Stories from Friday, October 24, 2008

ST. JOSEPH -- The Kelly Lady Hawks will play in the championship game of the Class 2 State Tournament. On Friday, the softball team beat Marion C. Early, 3-1. The championship game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday. Look for more details in Sunday's edition of the Standard Democrat...

MATTHEWS -- Andrew Lee Cain Jr., 59, died Oct. 19, 2008, at his home. Born Nov. 18, 1948, in Los Angeles, to Myneal Cain of Essex and the late Andrew Lee Cain Sr., he was a veteran of the Vietnam War. In addition to his mother, survivors include: three sons and a daughter-in-law, Paul and Laura Cain of Baltimore, Carlos Cain of Atlanta and Dishea Cain of Swansea, Ill.; two brothers, Carl Cain of Essex and Kenneth Cain of Malden; five sisters, Marie Anderson, Linda Clark, Lenora Gater and Tosha Boyd of Sikeston and Marilyn McFerren of Cape Girardeau; eight grandchildren; and a special friend, Velma Mason of Matthews.. ...

AFTON -- Mary Alice Burton Henley, 90, formerly of East Prairie, died at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis. Born Dec. 28, 1917, in Paragould, Ark., to the late Elijah Earl and Jenny Leila Merrick Crecelius, she had lived most of her life in East Prairie where she was a foster parent. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Affton...

SIKESTON -- Alene Marie Lasters 86, died at 8:25 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born Feb. 23, 1922, at Center Ridge, Ark., to the late Matthew W. and Syretha Harris Metcalf, she had worked as a nurse's aide at Missouri Delta Medical Center and was a member of Canalou Baptist Church...

EAST PRAIRIE -- James Williams, 84, formerly of Red Bay, Ala., died at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Deaton Funeral Home in Red Bay.

CHARLESTON -- Izayiah Miller, infant son of Heather Miller of Charleston, died Oct. 23, 2008, at the Childrens Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete with the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Kathryn Frances Lemons Webb passed away at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Mrs. Webb was born on Nov. 20, 1917, in Jonesboro, Ill., and was the daughter of John Edgar and Flora Wilson Lemons. She moved from Illinois to Charleston in 1924 where she lived until 1938, at which time she was married to Joseph Alan Webb and moved to East Prairie. ...

SIKESTON -- Rhonda Jones is the parent of her first child, a daughter, born at 9:45 a.m. Sept. 22, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. TaNya Vivien Hadassah Jones weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long. Grandparents are Vivien Robertson and John Robertson...

It has been reported that one in three women in America will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. As a single-mother of two, I have been one of those three women. Therefore, when this issue has arisen in the presidential election, I naturally looked at the candidates' positions and where they stand on issues facing women in general...

To the Editor: My fellow veterans, once again we're called upon to defend our freedom! The battle is for the rights we have all fought for! I'm a disabled veteran and get all of my healthcare through the VA. We all know it could be a lot better with the proper funding it deserves. After all, we veterans deserve the best care possible. It's our right after serving our country and sometimes risking our lives! We shouldn't have to beg for it...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulldogs got off to a slow start Friday night but started rolling the last minutes of the first quarter. The football boys rolled over the East Prairie Eagles, 46-13. SIKESTON - Students from 12 area high schools participated in "Mock Congresses" to elect a president and vice president of the United States Tuesday at Sikeston High School. ...

If there is anyone out there who can get rid of moles by spraying my yard, will you please put your number in SpeakOut and I will call you. I don't think Obama is ready to be president, he's too educated and he don't have common sense. With such a big percentage of people not paying taxes, that's the reason we're in the shape we are today. ...

NEW MADRID -- The New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles were able to overcome a first set loss to the visiting Sikeston Lady Bulldogs on Thursday night and win the last two sets to give them the victory on Senior Night. Alexis Wells, Lindsey Fowler, Sara Smelser and Sonni Carlisle were all a part of their last win on their home court...

BENTON -- The Sikeston House of Refuge will again benefit from fees collected for the domestic violence fund in 2009. During their regular commission meeting on Thursday, commissioners approved a request by the House of Refuge for the 2009 proceeds of the domestic violence fund...

DEXTER -- A Dexter man is in jail for his involvement in passing counterfeit bills in the city. Gary Leon McCoy, 45, of Dexter was arrested Tuesday on two counts of class C felony of forgery. According to a news release from the Dexter Police Department, McCoy was detained after he allegedly passed two counterfeit $20-bills at Wal-Mart. ...

ORAN -- An Oran man is recovering today from a stab wound he received Thursday night at a Scott County bar. According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, two Oran men got into an altercation late Thursday at Kelsey's Tavern, located on State Highway 77, just outside Oran city limits...

SIKESTON -- When she was elected in 2006, Rep. Ellen Brandom of the 160th District promised voters to bring their needs to Jefferson City, and also bring the Capitol to them. "Today, I am proud to say that together, we have done just that," said Brandom. She was the featured speaker Thursday at the monthly luncheon for the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce...

BENTON -- A Sikeston man is back in jail after he was arrested on a second charge of attempted burglary. According to a news release from the Scott County Sheriff's Department, Jason Roach, 35, allegedly approached a residence on County Highway 538 near Miner on Tuesday. He rang the doorbell and then began to knock while turning the doorknob. The homeowner was inside the residence at the time and said if it weren't for a safety latch on the door, Roach would have gained entry...

Sikeston Keyarra Blissett hits the ball while teammate Casey Palmer looks on Thursday night in New Madrid against the New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles. NMCC won the game in three sets. For more on the match, see today's sports section.

BENTON -- Prices are up at the grocery stores and for other goods and services with the slumping economy. But one thing has gone down -- the value of property such as vehicles and homes. That has some people wondering whether they'll see a decrease in their tax bills once they come out next month, said Teresa Houchin, Scott County assessor. Houchin said she has fielded quite a few questions about the lower values -- some as much as 25 percent lower -- from taxpayers...

CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County office holders and employees will have the same health insurance next year and at the same price, Commissioners approved renewing the county's health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield during their regular meeting Thursday...