Stories from Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My first reaction on hearing of Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's sudden resignation was to send an obscenity-laced email to the state GOP headquarters. Granted, it was a tad bit over-the-top knee-jerk reaction to the announcement. But I felt betrayed. Like many political observers in our little corner of the world, it was the timing of the resignation that stoked my frustration...

As a man I am part of an exclusive club where every move you make and every word that comes out of your mouth is scrutinized by fellow club members. As a part of this club we are even issued cards and we men spend our entire life trying to hold on to our "man card."...

LEESBURG, Fla. -- Olive Janiece "Aunt Jenny" Suter, 86, formerly of Benton, Mo., died Dec. 7, 2012. Born July 10, 1926, in Diehlstadt, Mo., she had lived for over 20 years in Lake County and resided at Lakes at Leesburg. Her survivors include many nieces and nephews in Florida, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri as well as other extended family and friends...

DEXTER - Thelma Mae Dyle, 67, died Dec. 9, 2012, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 28, 1945, in St. Louis, daughter of August VanDamme and the late Lorraine Sherriff VanDamme, she was affiliated with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Dexter and was a homemaker...

SIKESTON -- Bruce E. Brown, 63, died Dec. 7, 2012, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 10, 1949, in Charleston, to the late Willie and Willie Pearl Crafton Brown, he was employed by the Charleston Public School District in the food service department and had worked at the Gates Rubber Company in Charleston...

SIKESTON -- Doris Jean Ranson, 60, died Dec. 6, 2012, at the Clearview Nursing Center. Born June 10, 1952, in Rosedale, Miss., to Cleo Well and the late Perry Belle Willis, she had been employed for 17 years as a dietary cook with the Clearview Nursing Center and was of the Baptist belief...

MT. MORRIS, Mich. -- William "Bill" Mays, 80, died Dec. 4, 2012, as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born May 16, 1932, at Fort Douglas, Ark., to the late Joe and Robbie Mays, he had lived in Michigan for several years. He was a U.S. Army veteran and had retired from working in the automobile manufacturing industry...

SIKESTON -- Having blazed the trail for a community walking program, the Trailblazers and Junior Trailblazers walking clubs are on hiatus until next spring. "We're taking a break through the winter months then we'll start back up again in March," said Jiggs Moore, parks supervisor for the city of Sikeston...

CHARLESTON - An insufficient number of jurors resulted in a mistrial declared for a man charged with the kidnapping and murder of his estranged girlfriend. Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney Darren Cann said the mistrial was declared in the case of State vs. Maurice Davis...

BENTON -- Scott County's latest bridge replacement will come in a bit over the engineer's estimate. Bids for the construction of a new, single-span bridge on County Road 420 were opened by the Scott County Commission during their regular meeting Tuesday...

Members of the Sikeston High School Jazz Band perform before Sikeston's basketball game against Perryville on Tuesday night at the Field House. Sikeston won the game 72-25. For more on the game, see today's sports section beginning on page 1B.

SIKESTON -- Sikeston R-6 School District remains financially stable after weathering the financial storm through fiscal year 2012. Michael A. Radake, certified public accountant, with Van de Ven LLC of Cape Girardeau, presented the audit of the 2011-2012 school year to the school board...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston R-6 Board of Education member has stepped down after nearly two years of service. The resignation of Mike Marsh, who was elected to the school board in 2011, was accepted by board members during Tuesday's regular monthly meeting...

NEW MADRID -- Never count out Notre Dame. It's been a common saying around the area as the Bulldogs have been the masters of the fourth quarter comeback over the years. On Tuesday night, New Madrid County Central found that out the hard way. Spoiling a 16-point lead, the Eagles crashed against a resilient Notre Dame team, 60-57 at New Madrid County Central High School...

CHARLESTON -- Rebounding from a disappointing finish to the SEMO Conference Tournament, the Charleston Bluejays got back to their winning ways on Tuesday with a rout over previously undefeated Meridian Bobcats. Senior Michael Hull led the team with 23 points and another four Bluejays posted double-digit scoring totals as Charleston ran away in the second half to a 96-56 final...

CLARKTON -- Led by Brandon Bixler's 25 points, the Risco Tigers moved the .500 mark on the season with a 80-70 win over Cairo, Ill on Tuesday during the first round of the Clarkton Holiday Tournament. The Tigers trailed by five after the first quarter, but outscored Cairo 19-11 in the second frame to go into the half leading by three. A 26-15 run in the third pushed the Tigers ahead by 14 going into the fourth and they were able to hold on for the win...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston seventh and eighth grade team swept visiting Charleston on Tuesday. The eighth grade team posted a 56-36 win while the seventh graders remained undefeated with a 67-27 victory. In the eighth grade game, Sikeston led 12-2 after one quarter and extended the lead to 24-12 by halftime. They led 42-26 entering the fourth quarter...

SIKESTON -- Coming off a thrilling SEMO Conference Tournament championship victory over rival Charleston on Friday, the Sikeston Bulldogs were hoping to avoid a hangover on Tuesday against district foe Perryville. The Bulldogs avoided any letdown with a dominant 72-25 victory over the Pirates at the Field House...