Stories from Sunday, March 10, 2013

SIKESTON -- James D. Buckley Sr., 77, died March 8, 2013, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services conducted Saturday at the Ponder Funeral Home for Jerry Masterson, 82, who died March 6, 2013, were: Steve Torbet, Scott Perry, Dwayne Miller, Willie Hawkins, Ralph "Bo" Robey Jr. and Ron Underwood.

SIKESTON -- Ellen Rice Culbertson, 91, formerly of New Madrid, died March 7, 2013, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Aug. 12, 1921, in New Madrid, she was the daughter of the late James Washington and Nelia Wren Rice Sr. She married Earl Culbertson who preceded her in death...

I had an opportunity this week to host a Cape Girardeau official to discuss housing issues. Like a lot of communities such as Sikeston, Cape Girardeau is experiencing the beginning of an erosion of neighborhoods, increased crime and violence and declining neighborhood pride...