Stories from Sunday, May 27, 2012

SIKESTON -- Wanda Sue Leonard, 83, died at 7:10 p.m. May 25, 2012, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Jan. 15, 1929, in Calloway County, Ky., to the late Marvin R. and Vernie (Tabers) Howard. On Nov. 28, 1950, she was married to William Richard "Bill" Leonard at Long Beach, Calif., and he preceded in death Feb. 15, 1993...

FESTUS -- Leroy Armbruster Sr., 64, died May 25, 2012, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born Aug. 5, 1947, in Highland, Ill., to Geraldine Kennedy Armbruster of Festus and the late James Armbruster, he was a former resident of the Bernie area and had lived in the Festus and Bonne Terre areas for many years. He was a self-employed automobile mechanic...

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Leola McMikle Roach, 82, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died May 20, 2012, at the Bloomington Hospital. Born May 11, 1930, in East Prairie, to the late Joseph Bernie and Sally Katherine Black McMikle, she was a graduate of East Prairie High School and attended Southeast Missouri Teachers College where she received certification to teach school. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- Clarence Taylor, 97, died May 25, 2012, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. Born Nov. 17, 1914, in Bloomfield, to the late Harry and Isa Link Taylor, he had lived in Bloomfield all of his life, where he was a member of the First Baptist Church. He had been the area supervisor for the local St. Louis Post Dispatch delivery...

BENTON -- James Thomas Hensley, 89, died May 25, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born May 1, 1923, in Benton, to the late Thomas Marshall and Eva Mae Davidson Hensley, he James was a Master Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force 10 years, serving during World War II and the Korean War. ...

SIKESTON -- Looking to improve on last year's 6-17 record, Sikeston Legion Post 114 will kick off its summer season this week with a new head coach and a more regional feel. Taking over head coaching duties from Chris Crosby will be Sikeston head coach Alan Scheeter, who just finished his first season at the helm of the Sikeston Bulldogs...

JEFFERSON CITY -- It was an overall good start for the Sikeston Bulldogs track team Friday as they kicked off the first day of the Class 3 State Championship meet at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City on the campus of Lincoln University. Sikeston's 4x200 meter relay team finished first during preliminaries beating their competitors by nearly a full two seconds...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Country Club is gone forever. A local establishment that stood for 73 years closed last December because of high debt and dwindling numbers in membership. Although having to shut the club down was a dull reminder of economic problems and the landscape of the country club model, change can sometimes lead to better opportunities...

SIKESTON -- Local libraries are planning to explore the night life -- from bedtime rituals to constellations and camping -- through their summer reading programs. "Dream Big -- Read" is this year's theme at libraries in Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi Counties...

SIKESTON -- A single-vehicle accident left one person dead and three people injured early Saturday in Sikeston. At 12:26 a.m. Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to the accident at 105 Jackson St. in Sikeston, according to Lt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for Sikeston DPS. A large SUV was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control and struck a tree in the front yard...

SIKESTON -- Stephen Borgsmiller, superintendent of the Sikeston R-6 Schools, has been named director of Southeast Missouri State University-Sikeston. Borgsmiller will begin his new duties in early July, the university announced Friday. He replaces Judy Buck who is retiring effective June 28 after 14 years of service as director...

SIKESTON -- It is time for another Memorial Day ceremony and Sikeston Veterans Park has never looked better. The annual Memorial Day service is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Veterans Park. "I think it will be a great service," said David Bizzell, member of Sikeston Veterans Park Committee. "They are predicting great weather -- a little warm, but what do you expect on Memorial Day?"...