Births (published 7/18)

SIKESTON - Eric Ray and Lauren Denise Blackwelder are the parents of their second son, born at 3:49 p.m. June 26, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Nicholas Aaron Blackwelder weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20 1/2-inches long.

Mrs. Blackwelder is the former Lauren Arnold, daughter of Larry and Karin Arnold of Sikeston is an emergency room physician at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

Blackwelder, son of Raymond and Charlene Blackwelder of Sikeston, is self-employed at Inside Lane.

BERTRAND - James Timothy and Heather De'Shae Hill are the parents of their second child, first son, born at 11:01 a.m. June 26, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Cooper Dyllan Hill weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20-inches long.

Mrs. Hill is the daughter of Charles and Donnie Rose of Sikeston.

Hill, son of Judy Hill of Dexter, is employed by Peck's Enterprises.

EAST PRAIRIE - Dempsey D. and Lisa D. Smith are the parents of their second child, first daughter, born at 7:48 a.m. June 26, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Ally Kathleen Smith weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces and was 19 1/4-inches long.

The former Lisa Chance, Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Annie Chance of East Prairie and the late Ralph Chance. She is a secretary for the Stanley Muffler Company.

Smith, son of Jack Smith and Peggy Smith of Riner, Va., is an engineer for Kontek Industries.