Stories from Wednesday, February 6, 2008

It will probably go unspoken but this region owes a debt of gratitude to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson on her decision to seek re-election to her House seat instead of entering the GOP battle for governor of Missouri. Perhaps Emerson felt her chances were a long shot. ...

BENTON -- If Scott County residents were to have their way, Democrat Hillary Clinton would face Republican Mike Huckabee in the presidential election Nov. 4. Clinton led the Democrats with 2,931 votes in Scott County followed by Barack Obama with 1,443. John Edwards was a distant third for Democrats with only 191 votes...

SIKESTON -- Even if they don't know who he is, Col. George E. "Bud" Day's name should be familiar to area residents. In August 2001, a new street intersecting with South Main named after Day was dedicated. To those interested in veteran affairs, the name means a whole lot more than just a name on a street sign...

SIKESTON -- There aren't many who can say they were roommates with a presidential candidate. While memorable, Col. George E. "Bud" Day would hardly refer to his time with Sen. John McCain as the "good ol' days" as the room they shared was a cell in the notorious Hoa Loa Prison where the North Vietnamese held their prisoners of war during the Vietnam War...

This getting old business is, well, getting old. And never has it gotten as old as it did this last week. For years I've prided myself on being able to avoid being sick. Yes, I get a cold here or there, and while I may feel bad for a day or so, it is never anything that lingers for a long period of time. But that was before the gray hairs starting popping up, the joints started hurting and I started referring to young people as "kids these days."...

SIKESTON - Thelma Atteberry Bess, 99, of Sikeston and formerly of Charleston, died at 7:48 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008, at West Ridge Place in Sikeston. She was born April 28, 1908, at McCool, Miss., to the late Walter Phillip and Hattie Clark Wade Atteberry. ...

SIKESTON -- Cecil Mae Quertermous, 79, died Feb. 5, 2008, at her home. Born Nov. 15, 1928, in Lilbourn, to the late Delmar and Delsa Lawson Little, she was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and had been a restaurant manager for more than 20 years for the Sikeston Country Club and Charleston Country Club...

DEXTER -- William James "Jim" Gunn, 83, died Feb. 4, 2008, at his daughter's home in Jackson. Born Dec. 4, 1924, in St. Louis, to the late William and Effie Swan Gunn, he had lived most of his live in Dexter where he was a charter member of the First Pentecostal Church...

CHARLESTON -- Margie Rigney, 69, died Feb. 3, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 18, 1938, in Forrest City, Ark., to the late L.S. and Leora Sisk McCain, she was a member of Opportunity Church of God in Christ in Charleston...

DEXTER - Tanya Renee Robinson, 33, died Feb. 4, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born June 5, 1974, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Norma Jean Cooper King of Dexter and the late Rev. Therman Lee King, she was a member of the Morehouse Baptist Church and attended the Lighthouse Christian Center at Dexter. She was a healthcare provider, homemaker and a graduate of Dexter Senior High School...

MANILA, Ark. -- Louise "Girr" Flagg, 94, died Feb. 5, 2008, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born at Clarksville, Tenn., to the late Albert and Ella Dunham Bumbalough, she was a lifelong resident of Manila. She was a retired nurses aide from Baptist Memorial Hospital, a charter member of Milligan Ridge Baptist Church, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Manila, a longtime member of the E.H.C. and a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club and the Home Demonstration Club...

CHAFFEE -- Joyce Ann Brown, 71, died at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008, at Chaffee Nursing Center. Born June 20, 1936, at New Hamburg, to the late Leo and Agnes Simpher Goetz, she was a retired machine operator for Thorngate Ltd. in Chaffee. She was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and the Daughters of St. Ambrose...

WILSON CITY -- Melvin "Fats" Reed, 65, died Feb. 3, 2008, at his home. Born July 29, 1943, in rural Charleston, to the late Jake and Mary Alice Keywood, he lived his entire life in Missouri. He was a member of the St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston and a retired farmer...

ORAN -- The Sikeston Bulldogs basketball team improved to 18-3 Tuesday evening as they traveled to Oran and took down the Oran Eagles, 80-48. The game began rather slowly for the quick Bulldog offense, as Oran's Kody Campbell held his ground firm against Michael Porter in the paint. Campbell racked up 10 points in the first quarter, but Sikeston's Brandon Washington and Matt Ritch each piled in eight points as the Bulldogs led after one quarter 28-18...

EAST PRAIRIE -- The Portageville Bulldogs earned a key district win over East Prairie, defeating the Eagles 79-68 in overtime. East Prairie, playing their first game in 10 days, fought back from a 14-point deficit and held a 63-61 lead with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation. However Portageville's Dominic Trotter hit a game-tying shot as time expired, sending the game into overtime...

JACKSON -- The Saxony Lutheran Crusaders were able to keep it interesting for three quarters on Tuesday night, but the Scott County Central Braves (17- 2) began to pull away in the fourth to come away with a win, 67-47. The Crusaders were able to beat the pressure by the Braves early on to take an 8-4 lead, in the first. But, back-to-back 3-pointers by Drew Thomas and D.D. Gillespie put the Braves back in the drivers seat and that set the tempo for the rest of the game...

Well, I'm not a New York Giants fan, but I sure did jump on the bandwagon Sunday night as they stuck it to the most "perfect" team in the NFL. Eli Manning took control of the offense, and the defense was absolutely superb as they rocked Tom Brady's noggin all over the turf in Glendale. Anti-Boston fans unite, the unbeaten has fallen...

SIKESTON - Chester Oldham today authorized the Sikeston Standard to announce that he will be a candidate for alderman from Ward IV. He is the first candidate to announce for alderman in the coming city election. --- SIKESTON - With Dick Smith and Bob Porter pacing attacks, the Bulldogs defeated Benton 44-41 in the semifinals Friday night and repeated in the finals against Charleston 43-37 Saturday night to take the Scott-Mississippi Basketball Tournament at Benton...

I'm calling about the Thursday paper, using the children. First of all, whoever called and made this comment is ignorant and stupid. These kids were underage. These people were supplying alcohol. And what would these people think if these kids would get out here drunk and have a wreck and kill one of their family members? I'm talking about the people that called and put this stupid column in SpeakOut in the Standard Democrat. ...