Stories from Sunday, August 24, 2008

SIKESTON -- Barbara Byrum of Cape Girardeau and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Byrum of Sikeston have announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan Amy Byrum, to Ronald Neal Gilliland, son of Shirley Gilliland of Advance and the late Charles Gilliland. A graduate of Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University, the future bride is a parent educator with Nell Holcomb and Oak Ridge school districts...

SIKESTON -- Terry Griffey and Sylvia Webster of Dexter along with Linda Hodge of Harviel have announced the engagement of their daughter, Angie Michelle Hodge-Kirkley, to James Matthew Seabaugh, son of Jim Seabaugh of Sikeston and Rhonda Huffman of Kimberling City...

LAS VEGAS -- Kristin Elizabeth McClard and Christopher Paul Porter were united in marriage during a 2 p.m. ceremony Aug. 3, 2008, at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The bride is the daughter of the Rev. J.D. and Kim McClard of Blodgett, Mo. The bridegroom is the son of Erwin and Kim Porter of New Madrid, Mo...

SIKESTON -- Viola Brewer celebrated her 85th birthday with four generations of family and friends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 8 at the home of Mark Cheatham and Terry Brewer-Cheatham. Earlier that morning Brewer-Cheatham surprised her grandmother at church by showing up and singing two gospel songs in honor of her grandmother's birthday. ...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston resident Annise Davis celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the American Legion hall in Sikeston. Davis was born Aug. 13, 1908, in Lula, Miss., to the late Ben and Roselee Davis. ...

LOS ANGELES -- Training completed by Head Start Director Cindy Huey will ultimately benefit children and their families from Delta Area Economic Opportunity in Portageville. Huey is one of 40 graduates of the Head Start -- Johnson & Johnson Management Fellows Program, an intensive two-week program, conducted at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles. The program was developed in 1991 to strengthen the management skills of Head Start administrators...

SIKESTON -- Melanie Wood, DeAndra Smith and Lanette Baker recently represented Sikeston Area Humane Society and No Throwaways at a one-day workshop presented by Petfinder.com, the on-line database of homeless pets. The workshop was hosted by the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri and sponsored by PETCO...

SIKESTON -- There are new gymnastics instructors in town, and they say they're pumped up and ready to promote the sport in Sikeston. Phenom Gymnastics is owned by Eric Miller and Kelly Kirby. The two will continue to offer recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics and competitive cheerleading, but will also expand its preschool program and added a trampoline and tumbling program...

SIKESTON -- There are new gymnastics instructors in town, and they say they're pumped up and ready to promote the sport in Sikeston. Phenom Gymnastics is owned by Eric Miller and Kelly Kirby. The two will continue to offer recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics and competitive cheerleading, but will also expand its preschool program and added a trampoline and tumbling program...

SIKESTON -- Melanie Wood, DeAndra Smith and Lanette Baker recently represented Sikeston Area Humane Society and No Throwaways at a one-day workshop presented by Petfinder.com, the on-line database of homeless pets. The workshop was hosted by the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri and sponsored by PETCO...

LOS ANGELES -- Training completed by Head Start Director Cindy Huey will ultimately benefit children and their families from Delta Area Economic Opportunity in Portageville. Huey is one of 40 graduates of the Head Start -- Johnson & Johnson Management Fellows Program, an intensive two-week program, conducted at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles. The program was developed in 1991 to strengthen the management skills of Head Start administrators...

SIKESTON -- Barbara Byrum of Cape Girardeau and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Byrum of Sikeston have announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan Amy Byrum, to Ronald Neal Gilliland, son of Shirley Gilliland of Advance and the late Charles Gilliland. A graduate of Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University, the future bride is a parent educator with Nell Holcomb and Oak Ridge school districts...

SIKESTON -- Terry Griffey and Sylvia Webster of Dexter along with Linda Hodge of Harviel have announced the engagement of their daughter, Angie Michelle Hodge-Kirkley, to James Matthew Seabaugh, son of Jim Seabaugh of Sikeston and Rhonda Huffman of Kimberling City...

SIKESTON -- Family and friends of Bob and Lorraine Simpson of Sikeston are invited to attend a 50th wedding anniversary celebratopm in the couple's honor from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at the First Christian Church Family Life Center in Sikeston. The couple request no gifts for the occasion...

LAS VEGAS -- Kristin Elizabeth McClard and Christopher Paul Porter were united in marriage during a 2 p.m. ceremony Aug. 3, 2008, at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The bride is the daughter of the Rev. J.D. and Kim McClard of Blodgett, Mo. The bridegroom is the son of Erwin and Kim Porter of New Madrid, Mo...

SIKESTON -- Viola Brewer celebrated her 85th birthday with four generations of family and friends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 8 at the home of Mark Cheatham and Terry Brewer-Cheatham. Earlier that morning Brewer-Cheatham surprised her grandmother at church by showing up and singing two gospel songs in honor of her grandmother's birthday. ...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston resident Annise Davis celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the American Legion hall in Sikeston. Davis was born Aug. 13, 1908, in Lula, Miss., to the late Ben and Roselee Davis. ...

