Stories from Monday, December 8, 2008

SIKESTON -- Juanita Mays is the parent of her first child, a daughter, born at 12:28 p.m. Oct. 30, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Anijah Ariel Mays weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long. Grandparents are Bobby and Arnita Cook...

NEW MADRID -- Lucille Parks, 96, died Dec. 6, 2008, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. She was born Dec. 30, 1911, at Kewanee, to the late Charles H. and Louise Schuerenberg Martin. She married Charles Herman Parks who preceded her in death on Oct. 14, 1982...

MOREHOUSE -- Shirley Ann Ellis, 68, died Dec. 6, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born June 8, 1940, in Dexter, to the late Homer Hubert and Margaret Lois Hudgens Perrigan, she had lived her entire life in the Dexter and Morehouse areas and was of the Baptist belief...

SIKESTON -- Gary Hamby, 48, died Dec. 6, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born May 5, 1960, in Las Vegas, son of Robert V. and Eualia Lawrence Hamby of Sikeston, he was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ and had been an over-the-road truck driver and commercial refrigeration installer until May 1987 when he suffered a brain injury that left him disabled. He was cared for at home until the last five years...

WAPPAPELLO --Harold Eugene Pennington, 83, died Dec. 8, 2008. Born Feb. 5, 1925, to the late George and Lelia Pennington, he worked in the insurance industry for much of his life and sang bass for the Missourian and Faithmen gospel quartets. He was of the Baptist belief...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Austin W. Contreras, infant son of Tamara Nickles Contreras of East Prairie and Jesus Contreras of Sikeston, died at 3:36 a.m. Dec. 5, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Besides his parents, survivors include: one brother, Antonio Contreras of the home; one sister, Alecia Contreras of the home; one half sister, McKenna DesBrow of Hawaii; maternal grandmother, Barbara Graham of East Prairie; paternal grandfather, Benito Morales of Mexico; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.. ...

DEXTER -- Jackie Harrison, 58, died Dec. 6, 2008, at his home. Born Oct. 12, 1950, in St. Louis, to the late John William and Dorothy Narene Neeley Harrison, he lived in St. Louis before moving to Dexter where he was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Opal Lawson, 87, died Dec. 7, 2008, at Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 22, 1921, in Catron, she was the daughter of the late Aloheus Ernie and Lydia Kathryn Graham Fair. Survivors include: three sons, Sammy Lawson and Roger Lawson of Portageville and Ernie Lawson of Poplar Bluff; two daughters, Florence Dugger of Sikeston and Sherry Hooe of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, Vearl Fair of Festus and Charles Fair of Marks, Miss.; three sisters, Jewell Black of Granite City, Ill., Louise Mayo of Ferguson and Mearl Blankenship of Arnold; and 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.. ...

Dear Editor, Once again the Community Thanksgiving meal was a huge success. Although we planned to feed more than last year, we actually fed less. I would like to think it was because when things are tough, the American people tend to feed each other emotionally, spiritually and physically and this year people who were thankful for what they had shared it with those who had less. ...

SIKESTON - Fire partially destroyed the north cotton house at the Sikeston Gin Friday afternoon causing approximately $1,700 in damage. SIKESTON - The Sikeston High School basketball team treated fans to an impressive show Friday night as they swamped the Chaffee Red Devils, 50-34...

Like another SpeakOut caller, I also cried when Barack Obama was elected president, though my tears were those of joy. Those Americans dumb enough to believe he is a Marxist deserve to wallow in hysterical hand wringing anxiety. The bill from American Express a caller received was probably not a scam. Even though the caller allegedly has no relation with American Express, it is his portion of what the taxpayers will owe to help bail out American Express...

SIKESTON -- An armed robbery on Sunday night that left two injured remains under investigation. According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, a call was received at 8:43 p.m. Sunday in regards to an incident at 504 Lanning. A robbery was reported, in addition to subjects lying on the floor...

SIKESTON -- Two Sikeston Senior High School students had the experience of a lifetime Thanksgiving Day when they joined students from across the nation to perform as part of Macy's Great American Marching Band. It was the 82nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade but only the third year for Macy's Great American Marching Band having appeared for the first time in 2006...

SIKESTON - Three persons will be arraigned Tuesday on drug-related charges after two search warrants were served by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Around 4 p.m. Dec. 3, the Sikeston Special Operations Group served a search warrant at 507 William. The tactical team made entry into the home and found two subjects inside...

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