Stories from Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Though I obviously have no formal training, I suspect one of the more difficult aspects of human nature is the ability to accept blame. Few among us relishes the prospect of admitting fault. Perhaps it runs against the grain of human nature. But our society has either gone full-tilt on shunning blame or I'm just paying closer attention...

I have never been accused of being a handy, fix-it type of person. I know the difference between a Phillips and straight-edged screw driver but only if I use CliffsNotes. But living by yourself requires some do-it-yourself ability. After all, you can't call a repairman every time a screw's loose or a nail needs to be hammered. So I decided that I was going to not ask for help and learn to fix things myself...

CHAFFEE -- Pauline Catherine Uhrhan, 91, died July 31, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center. Born July 12, 1921, in Cape Girardeau, to the late Ambrose and Frances Rose Kirchdoerfer Brucker, she was a shoe cutter at Sports Specialty Shoe Factory in Chaffee. A member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee, she was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Post 3127 of Chaffee, Legion Post 389, Daughters of St. Ambrose and Chaffee R.S.V.P...

BERTRAND -- Buddy Lee Vanover, 72, died July 31, 2012, at the Bertrand Nursing Center. Born April 30, 1940, at Sikeston, to the late Lester and Virginia Metcalf Vanover, he was a graduate of Sikeston High School and lived in Bertrand most of his life. He was a salesman for Reelfoot Packing Company and later retired from Town and Country Supermarket after four years as a meat cutter. He had served in the U.S. Army Reserves...

SIKESTON - Karyn Placek, 43, died July 31, 2012, at her residence in Miner. Arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

CHAFFEE -- Mary Catherine Thomas, 88, died July 31, 2012, at the family home in Chaffee. Born Jan. 22, 1924, in Oran, to the late Adam Henry and Bertha Theresa Vogel Kiefer, she was a retired nurse aide at Chaffee General Hospital and a member of the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee and the Daughters of St. Ambrose...

SIKESTON - Ivena Jean Porter, 85, of Sikeston, died July 30, 2012, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born Nov. 14, 1926, in Doniphan, to the late Ivan and Vera King Gimlin, she attended Doniphan schools and later moved to Sikeston, where she graduated from Sikeston High School in 1944. She was employed 15 years as a secretary for Waters and Associates in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Catherine C. Turley, 80, died July 27, 2012, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Feb. 29, 1932, in Stella, to the late Lee and Pearl Spivey Collier, she served in the U.S. Navy, was a healthcare provider to local families and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Michael Mitchell, 58, died July 30, 2012, at his home. Born Dec. 22, 1953, in Rockford, Ill., son of Shelby Dockins Kneezle of Sikeston and the late Kenneth Mitchell, he graduated from Sikeston High School, served in the U.S. Army and was owner-operator of M.D. Mitchell Trucking...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Maureen Christy, 88, died July 30, 2012, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Dec. 7, 1923, in Pasadena, Calif., to the late Edgar and Laura Mary Cooper Williams, she was employed at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau for several years and was of the Catholic belief...

SIKESTON -- Lamar is beginning to like playing at the Sikeston Sports Complex. For the past two years, Lamar, Colo., has captured two Midwest Plains Regional tournament championships -- both played at Sikeston. Their latest, the 12U Regional which ended Tuesday with Lamar winning yet another championship...

Recent Scott City graduate Katie Hogan may be heading to Miami for college in a just a few days, but her impact on the Lady Rams' sport program won't soon be forgotten. A two-sport star, Hogan has been a key factor in leading the Lady Rams through one of their best four year stretches in school history...

Girls Basketball Player of the Year Brittany Harris, Dexter Girls Cross Country Player of the Year Lyndsey Statler, Chaffee Fall Softball Player of the Year Alexis Spriggs, Scott City Spring Softball Player of the Year Michaela Townsend, NMCC Girls Soccer Player of the Year...

SIKESTON - For one group of teens, when asked this fall about how they spent their summer vacation, they will have plenty to say. They spent their summer volunteering and helping others. Most recently a group of 10 young people, ranging in age from 14 to 18, from the Hope Community Resource Center, 601 Davis Blvd., pitched in at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston City Council is accepting Citizen Resource Bank applications from residents seeking to participate in the city's governing process. More than 100 volunteers currently serve on the city's 17 boards and commissions. There are 38 board and commission terms that will expire this year. Of these, 12 will be under consideration for new appointments...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man remains in custody in the Scott County Jail after his arrest on Saturday. According to Missouri Case.net, Jose Ramirez, was arrested by Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers on felony charges of second degree burglary, felonious restraint, second degree assault and armed criminal action...

CHARLESTON - An anonymous tip led law enforcement officers to a felon in possession of an illegal firearm. Eric Antoine Dowell, 31, of Wilson City, is scheduled to be arraigned today before Associate Judge T. Lynn Brown on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Missouri Case.net...

Candace Taylor, daughter of Roger and Danielle Taylor, is the Standard Democrat's August Calendar Girl. Taylor, a finalist in the 2011 Miss Sikeston Contest, plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University and major in zoology.

BENTON -- Scott County officials have one less thing to worry about: the levee. Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said during the regular County Commission meeting that the county recently reviewed a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the Commerce to Birds Point Levee -- and it was good news...