DEXTER-- The savory smell of barbecue was in the air Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter, but it was football that was on everyone's mind. The Dexter Bearcats, Portageville Bulldogs, Kennett Indians and Scott City Rams came to participate in the Dexter Jamboree...

EAST PRAIRIE -- With a brand new press box shadowing over the football field at East Prairie high school on Friday night, four teams gave local fans just a little taste of what is to come as they kicked off the season with the East Prairie jamboree...

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- The dream season for the Sikeston 13-year-old All-Stars ended Friday evening in the semifinals of the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y. The Southwest Region Champions from Bryant, Ark. outscored the Sikeston squad 13-8 propelling them into the championship game which was played on Saturday against the winner of the California-New York game...

Although 4-year-old Blake Hays gave it his best try to call the ducks floating in the Sikeston Sports Complex's lake they just wouldn't come. He even tried his best quacks before giving up Friday afternoon. The ducks, however, seemed perfectly content enjoying the rainy weather which should continue today...

CHARLESTON - U.S. Eighth District Representative Jo Ann Emerson will discuss issues relating to seniors in Southeast Missouri on Friday. Emerson will attend a Senior Issues Coffee from 9-10:30 a.m. Friday at the Bowden Center, 700 Elm St. The event is hosted by Experience Works Inc., a national, charitable, community-based organization that helps seniors get the training they need to find good jobs in their local communities...

Portageville running back DJ Birdwell tries to shake off the tackle of a Kennett Indian defender in the Dexter Jamboree Friday night. Local teams took part in jamborees to help them prepare before the season begins next Friday night. For more on the jamborees, see page 1B in today's issue...

SIKESTON -- Some new laws dealing with vehicle operations are set to take affect Thursday, mostly dealing with utility vehicles, increased fines for violations in travel safe and work zones, and those related to DWI and intoxication-related offenses...

SIKESTON -- Among the thousands of delegates attending the 45th Democratic National Convention in Denver will be one from New Madrid County. Vannessa Frazier of Howardville was selected as one of the 8th Congressional District's three delegates for Hillary Clinton...

JEFFERSON CITY - A Portageville man will serve on the Missouri Technology Corporation Thomas E. (Jake) Fisher, 66 was one of four appointments made to the corporation by Gov. Matt Blunt. The Missouri Technology Corporation advises the department and governor regarding business development opportunities related to new technologies and products. Their goal is provide access to global technologies for Missouri businesses and citizens...

CLARKTON -- Betty Louise Mitchell, 74, died Aug. 21, 2008, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Born May 18, 1934, in Williamsville, to the late James Hampton and Addie Hardy Hillis, she was affiliated with the Stanfield Missionary Baptist Church in Clarkton...

ANNISTON -- Alice Mae Freeman, 84, formerly of Uvaldi, Texas, died at 4:03 p.m. Aug. 22, 2008, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 20, 1923, in Ramona, Okla , she lived most of her life in Texas and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sabinal, Texas. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Annie Sue Mitchell, 65, died at 10:10 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008, at the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 31, 1942, in New Madrid County, to the late Fred and Hazel Faye McMillian Williams, she lived most of her life in Mississippi County. She was a retired visiting nurse and also a volunteer for 17 years with the American Red Cross. She was also a member of the Assembly of God Church in East Prairie...

MATTHEWS -- Nathan Ray McCoy, 81, died at 3 p.m. Aug. 22, 2008, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 4, 1926, at Eldridge, Tenn., to the late Willie West and Mary Clara Story McCoy, he was a gin operator and general maintenance man for the Allen-Davis Gin Company for many years and had also served as Water and Sewage commissioner for the city of Matthews. He was a sexton for the Matthews Cemetery for 20 years and a member of the First Baptist Church in Matthews...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Gordon D. Addis, 55, died at 3:33 p.m. Aug. 22, 2008, at the Medco Center of Paducah, following an extended illness. Born June 12, 1953, in Portsmouth, Va., to Jessie Bright Addis of Paducah and the late John T. Addis, he was a member of the Victory Assembly of God Church in Paducah...

SIKESTON -- Marvin "Buddy" Wallace 88, died Aug. 22, 2008, at the General Baptist Nursing Center in Campbell. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

SIKESTON -- Melford Taylor, 95, died Aug. 22, 2008, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Blake and Allison Ledbetter are the parents of their second child, second daughter, born at 11:16 p.m. June 11, 2008, at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. Emily Charlotte Ledbetter weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long...

I would like to speak out about one of Wal-Mart's managers. His name is Jerry Linhart. He is a very good employee of theirs. Anytime I need help he is always there to assist me. I've been a loyal customer to Wal-Mart for a very longtime. I think he is the best manager they have there...

SIKESTON - Michael McDonald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester McDonald of Vanduser, observed his second birthday on Aug. 21 with a party at his home. POPLAR BLUFF - Bill Lewis was elected chairman of the 10th Congressional District Democrat Central Committee last night at a meeting of the 22 county Democratic Committee members in Poplar Bluff. Approximately 75 people attended...

For years now, we've been told countless times that the issue of obesity is the single largest health concern facing this nation. Look around and you'd find it difficult to disagree. A new report out this week paints an even more dismal portrait for Missouri. The Show Me state now ranks 13th on the obesity chart of the 50 states with 63.3 percent of Missourians either obese or overweight...