Stories from Saturday, May 12, 2007

The city of Sikeston will hold a public hearing this Wednesday on the proposed city budget for the coming fiscal year. To say that these annual hearings are sparsely attended would be an understatement. The public may have strong feelings on how our tax dollars should be spent but when it comes to voicing those opinions, few rarely do...

I don't know if anybody has been to Paducah lately, but it just goes to show you how our governor is at work. How can they justify having two bridges down at the same time? We've got the Illinois bridge and the Missouri bridge, both under repair at the same time. I don't know who's responsible, the governor or whoever, but somebody is really not looking out for the people...

SIKESTON - Miss Mary Gray will leave for Memphis, Tenn., where she will enter Baptist Memorial Hospital in that city for nurses training. SIKESTON - Mrs. Bob Taylor was named Girl of the Year by the Junior Woman's Club at the annual mother-daughter banquet last night at the Holiday Inn. Mrs. Taylor was chosen by members in a secret ballot...

SIKESTON -- Whether viewed as a day of overblown commercialism or a time to spend with mom, Mother's Day is a necessity for most of today's moms. "I think the mother is the backbone to the family," Betty Bixler of Sikeston said. Although the 70-year-old mother of two, grandmother of four and great-...

SIKESTON -- The public is invited to attend the installation ceremony for Charlie Miller to the Honors Board at 10 a.m. May 16. Miller has contributed 23 years of volunteer service to youth baseball in Sikeston as a coach, league officer and tournament director for state and regional baseball tournaments. His will be the 34th plaque installed on the Sikeston Park Division's Honors Board, which recognizes individuals for service to youth sports and Scouting programs...

Lonnie Griggs, owner of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar in Sikeston, cuts the restaurant grand opening ribbon May 3. Buffalo Wild Wings is located at 231 N. Main in the Shops at the Lake Crossing. The family-oriented restaurant offers 14 different sauces and a full menu...

CHARLESTON -- Delta Growers Association and its members have received over $222,000 from CHS Inc., part of a record cash return based on the leading energy and grain-based foods company's fiscal 2006 earnings. CHS is returning a total $258 million in cash patronage, equity redemptions and preferred stock to eligible member cooperatives and producers in 47 states. It marks the largest distribution to owners ever made by a U. S. cooperative and the third consecutive record by CHS ...

Ed Dust, right, Sikeston economic development director, looks over new advertisement signs with Jerry Pullen of Pullen Brothers Inc. The vinyl signs will be placed on over-the-road trucks as part of an advertising campaign to spotlight positive aspects of the Sikeston community to potential industrial/retail prospects...

SIKESTON -- Christine Anne Eftink and Jack Howard Seymour were united in marriage during a Nov. 4, 2006, ceremony. Judge Lewis Blanton officiated. Parents of the bride are Carl and Sheila Eftink of Sikeston, and the bridegroom is the son of Paul and Maxine Seymour of Sikeston...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Haylee Elizabethanne Jolliff and Joey Todd Githens were united in marriage during a 5:30 p.m. ceremony April 23, 2007, before family and friends on the beach in Cancun, Mexico. Parents of the bride are Perry and Pam Jolliff of Dexter, and parents of the bridegroom are Jay and Terry Githens of Poplar Bluff...

EAST PRAIRIE -- When Jason Aycock left East Prairie to take the principal position at Portageville he might have suspected that someday he'd return to his hometown. Merely two years later, that day has come. Aycock resigned his post at Portageville and is returning to coach the football team for the second time...

DEXTER -- After missing out on the playoffs last season, the Sikeston Bulldogs are hoping to once again rule Class 3, District 1. The Bulldogs split the season series with Dexter, but it was the Bearcats that received the top seed in the district. Sikeston comes into the district as the No. 2 seed and will face No. 7 Doniphan tomorrow at noon at Dexter's East City Park...

SIKESTON -- The National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., opened in 2004 but many World War II veterans have still not been able to see it. Rob Callahan of Poplar Bluff is trying to change that before it is too late with an Honor Tour scheduled for June 21-23...

SIKESTON - Jerry Terrell has joined the staff at RV America in Sikeston. Terrell said he hopes to use his knowledge and experience which he has gained in the recreational vehicle business for the past 10 years to assist customers in finding the best recreational vehicle to fit their needs. He encourages friends and previous customers to come by and see him at RV America, which is located at 600 State Highway H...

MATTHEWS - Clyde Sullivan had fallen on hard times. Literally. After a bad fall, Sullivan was paralyzed from the waist down. A patient at Sells Rest Home, the feisty Sullivan began therapy with the staff of Rehab America LLC. In the past few months, he has regained his ability to get around independently, primarily with a walker, gained weight and hopes to return home soon...

MAYFIELD, Ky. -- Daryl and Tannie Noffsinger have announced the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Nicole, to J.R. Cantrell, son of Tony and Cynthia Cantrell of Wickliffe. A graduate of Graves County High School in Mayfield, the future bride attends Murray State University. She is the granddaughter of Dan and Helen Hanison of Deer Lodge, Mont., Darwin and Joy Noffsinger and Walter and Wanda Spraggs of Mayfield and the late Norma Hanison...

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Mary Thoreson of Fairview Heights and Ferrell Gravil of New Madrid, Mo., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Candace Lynn Gravil, to Billyjoe Charles Agans, son of Donald and Sarah Agans of Birchtree, Mo. A 1996 graduate of Pentecostal Christian Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., the future bride is employed by Dental Network of America in Belleville...

PARMA -- John Paul and Marsha Campbell have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lindsey Nicole Campbell, to David William Longrie, son of Mark and Vicky Longrie of Wildwood. A 2003 graduate of New Madrid County Central High School, the future bride earned a Bachelor of Science in ceramic engineering from the University of Missouri in Rolla on Saturday...

ANNISTON - Victor "Vic" Ahlfield, 75, died at 12:19 p.m., May 11, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Dec. 3, 1931, in Anniston, he was the son of the late Charles Donald and Mary Josephine Cherry Ahlfield. A retired carpenter, he lived all of his life in Anniston where he was a member of the Anniston Christian Church...

DEXTER - Robert L. Shipman, 64, died May 10, 2007, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born April 15, 1943, in Dexter, son of Willie Andrew and Clorine Williams Shipman of Dexter, he was a member of the Hill Church in Bloomfield and a self-employed construction laborer...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services for Margaret Byrd, 87, who died on May 10, 2007, will be: Shawn Byrd, Jason Byrd, Danny Joe Byrd, Bob Laseter, Jordan Cookman and Matt Cookman. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston, where services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday...

ORAN -- Nelson Curtis, 76, died at 2:53 a.m. May 12, 2007, at his home. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

PORTAGEVILLE - Harold D. Dial, 85, died May 11, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville.