Rick Daniels, Terry Gordon, Brian Wells, Daniel Craft, Greg Daniels and Junior Gordon.

CHAFFEE -- Anna Marie LeGrand, 68, died March 19, 2007, at her home. Born Feb. 20, 1939, in Rockview, daughter of the late Leonard August and Lena Caroline Hoefler Tucker, she was a self-employed babysitter. She was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and the Daughters of St. Ambrose...

HAYWOOD CITY -- J.C. McDonald, 81, died at 6:30 p.m. March 18, 2007, at his home. Born May 19, 1925, in Concord, Ark., son of the late Jacob and Lena McDonald, he had lived in Missouri since 1990 and was of the Baptist belief. Survivors include: his wife, Mary McDonald of Haywood City; one son, Charles McDonald of Dover, Ark.; three daughters, Kisha McDonald and Sharon McDonald of the home and Geraldine King of Battle Creek, Mich.; two brothers, Jonnie Mack McDonald and Wiley McDonald of the state of California; three sisters, Maggie Jackson and Odessa Smith of Seattle and Mary Clayton of Conklin, Ark.; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.. ...

BENTON - Lora Ellen Clinton, 73, died March 20, 2007, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete with Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Benton.

Rogeric Cannon, 4, flies a kite with assistance from his cousin, Jamie Taylor, Tuesday at the Sikeston Sports Complex.

SIKESTON -- The Bootheel BassBusters held their Annual Awards Banquet at Cheers March 10. The following awards were presented at the banquet: Mitch Allen - 2006 Angler-of-the-Year; Ty Garrett - 2006 2nd Place Angler-of-the-Year; Mike Estes - 2006 3rd Place Angler-of-the-Year; Brandon Fields - 2006 Big Bass; Leon Miller - 2006 Club President...

SIKESTON - Hank Savage, Wayne Limbaugh and Curtis Bryant will leave Tuesday for Pine Bluff, Ark., where they will have tryouts with the Browns baseball organization Wednesday. SIKESTON - Banking officials of the Bank of Sikeston, the First National Bank of Sikeston and the First State Bank of Morehouse announced changes in banking hours to allow them to close on Saturdays, beginning April 8. ...

This is to Canalou citizens. I'm sure you pay personal property tax, real estate tax. Why isn't something done about the roads in Canalou, especially Main Street? There are potholes in that road, seems like they've been there forever. Why haven't the citizens had something done? You can't drive a car down some of those streets. How can you sit back and not do something about that and let that town go down to nothing? It has got out of hand...

Nobody asked me but...the second annual basketball NAMB Awards are upon us hoop fans. Remember, NAMBY's only go to those high school players or coaches that I personally saw perform. Here we go... foot-4 shooting guard. In the postseason, Clark averaged 22 points per game, including 27 points against Malden in a sectional matchup and 25 against Bayless in the quarterfinals...

SIKESTON - Several area teams were well represented for the 2006-07 basketball All-Region team as selected by the Southeast Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. In Class 4, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Michael Porter and 6-2 senior guard Julian Beard of Sikeston were first team selections. The Bulldogs finished second in Class 4, District 1 losing to Notre Dame by two points on a 3-...

BENTON -- Scott County Jail inmates will assist in the cleanup of abandoned cemeteries in the county. Scott County Commissioners discussed maintenance for the Forest Hill Memorial Gardens cemetery in Morley during their regular meeting Tuesday. The cemetery and two others, Memorial Park Cemetery and Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston, were all abandoned by their owner, Mike Graham and Associates of Houston, Texas...

Kiwanis Club member Eric Wooden flips pancakes during the clubs annual Pancake Day Tuesday at the Sikeston Elks Lodge. The event, which has been held for over 50 years, will benefit the club's student and children projects. Also pictured is Kiwanis member Ed Dust...

SIKESTON -- The state's leading independent advocate for children is looking for input to learn more about local trends in children's health care. An educational town hall forum to discuss the State Child's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the latest Kids Count data and Medicaid redesign will be from 3 to 6 p.m. March 27 at New Madrid County Central High School...

Parker SIKESTON - Renea and David Parker are the parents of their second child, second daughter, born at 9:48 p.m. Feb. 9, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Lauren Elizabeth Parker weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 20 inches long...