Stories from Wednesday, March 5, 2008

I was perusing the Cape Girardeau newspaper the other day when a headline caught my eye: "Conservation agent proposes bowhunting in Cape city limits." You don't say. The thought of walking into Barnes and Noble, dodging arrows, immediately popped into my head. I have enough trouble trying to keep my wife out of Victoria's Secret, I certainly don't need the added hassle of worrying about keeping my head down when walking to and from my car when I'm up there...

PORTAGEVILLE - Justin and Lauren Sells are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 2:10 p.m. Jan. 25, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Jackson Kole Sells weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Tonya Mays and Ed Mays...

"Be our guest, Be our guest Put our service to the test Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie And we provide the rest..." NEW MADRID - The inviting words from the Broadway musical "Beauty and The Beast" are also the invitation extended by the New Madrid County Central High School's Singing Eagles as they present their dinner theater production, "Spring into Broadway," March 14 and 15. ...

Daffodils are weighed down by the wintery mix Tuesday. Freezing rainfall and other precipitation in the area over the past two days covered plants and trees, often making the roads difficult for travelers. For a look at the upcoming week's weather, turn to page 3...

DEXTER -- Anita Eloise Hart, 77, died March 3, 2008, at her home. Born May 20, 1930, in Parma, daughter of the late Lawrence Albie and Lillian Irene Lewis Myrick, she had lived in Parma and Dexter most of her life. She was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Dexter and an Avon representative for over 43 years...

SIKESTON -- Tristin "Little Man" Beedle, 5 months old, died March 2, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Sept. 6, 2007, in Sikeston, son of Stephen and Kimberly Poole Beedle, who survive of the home. He was a happy, dimple-faced kind soul who always had a smile for everyone...

SIKESTON -- If you're like most people, you've forgotten daylight-saving time begins this weekend. But don't worry. Local experts say there are things you can do to ease into your spring forward. "There's no way to prevent a disruption to our circadian rhythms -- or body clocks -- but we can develop coping skills," said Sylvia Webster, crisis therapist at Bootheel Counseling Services in Sikeston...

CHARLESTON -- The health of people is tied directly to the success of that community's economy. That's something the Delta Regional Authority members have learned, and why for the third year, the group is offering a series of health fairs across the eight-state region it serves. This Saturday, the fair will make a stop in Charleston...

I'm calling in reference to Tell me why. I also work and need dental work and can't afford it. I have had some toothaches that have had me in tears. You applaud Governor Blunt. I bet he has dental coverage - and who do you think pays for it - the taxpayers. I don't smile either. I think it's sad that I have to be embarrassed to smile when I pay my taxes, work and have even served my country...

60 years ago March 5, 1948

I believe you get the true measure of a politician not from a prepared text but rather from an off-the-cuff comment or quick answer to a question. That is what struck me this week in a brief, passing and humorously-intended comment by Barack Obama. Obama was in Texas in a run-up to yesterday's primary there and deviated from his prepared remarks. ...

WEDNEsday Girls Basketball Class 3 Sectional at Poplar Bluff High School Portageville v. Greenville, 6 p.m. Boys Basketball Class 1 Sectional at Poplar Bluff High School NMCC v. Doniphan, 7:45 p.m. SATURDAY Girls Basketball...

As the high school basketball season is coming to an end, the All-SD team as well as All-Region, All-Conference and All-State team is nearing arrival. Since I have a few minutes to spare, taking a break from creating my fantasy baseball draft list, I thought I'd throw together a list of the players I've found intriguing over the past few months...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Scott Central Bravettes looked as if they were about to pull off a major upset Tuesday evening, as they took to the court against the state-ranked Delta Lady Bobcats. For the first two quarters of the ballgame, the Bravettes stayed within striking distance of the Lady Bobcats, as they trailed by just two after the first quarter, 9-7. Brianna Johnson racked up five points for Scott Central in the first eight minutes...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Four years worth of disappointment, after disappointment for the Scott County Central Braves all came to a culmination on Tuesday night. The Braves applied all of the upsetting sectional losses from previous years into an 80-58 rout of their rival, the Bell City Cubs at the E.T. Peters Gym in Poplar Bluff...