Stories from Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Regarding the comments on the Mentos-soda experiment: it is no wonder that this nation is facing an obesity epidemic and diabetes is rampant in the area when so people mistake soda pop for food. If you are so poor, maybe you ought to consider passing on pop and buy something a bit more nutritious like milk...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Lewis celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 7 with a dinner at their home. SIKESTON - Construction continued today on a five-block 15-inch and 12- inch storm sewer project on Olive Street from Kendall to Daniel...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston boy wants to make the cover of a magazine, and he needs your help to make his dream come true. Cole Burnett, 11, is the son of Andrea Burnett and grandson of Rick and Ramona Burnett of Sikeston. In what his grandmother called his first "big break," Cole auditioned for and was placed in a competition to be on the cover of "Almost Famous," a trade magazine for the entertainment industry...

SIKESTON - The groundbreaking for the $7.8 million expansion to the YMCA of Southeast Missouri will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at its location on Tanner Street. The facility will be named in memory of David M. Barton, whose widow, June Barton donated $2 million earlier this year in his honor. The new YMCA will be 52,000 square feet and include an indoor water facility, walking track, changing rooms and other amenities...

DEXTER (SMNS) -- A Dexter youth is recovering from a stab wound he received in the early morning hours Saturday. Sixteen-year-old Seth McBride was stabbed early Saturday morning in his rural Dexter home. Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner did confirm that members of his department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the youth's home...

SIKESTON - The Altrusa Club is ready to spread some holiday cheer. And this Saturday, they are making it easy for Sikeston area residents to get in the spirit by taking part in the club's O Christmas Tree event. O Christmas Tree is Altrusa's annual Christmas tree and holiday gift auction. The evening features a catered dinner, silent auction and raffles. The highlight, however, is the live auction of six to 12 fully decorated trees...

ST. LOUIS -- The football season for the New Madrid County Central Eagles came to an abrupt halt on Monday night, in one two-point conversion play, that left the Eagles' running back Lennies McFerren lying on the two-yard line, just six feet shy of victory. MICDS took the state quarterfinal game by one point, 28-27, at Christian Brothers College high school field...

HAYTI -- Hayti fell 14-13 to visiting Thayer in a battle of unbeaten, top-three Class 1 teams in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. Hayti came up short of pulling off a last-minute win that would have overcome several fumbles and a bad punt snap that led to one Thayer touchdown...

Burton SIKESTON - Maleasha Burton is the parent of twin daughters born Oct. 5, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Katie Lynn Burton was born at 12:09 a.m., weighed 4 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 17 inches long. Karie Alexandra Burton was born at 12:10 a.m., weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 17.75 inches long...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston Order of the Eastern Star members are celebrating their chapter's 100th anniversary. Chapter No. 137 in Sikeston was chartered on Sept. 27, 1907, according to Lois Cokenour, a 41-year member and past worthy matron for the chapter...

The federal government needs to listen carefully to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). Coburn is an ultra conservative who often is at odds with the Bush administration. His obsession is the runaway spending of your tax dollars by the federal government. Leaders in both political parties need to listen carefully to the Oklahoma Republican because he's right when it comes to spending...

SIKESTON -- Bobby Joe Wilson, 70, died at 5:40 a.m. Nov. 7, 2007, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born Dec. 27, 1936, in Lepanto, Ark., to the late Elmer Albert Lee and Elsie Ada Wilcoxson Wilson, he retired as a senior master sergeant from the U.S. Air Force after 26 years of service where he was a missile electronic maintenance supervisor. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a member of the Henry Meldrum Post of the American Legion...

IRONTON -- Suzanne Wolfe Bates, 48, died Nov. 10, 2007, at Lone Pine Residential Facility in Ironton. Born Sept. 29, 1959, she was the daughter of the late Louie and Virginia Bullington Wolfe. Survivors include: one son, Jackson Bates of Wynne, Ark.; two daughters Chelsea Bates of Wynne and Jessica Gaudent of Cordova, Tenn.; one brother, Dennis Wolfe of Lilbourn; two sisters, Barbara Allgier of Portageville and Devonna May of New Madrid; and one granddaughter, Olivia Bergold of Cordova...

EAST PRAIRIE -- George Copeland "Buddy" Bain Jr., 44, died at 6:25 a.m. Nov. 12, 2007, in the Bertrand Nursing Center. Born Jan. 19, 1963, in Sikeston to George Copeland and Ruby Loretta Grimes Bain, he lived most of his life in East Prairie. In addition to his parents, survivors include: three sisters and brothers-in-law, Sharon and Darrell Cobb, Marilyn and Jimbo Taylor and Mary Anne and Charlie Johnson of East Prairie; and several nieces, nephews and friends...

PARMA -- Barbara Bonds, 63, died Nov. 12, 2007, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete with the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Larry Allan Prince, 53, died Nov. 12, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.

SIKESTON -- Virginia Louise Cross, 81, died Nov. 11, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born June 1, 1926, in Lilbourn, to the late Roland and Vada Pierce Stout, she was employed for a number of years as a nurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sikeston...

PUXICO -- Pallbearers for services conducted Monday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico for Grace Opal Barnfield, 93, who died on Nov. 10, 2007, were: Clyde Barnfield, Bobby Barnfield, Troy Barnfield, Alva Barnfield, Larry Barnfield and Jim Teeters...

PUXICO - Visitation for Elmer F. "Bud" Riney, 75, who died Nov. 12, 2007, will begin at 6 p.m. today at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Don Adams of Matthews will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Fairview Cemetery near Puxico...