Stories from Sunday, December 2, 2007

MATTHEWS -- George Woodrow Beck, 84, died at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 29, 2007, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 24, 1923, at Fairview, son of the late Spurlin and Birdie Duke Beck Sr., he was a self-employed farmer and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Matthews and a former member of the First Baptist Church of Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Mary Ellen Stallings Rushing, 88, went to meet her Lord and Savior Nov. 28, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Nov. 8, 1919, in Bertrand, daughter of the late William Melvin and Annie Laurie Finley Johnson. She graduated from Sikeston High School in 1937. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Sikeston, where she was active on the Kitchen Committee and sang in the Living Christmas Tree for 20 years...

Hinton Wireless, LLC, held its grand opening Nov. 3. The store, located at 247 North Main in Sikeston, has holiday hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Cutting the ribbon is Grant Hinton. Also pictured are: Pam Tibbs, Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce; C.W. ...

I would like to start out by welcoming our new members to the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce they include: Hinton Wireless, Tanic Tan, Contract Cleaning Company, A Lasting Image, Comfort Inn, and Attitudes Styling Salon. Thanks to Joe Bill Davis our top recruiter this year you did a great job for the chamber. ...

SIKESTON -- David Elsey has enjoyed woodworking since he was a teenager. For years, he has dabbled in the craft, which can be seen throughout his house, as well as by some of the gifts he has given. He has also held Wood Work Merit Badge classes for the Boy Scouts, for which he is Scoutmaster of Troop 41 in Sikeston...

RICHARDSON, Texas - Betsy and Willie Mayes are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born Sept. 26, 2007. Margaret Louise "Maggie" Mayes weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 19.25 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Lynn Williams of Sikeston, Mo. and Joe Williams of Alexandria, La. Great-grandparents are Dot and Wendell Williams of Judsonia, Ark. and the late Betty and Jesse Lacefield...

MOREHOUSE - Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Payne entertained with a birthday dinner Sunday in honor of Payne's mother, Mrs. Clara Payne. --- SIKESTON - Permits to build 109 residences, a garage and a steel building were issued in November. SIKESTON - Plus all the turkey and cranberry sauce, Jack Miller came out on top in the high scoring derby in the bowling association last week with a 634 on games of 187, 222 and 225. Bob Lee captured single game honors with a 242...

I drove by Wendell Apartments today and there was a lady raking leaves. I can understand picking up trash, but raking leaves? There were more falling than she was able to rake. Give her credit. We need more like her. I would like to say to the person who put the article in SpeakOut entitled Pet your pets, amen! I would also like to add there should be tougher laws on people who drop their unwanted puppies or kittens into woods or along the highway...

Every year about this time the Associated Press - of which we are a member - sends out a listing of the top news stories of the year. Editors and publishers are asked to rank those news stories on their importance during the past year and, shortly before year's end, AP will announce their top news story of the year...

Kelsey Lawrence, daughter of Dr. Jeff and Dianne Lawrence, is the Standard Democrat's Calendar Girl for December. Miss Lawrence, was selected Miss Sikeston during the Sikeston American Legion 2007 Cotton Carnival's Miss Sikeston Contest. She plans on attending the University of Missouri-Columbia and major in pre-med...

SIKESTON -- For the most part it's business as usual for area tax collectors although paying taxes should be a bit more convenient for some Scott County residents. Collectors of revenue for Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties confirmed all personal property and real estate tax bills are sent and should be received by taxpayers...

KENNETT?-- The Portageville Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season Friday night, beating Kennett 67-62. Down 36-34 at halftime, the Bulldogs scorched the nets in the third quarter, taking a 50-43 lead into the fourth quarter. Portageville held on to the lead as Kennett chipped away, closing to 62-59 with 2:41 left when the Indian's Randrick Caruthers was whistled for a charge, shifting momentum in the game...

ORAN -- The 52nd Annual Oran Invitational Tournament finale ended in grand fashion Friday night, as the Scott Country Central Braves (4-1) fell to their arch-rival Bell City Cubs (5-0) 75-72. Bell City captured their third Oran Tournament championship in a game almost identical to last season's sectional game between these two teams. ...

DEXTER -- For two quarters Friday night the Dexter Bearcats matched the Sikeston Bulldogs point-for-point. But one shot seemed to change the momentum, helping Sikeston cruise to an 80-49 win. Dexter's Drew Kelley hit a 3-pointer to put the Bearcats ahead 37-36 early in the third quarter, exciting the home crowd. However, seconds later, Matt Ritch returned the favor with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, sparking an 8-0 Sikeston run...

SIKESTON -- Every year it's the same message: take precautions to ensure a safe holiday season. But it's a message worth repeating -- and one as important now as it has ever been, local fire protection officials say. "People just don't realize, and they think: 'It's not going to happen to me,'" said New Madrid City Fire Chief Jim Harris...

SIKESTON --A new food basket drive will be carried out in Scott and Mississippi counties this year. And those helping behind the scenes will gain almost as much from it as those who receive the goods. Dubbed "Neighbors Helping Neighbors," the partnership between the Bootheel Food Bank and the 33rd Judicial Circuit's juvenile office aims to help 75 families...