Stories from Wednesday, July 23, 2008

EAST PRAIRIE -- Don Reynolds, 67, died July 21, 2008, in Memphis, Tenn. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

PUXICO -- Linda Caldwell, 48, died July 21, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 23, 1959, at Dexter, to Lois Francis O'Neal Caldwell of Puxico and the late Delmar Caldwell, she had lived all her life in Puxico. She attended the Corinth General Baptist Church near Puxico and was a deputy county clerk for Stoddard County...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for services held Tuesday at the Ponder Funeral Home for Anita Marie Woods, 86, who died July 19, 2008 were: Jeff Burge, Dave Ellison, Kevin Still, Dustin Woods and Michael Woods.

SIKESTON -- Jacqulyn Elaine Fredrick Watson, 58, died July 20, 2008, at her home of an apparent heart attack. Born Aug. 17, 1950, in St. Louis, daughter of Robert Fredrick of St. Louis and Mary Warfield Fredrick of Sikeston, she was a 1968 graduate of Sikeston High School, attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau where she obtained certification as a licensed practical nurse. ...

MATTHEWS -- Carol Ann Woodall, 67, died July 22, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 19, 1940, in Essex, to the late John and Veda Boyd Baker, she had lived most of her life in and around Matthews, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church. She had worked as a cook in many area restaurants...

Never in the history of this great nation has the national news media been so overly biased in favor of one presidential candidate. Sen. Barack Obama is clearly getting highly favored treatment from the national media - in all forms - and that is establishing a pattern that should be concerning to every American...

While I do believe we should always pray before we vote for a new president to make sure the Lord leads us to the right one, people thought that ex-President Bill Clinton was the anti-Christ. Other than the scandal he had with that intern, he turned out to be one of the best presidents we've ever had. ...

SIKESTON - Davis Hart of Springfield has been hired as the coordinator for Sikeston High School and will assume his new duties here Aug. 15. He replaces M.L. Stewart, who resigned the position recently to accept a position with the Department of Education...

Despite what my wife may say, I am not one for being pampered. Oh sure, I like it when my wife brings me food and drink while I sit in my recliner watching television, but I'm talking real pampering like getting a pedicure and such. My wife on the other hand is big on the pampering things like a pedicure. ...

After taking a few days off while my wife gave birth to the missing piece of our middle infield, I'm ready to hit up the sports world again. It was a great weekend full of memories and now I'm somewhat refreshed to take a look toward the second half of the Major League baseball season...

LEADWOOD -- After falling to a two-run deficit early in the Missouri Senior Babe Ruth State Championship game on Monday, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels went on a run scoring tear in the seventh inning, plating 10 runs to put the game out of reach and their second-straight state championship in their hands...

JACKSON -- Jake Hime's arm was feeling a little fatigued Tuesday night after throwing eight innings against Scott County Post 369. But he didn't need to pitch the ninth inning thanks to his hot bat. The Jackson Post 158 hurler stroked a grand slam over the left-field fence in the bottom of the eighth inning to enact the 10-run rule and help his team to a 19-6 first-round victory in the District 14 American Legion baseball tournament...

NEW MADRID -- Modern-day treasure hunting is being used to expand earthquake awareness to visitors and residents of a town nearly destroyed by one of the largest quakes ever recorded in the United States. Through a joint venture by Central United States Earthquake Consortium in Memphis, Tenn., State Emergency Management Agency in Jefferson City and the New Madrid Historical Museum in New Madrid, two educational "geocaches" were recently installed near New Madrid...

COLUMBIA - The death penalty will be sought in a jury trial scheduled to get under way Monday in a change of venue from Scott County. Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd said he will seek the death penalty for Vincent Minner of Matthews. Minner is charged in the Dec. 5, 2006, shooting of Michael Terry, 49, who later died from his wounds...

Darice Sawyer, Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce administrative assistant, helps sort pamphlets and business information that will be given away in goodie bags to the members of the Trike Riders International. The rally for riders of the three-wheeled motorcycles will start Thursday morning at the Clinton Building...

BENTON -- Delta Regional Authority grant funding for an ethanol plant may now go to pave the way for Orgill. Scott County commissioners met with Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission and Sikeston city officials during their regular meeting Tuesday to discuss using DRA funds to improve roads leading to where Orgill Inc.'s new distribution center will be built in the Sikeston Industrial Park...

SIKESTON -- Department of Public Safety officers are investigating a reported stabbing and break-in that occurred early this morning. Public Information Officer Jim McMillen said dispatchers received a call around 4 a.m. from residents on the 200 block of Scott Street regarding a man who had been stabbed...

HAYTI -- Methamphetamine elements were found in a residence where officers executed a search warrant earlier this month, resulting in the arrest of two. According to a news release from the Bootheel Drug Task Force, their agents, assisted by officers, executed a search warrant at a residence near Hayti July 13...