Stories from Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Back in the day, I fancied myself a fairly decent repository of trivial facts. When in college, we would while away study time by exchanging competing questions on trivial matters. Sports, music, current events, etc., all provided sources of unimportant minutia that would be debated over adult beverages...

ORAN -- With last Saturday's thrilling Class 2 quarterfinal win over Winona, the Oran Eagles have entered uncharted waters for a team that came just one game short of the Show-Me Showdown a year prior. Starting Thursday in Columbia, the Eagles will have the chance to put their names in Oran's record books as they compete for the school's first state title at Mizzou Arena...

Mineral Area College in Park Hills Boys Sikeston v. Farmington/Park Hills Central, 6 p.m. Girls Dexter v. Farmington/North County, 7:45 p.m. Mizzou Arena in Columbia Oran v. Salisbury, 6:40 p.m...

SIKESTON -- Voneline Marie "Polly" Mouser, 84, died March 4, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Dec. 14, 1928, in Adamsville, Tenn., daughter of the late Richard Clinton and Kelma Barnham Hughes, she was of the Assembly of God belief...

OWENSVILLE -- Evelyn Frances Whitener, 89, died March 4, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Washington. Born Feb. 23, 1924, in Nixon, Texas, daughter of the late Emil Cryil and Frances Catherine (Pavlica) Hutyra, she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Ladies Sodality...

SIKESTON - George Wesley Lewis, 56, died March 4, 2013, at his home in rural Sikeston. Born Feb. 22, 1957, in Herman, to the late Melvin Lee and Erma Janet Schreiner Lewis, he was employed by Deane Farms. Survivors include: one brother, Elbert Lewis of Holt Summit; and two sisters, Ellen Baily of Auxvasse and Iola Irene Thomas of Amarillo, Texas...

BELL CITY -- Dallas Dean Dinkins, 67, of Bell City died March 3, 2013, at his home. Born April 23, 1945, in Ellington, to the late Linsey and Cora Venita Lee Dinkins, he was a diesel mechanic with Medlin Equipment in Sikeston and a member of Free Trinity Pentecostal Church in Randles...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston's two-week Spring Clean-up, which gives residents an opportunity to dispose of bulky rubbish during their regular solid waste pick-ups, begins March 11. Residents with Monday and Thursday trash collection will have their spring clean-up opportunities on Monday and March 14. Those with Tuesday and Friday solid waste pick-up will have their fall clean-up collections on March 19 and March 22...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston volunteer service organization has created a new series of public meetings to bring the community closer and make it stronger. The Sikeston Rotary Club will present its first in a series of "hot topic" public meetings at 7 p.m. March 18 at the Clinton Building in Sikeston. The topic, "Keeping Our Children Safe," is centered around school safety, which was spawned following the Sandy Hook school shooting, according to Sikeston Rotary Club President Jami Geske...

BENTON -- Scott County's closed landfill is back in compliance with DNR standards. County Commissioners met with three representatives from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Jefferson City office during their regular meeting Tuesday to discuss the old county landfill...

SIKESTON -- If everyone has a cross to bear, Lynn Akins' is that he can't stop creating crosses. The Sikeston resident has some two dozen crosses in the current art display at the Sikeston Depot. "I don't ever get tired of making crosses," said Akins. "I am hardly finished with one before I start thinking about making another."...