Stories from Thursday, October 23, 2008

SIKESTON -- Alene Lasters, 86, died Oct. 22, 2008, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for James Alton Laseter, 58, who died Oct. 21, 2008, will be: Michael Duncan, Carlos Garcia, Dale Holt, David Watkins, Kevin Watkins and Gregg Evans. Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. today at the funeral home...

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. -- Sylvia Edith Watson, 93, died Oct. 17, 2008, at the West Bloomfield Nursing Center. Born June 22, 1915, in Hollywood, Mo., to the late Fred Tull and Effie Morgan Dozier, she had lived for 66 years in Michigan where she worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" in the B-29 plant. She was of the Methodist belief...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Ruby Stewart, 84, died Oct. 22, 2008, at the Portageville Nursing Center. Born Jan. 20, 1924, at Wynn, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Matthew B. and Maggie Mae Puttle Rose. She married Neil R. Gaddis who preceded her in death. She later married James Stewart who also preceded her in death...

SIKESTON -- Johnnie Hunt, 90, died Oct. 21, 2008, at the Clearview Nursing Center. Born June 17, 1918, in the Dogwood community, daughter of the late John Hale and Cynthia Presson, she was a member of the Nazarene belief. In 1934, she married Miles R. Hunt who preceded her in death in August 1986...

SIKESTON -- Glenda Vonell Hosey, 79, died Oct. 22, 2008, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 15, 1929, in Antioch, Ark., daughter of the late Charlie Levi and Jewell Velia Wood House, she was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ. She was married to Robert Earl Hosey; he preceded her in death on July 26, 1992...

PUXICO -- Pallbearers for services conducted Wednesday at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Puxico for James W.Temple, 84, who died on Oct. 19, 2008, were: Doug Scott, Robert Thomason, Nathan Scott, Don Mueller, Adam Thomason and Gary Cox.

DEXTER -- Peggy Sielert, 73, died Oct. 21, 2008, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Born June 5, 1935, at Senath, daughter of the late Willie Meeks and Mary Wells Christian, she was of the Baptist belief. On May 5, 1952, in Piggott, Ark., she married Loren Sielert who preceded her in death on May 4, 1994...

KEOKUK, Iowa -- Berniece Cleo Davis, 88, died Oct. 19, 2008, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Born Oct. 19, 1920, in Sikeston, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Otto and Bertha Wagner Rettig. On Dec. 28, 1941, in Sikeston, she married Lowell Wesley Davis who survives...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for services conducted Wednesday at the Ponder Funeral Home for Walter Vernon Britt, 81, who died on Oct. 18, 2008, were: Ron Raines, John Britt, Michael Mahurin, Travis Mahurin, David Western and Mandell Brandy.

DEXTER -- Walter Williams, 88, died Oct. 21, 2008, at Missouri Southern Healthcare. Born Dec. 30, 1919, in Painton, to the late John Otis and Lillie Mae Glaspell Williams, he had lived in Southeast Missouri all his life. For the past several years he had lived in Dexter where he was a retired auto mechanic...

BERTRAND -- Beverly Hess French, 69, died at 11 p.m. Oct. 21, 2008, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 18, 1939, in Caddo Gap, Ark., to the late Bruce R. and Pauline McClean Hess, she had lived since 1939 in Mississippi County where she was a member of the United Methodist Church in Charleston. ...

MARION, Ark. -- James William Bishop, 73, died Oct. 22, 2008, at his home. Born Jan. 26, 1937, he retired as an executive vice president for Food Giant. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Tipton County, Tenn., a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Scottish Rite...

DEXTER -- Alma Lee Vandiver, 86, died Oct. 18, 2008, at the Golden Living Center. Born Sept. 3, 1922, at Searcy, Ark., to the late Clarence and Mirtle Riddings Taylor, she was a member of the Bernie General Baptist Church and a homemaker. On July 17, 1937, at Cardwell, she marring Roy Vandiver who preceded her in death on April 13, 2004...

LEADINGTON -- Monica N. "Niki" Ludwig, 35, died Oct. 21, 2008, at her home in Leadington. Born Aug. 29, 1973, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Carl and Linda "Johnson" McClain of Sikeston, she was a fifth grade science teacher at North County and a member of the Old Bethel Baptist Church of Sikeston...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. Bert Shuffit moved to their new home on the corner of Edmondson and Warren streets. SIKESTON - Douglas Hammock Jr., a senior at Sikeston High School, was awarded a letter of commendation from the Merit Scholarship Corporation for his excellence in performance on the National Merit Scholarship Test. Hammock is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hammock of Morehouse...

Thanks for the excitement, the effort, and the class. Watching Sikeston Football this year, has been a lot of fun, currently 4-4, I like what I see. The thing you like to think of when you think of a class football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, track, band or educational program is character. ...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs football team will look to rebound from their loss at West Plains last Friday when they take on the Poplar Bluff Mules this Friday at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium in Sikeston. Sikeston head coach Kent Gibbs feels that his team did not play as well as it could last Friday in the 52-28 loss to West Plains...

BENTON -- Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines adversity as a state, condition or instance of serious or continued difficulty. This is a word that the Kelly Lady Hawks know all too well. During the past few seasons, there have been multiple injuries to some players that have threatened not only their ability to play softball, but also their ability to perform everyday tasks...

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY -- A Bertrand woman died Tuesday of injuries sustained in an accident occurring earlier that day. Beverly French, 69, was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. Tuesday at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, where she had been air lifted following a two-vehicle accident Tuesday at the intersection of Route B and Mississippi County Road 412...

SIKESTON -- Members of a local church youth group will spend the night in a "box city" this weekend to raise awareness and funds for the homeless. Abby Reeve, youth director for the First United Methodist Church, said participants will set up cardboard box shelters on a grassy area near the church at about 6 p.m. Saturday. "We will be out there all night long," she said...

NEW MADRID -- The town's history and tales of its hauntings are part of a hayride/tour offered this weekend in New Madrid, and if those along for the ride witness some paranormal activity, well, that's just an extra treat. "New Madrid has been through so much, so many tragic events -- earthquakes, two major floods, and Civil War battles took place on these grounds. Indians were here, too," said Christina McWaters, director of the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce...

SIKESTON -- From working with students, counselors in the Sikeston R-6 district have learned that, regardless of age, several are affected by drug use. "It's definitely a problem in this town," said Kelly Bright, fifth grade counselor at the Fifth and Sixth Grade Center. And that's why they take advantage of the opportunity to educate students to "Just Say No."...