Stories from Friday, September 19, 2008

VANDUSER -- Rita Adams, 54, died Sept. 19, 2008, at her home in Vanduser. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for funeral services held today at the Ponder Funeral Home for Eugene C. Oliver, 94, who died Sept. 16, 2008, were: Michael Oliver, Matthew Hodges, Ande Oliver, Austin Henson, Tanner Henson and Emery Adam Oliver.

BERNIE -- Della Mae Stanfield, 90, died Sept. 17, 2008, at Cypress Point in Dexter. Born Oct. 18, 1917, in Bernie, daughter of the late Gene and Mandy Elizabeth Murphy Jordan, she was a homemaker and was a child care provider in Bernie. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bernie...

EAST PRAIRIE -- William Paul "Bill" Wheatley, 61, died at 3:12 a.m. Sept. 19, 2008, in the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Aug. 14, 1947, in Mississippi County, to the late Edgar "Ed" and Vivian Marie Thompson Wheatley, he lived all of his life in Mississippi County where he was a retired mechanic...

NEW MADRID -- Willie B. Smith, 62, died Sept. 13, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born June 16, 1946, in Ripley, Tenn., he was the son of the late George and Rosetta Smith Sr. On Oct. 15, 1970, in Chicago, he married Joann Jones who survives of the home...

ORAN -- Dwayne Kraus, 66, died at 12:10 p.m. Sept. 17, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 4, 1942, in Hagarville, Ark., to Bessie Mae Patterson Kraus of Oran and the late Amos J. Kraus, he was a member of the Trinity Gospel Church in Sikeston and a route salesman for Little Debbie...

LOWNDES -- Dorothy Marie Billingsley, 89, died Sept. 18, 2008, at her home. Born Oct. 10, 1918, in Saginaw County, Mich., to the late Lewis J. and Doris H. Beach Rogers, she had lived in the Dexter and Bernie areas since 1950. In 1976, she moved to Lowndes where she was a member of the Community Church of Christ...

The third touchdown scored for the Rams was receiver Corey Rogers (44). Thank you - great article! Glad to see some of the younger teams getting the glory. In response to the Sept. 7 entry "Heaven is Black and White." I love your comment. It is so accurate and needs to be screamed along the mountain tops and valleys of every inch of this earth, but especially here in America. ...

Dear Mike I'm holding in my hand a little block of wood 6 inches long and l inch wide. On it are written the words in his handwriting: " Aug. 4, l985, A beginning of the lst million'" G. H. to Lila J. As I am writing to you, G. H. Starnes' final services are being held at l p.m. ...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. Bob Turner and sons, Tommy and Larry, and Mrs. Turner's mother, Mrs. Lillie Clodfelter, plan to leave this weekend for Santa Fe, N.M., where they will make their home. SIKESTON - Seven contestants who will compete for the title of Miss Sikeston were announced today by Chairman Bill Scarbrough. They are Frances Kay Catlett, Debbie Schaffer, Della Rae Hammock, Kay Stauffer, Jo Ann Graff, Nancy Lewis and Jan Shaffar...

ORAN-- The New Madrid Country Central Lady Eagles volleyball team edged the Oran Lady Eagles 25-19, 25-22 Thursday in Oran. First year NMCC head coach Jenny Sexton was pleased with her team's outing. "The girls played a heck of an all around game," Sexton said. "They got a little rattled at times. But, they played team ball and were able to overcome that. That's what we've been working on this year, so I was really excited to see that."...

Sikeston's Trent McMillan (51) tries to bring down Dexter running back Josh Overall (33) in the second quarter Thursday evening in Dexter. A final score from the game was not reported.

BROSELEY -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs rallied back from a three-run deficit against the Twin Rivers Lady Royals in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at four and then won the game two innings later. Emilie Martin hit an inside the park home run to left field giving Sikeston a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning...

DEXTER -- During the first set of the Dexter-Bernie volleyball match, the Lady Bearcats found themselves down by a 12-10 score with the Lady Mules threatening to take over the game. Bernie had control of the ball and delivered a shot over to the Dexter side. Cathryn Heil received the ball into the air for the first touch only to be followed by McKenzie Mitchell who tipped it just over the net on the second touch to make it an 11-12 game...

BENTON-- The Kelly Lady Hawks softball team improved to a record of 11-1 with a 10-0 win over the Lady Eagles of East Prairie Thursday in Benton. Pitcher Jessica Riley and the Kelly defense played solid Thursday, stifling East Prairie's offensive efforts...

CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County's road and bridge department is no longer getting help from prisoners. Jim Blumenberg, presiding county commissioner, said during the regular County Commission meeting Thursday that they have not heard from the Southeast Correctional Center officials since Aug. 29 when minor violations were found bringing a halt to the program for the county...

BENTON -- Scott County officials will re-evaluate how their bills are paid, and perhaps eliminate some paper. During Thursday's regular commission meeting, representatives of US Bank in Sikeston met with officials to discuss some products offered. "We understand you are under a contract right now, but there may be some services we provide that are outside of your contract," said Cindy Friend, treasury management and assistant vice president...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston skaters will have to wait until next year for their city skatepark. Following the recommendation of staff and the wishes of the Sikeston Skatepark Committee, City Council members rejected all bids for equipping the city skatepark during their special meeting Thursday...

SIKESTON -- City officials are planning to take down 106 condemned structures deemed to be health and safety hazards. During a special meeting Thursday, the City Council directed Trey Hardy, community redevelopment coordinator, to work with Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden on declaring these properties to be health and safety hazards...

SIKESTON -- This weekend, youth will be jamming in Sikeston, and it's all for a good cause. The Sikeston Optimist Club will host a Christian Youth Concert featuring Awakening, a contemporary Christian rock band from Jackson. Opening for the act with be Sikeston's own First United Methodist Church's praise band...