Looking Back 12/7

SIKESTON - City employees began yesterday afternoon to place the Christmas street decorations along the streets in the downtown area of Sikeston.

SIKESTON - Oglander's Inc. of Cape Girardeau will open a new men's and prep clothing store by march in the Midtowner Village Shopping Center.

SIKESTON - The Rev. Ronald G. Austin has assumed the duties of pastor of Second General Baptist Church.

SIKESTON - An airport grant agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission was approved Monday night by the Sikeston City Council.

CHAFFEE - Business and civic leaders of Chaffee dedicated the city's new industrial park Monday. Some of the 50-acre site, located on the north side of the city, immediately will be converted to two 5-acre usable plots, one of which will house Columbia Sportswear. The other 5-acre site will be ready if another business moves into the park.

SIKESTON - City Collector Ann Recker-Woodard and Treasurer Karen Bailey said tax bills were sent out earlier than last year, giving citizens two extra weeks to come up with the cash which supports the city's general fund, library and parks. The city expects to collect a total of $1,137,085 in property taxes this year. New construction and improvements account for nearly $4.2 million of this year's total valuation of $135 million. And this nearly $13 million over 1996 valuations.

CARUTHERSVILLE - The Grinch stole Christmas during a burglary reported at the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department. At 4 p.m. Friday, Russ Neal reported his residence south of Route O in the Steele area was broken into by kicking in the back door underneath the carport. Items taken in the burglary included 15 of the children's Christmas presents which were under the Christmas tree.