Stories from Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Just like you, I read daily about our faltering economy. Oil prices are at record levels, subprime loans are threatening our financial foundation, our largest banks are being sold to foreign interests, etc. The economy is not on life support but some experts see that coming just around the corner...

How many times does it take for the East Prairie Police Department to go to one house and not do anything about it? They've been to a house two or three times, maybe more, and they never do anything to the people. I would like to speak out about Obama. ...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker Friday night at Charleston by a score of 42 to 41 after leading most all of the way. In the B team game, the local squad was defeated by a score of 41 to 25. 40 years ago -- Jan. 16, 1968 SIKESTON - Seven board members of the Sikeston Industrial Development Corporation were elected at the annual stockholders meeting Wednesday night at the Chamber of Commerce. ...

In the past year the headlines of this newspaper and others around the country have been a little disheartening. First, there was the Michael Vick dogfighting case. Then there was the case of the abandoned animals in Essex and again more dogfighting in Dudley. Then Monday there was another case of animal cruelty from a vet in Kennett...

The Scott-Mississippi Conference girls basketball tournament concluded Saturday at Scott County Central High School with Delta defeating Kelly 38-35 in the championship game. Earlier in the day, Oran defeated Scott City for third place 64-30. Here, Delta (top), Kelly (middle) and Oran (bottom) each display their respective plaques they earned in the tournament...

NEW MADRID -- The New Madrid County Central Eagles won their sixth game in-a-row Tuesday night, holding off the Twin Rivers Royals 61-56. NMCC jumped out to a big 17-5 lead after one quarter and led 31-18 at the half before Twin Rivers mounted a comeback in the third. The Royals outscored NMCC 16-7 in the third to cut the lead to 38-34 but the Eagles were able to hang on for the win...

DELTA -- The final night of first round games were played on Tuesday night, as the East Prairie Eagles advanced to the semifinals, by defeating the Oran Eagles 71-60. The contest was about as evenly matched as a game could be through the first two quarters, as East Prairie led by one at the break, 28-27...

Yes, it's still a Yankees hat, but today is going to be about the Cardinals, which by the way, I do own two Cardinals jerseys and a few Cardinals hats. Call me hypocritical, but at least it's not the Cubs. I have to admit, I'm proud of the Ol' Redbirds this week, as they got rid of what has seemed like a clubhouse bad egg for the last few years in Scott Rolen. ...

SIKESTON -- For most of the season, Juqualin Wiggins has been the unsung hero for the Sikeston Bulldogs basketball team. The sophomore point guard is often overlooked because he is not a prolific scorer, averaging just 5.5 points a game. But on Tuesday night Wiggins made sure he wasn't overlooked, scoring a season-high 15 points in helping Sikeston to a 63-47 win over Farmington...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- When the Charleston Bluejays lost in the semifinal round at the seMissourian Christmas Tournament, the Notre Dame Bulldogs used a 40-point performance by senior Ryan Willen to advance to the championship round. "We didn't want him to beat us again," Charleston head coach Danny Farmer said. "He (Willen) scored 40 on us last time. We wanted to make the other guys beat us."...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston is "happy and proud" to have a new business come to town, Mayor Mike Marshall said at a news conference Tuesday morning. At the conference, Philips Products was announced as the newest industry in Sikeston, as well as its operations manager, Matt Hetherington. Hetherington described the company, as well as answered the questions of those in attendance...

Jeff Archie, a Sikeston Public Works employee, uses a Bobcat to remove the asphalt on Center Street Tuesday. The Public Works Department is removing the asphalt to expose the downtown's historic brick roadways.

BENTON -- Scott County Commissioners are putting the final touches on the county's annual operating budget for 2008. Commissioners went through the budget with each of the county's department heads during their regular meeting Tuesday. "We have most of it hashed out," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said. "We'll probably have this thing finalized Thursday."...

SIKESTON -- Willie Mae Owens, 68, formerly of Portageville, died Jan. 13, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born July 30, 1939, in Lamar, Miss., to Ethel Washington Sheperd of Portageville and the late Willie Hudson, she was a member of Glory of God Church of God in Christ in Sikeston where she was the pastor's aid president and the president of the Mother's Board...

NEW MADRID -- Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Freeman, 96, died Jan. 12, 2008, at her home. Born May 8, 1911, in Webb, Miss., to the late Asberry and Tanzie Taylor Bearden, she was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Lilbourn where she was a member of the choir and president of the Mother's Board and the Mission Society...

CHARLESTON -- Fern Anselm Bryant, 92, died at 7 a.m. Jan. 15, 2008, at her home in the Texas Bend Community, north of Charleston. Born Sept. 27, 1915, in Perry County, to the late Barney and Bena Unterreiner Anselm, she had lived in the Charleston area since 1920. She was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church, where she was active in the Legion of Mary, St. Henry Quilters and St. Henry fundraising dinners. She was also a member of the Texas Bend Extension Club...

MOREHOUSE - Linda Fay McClain, 60, died Jan. 10, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born July 31, 1947, in Terre Haute, Ind., daughter of Eula Fay Baty Stroud Brothers of Sikeston and the late Harold E. Stroud Sr., she graduated from Morehouse High School in 1965. She was a member of Rauch Spence Memorial Methodist Church in Morehouse and Tanner Street Church of God in Sikeston...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Pallbearers for services conducted Tuesday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, for Lillie Ruth Taylor, 97, who died on Jan. 13, 2008, were: Randall Cole, Aaron Keesee, Todd Jones, Tim Taylor, Darrell Carter and Eddie Hicks.

O'FALLON -- Billy Don Scott, 76, formerly of East Prairie, died at 3 p.m. Jan. 15, 2008, in the Barnes St. Peters Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.