Stories from Friday, November 18, 2016

The 22nd Riverbend Classic basketball shootout is slated for its annual post-Thanksgiving kickoff and now the schedule for the two-day event has been released. Four local teams are set to take on teams from Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas on Nov. 25-26 at New Madrid County Central High School...

Forty seven years ago I walked off the USS Ranger (Attack Air Craft Carrier CVA61) with an honorable discharge in hand. I had served in San Diego at Balboa Naval hospital, on Rough and Ready Island near San Francisco, Jacksonville Naval Hospital near Jacksonville Florida, and aboard the USS Ranger Port of San Francisco...

"It was a hard fought election. Both sides kept the campaign low key and it did not get dirty," said Rone of his win. "I made sure that our campaign was not going in that direction." "I cannot thank the people of my district enough for sending me back up there. It is an honor, a thrill and there is excitement now. I now have a little seniority and have a larger of the direction of this great state."...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston wrestling team lost half of last year's nine state qualifiers but that won't deter their annual expectation. "Our goal is the same as usual to break the qualifying record, get as many kids up there as we can and have a successful season," Sikeston senior Josh Stinnett said. "We just want to be the best the team can be."...

From time to time, we like to take a look back at some of the athletes who made headlines in high school sports who are now making strides at the next level. Here's a recap of some of our local area's college athletes for the fall season in football, soccer, volleyball and golf...

DEXTER -- The Sikeston junior high basketball teams split with Dexter's middle school teams on Thursday at Dexter Middle School. Sikeston's seventh grade team defeated Dexter 44-24 while Sikeston's eighth grade team fell to Dexter 49-42. After losing its season opener at Caruthersville on Monday, Sikeston's seventh graders picked up its first win of the season against the Bearcats...

SIKESTON -- Over 60 projects were listed at the Sikeston Council meeting Thursday, outlining the city's capital improvement needs for the next five years. Various projects were discussed that identified $7.7 million in municipal needs for the coming year. Of this amount, $6.4 million would be needed for infrastructure improvements; $827,500 for quality of life improvements (parks and recreation needs); $445,000 for health and safety needs; and $65,000 for general operational improvements...

SIKESTON -- The Foster Parent's Association is once again turning to the community for help in giving local children in care a brighter Christmas. "This year we have more kids than ever before," said JoAnn McCauley, president of the Foster Parents Association for the 33rd Circuit, which includes Scott and Mississippi counties...

MINER, Mo -- Local residents may have a chance to make a little extra cash. The Miner Board of Aldermen, in their Tuesday meeting, discussed using tourism funds to revamp the city's entrance signs with added landscaping. The Board authorized the city to solicit applicants to design a new logo for city entrance signage. The city will award $100 to the chosen applicant...

GENOA CITY, Wis. - Wilma Erva Malugen, 88, formerly of Portageville, Mo., died Nov. 12, 2016, at Burlington Rehab and Care Center in Burlington. She was born July 3, 1928, in Portageville, to the late James Ralph Smith and Elizabeth Laster Smith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter Bonnie Malugen in March 2016; five brothers, James Arvel Smith, Samuel Lloyd "Bud" Smith, Johnny Lester "Boggan" Smith, Ralph Hilary "Pete" Smith and Larry D. ...

SIKESTON - Mary Harless, 61, died Nov. 17, 2016, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home.

LILBOURN, Mo. -- Arlen Edward Williams, 58, died Nov. 18, 2016, at his home. Born Nov. 23, 1957, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., to Arlen and Evelyn Turner Williams of Egypt, Ark., he was employed as the general manager of Riceland Foods in Marston. His wife, Teresa Davis Williams, survives of the home...

VANDUSER, Mo. -- Betty Anne Holland, age 66, passed away on Nov. 17, 2016, at her home in Vanduser. Born Oct. 16, 1950, in Bell City, to the late Tom H. and Eithel Neldon Gross, she attended New Life Gospel in Scott City for a number of years. On June 22, 1991, in Chaffee, she married Monroe "Bud" Holland, who preceded her in death on July 14, 2011...

SIKESTON - Charles Frederick Lizenbee Sr., 71, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at Heritage Gardens Nursing Center at Sikeston. He was born June 25, 1945, in St. Louis to the late Lonzo Lizenbee and Novell (James) Lizenbee Milani. Formerly of St. Louis, he had worked as a mechanic and body shop repairman and had moved to Sikeston about 25 years ago...