Stories from Monday, January 14, 2002

In your Jan. 6 "Transportation needs continue to grow," how many more times are you going to try to milk that money tree, Transportation Department? I know it's at Jefferson City, but you guys had a plan a few years ago and it didn't work either, so what makes you think this is going to work? Quit wasting our doggone taxpayer money and fix these darned roads and quit wasting our money. I'm tired of your crap...

SIKESTON - Dupree "Pete" Medley and W.B. Malone offered their services and the use of their planes in the Civil Air Patrol, now being organized for war time. --- BENTON - Scott County rationing headquarters reports only four permits for purchase of new tires had been issued in the first week of operation. All were issued for heavy vehicles...

PORTAGEVILLE - Wilma Cook died Jan. 12, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at DeLisle Funeral Home.

DEXTER - Russell Dodd, 92, died Jan. 12, 2002, at Three Rivers Healthcare North Campus in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

SIKESTON - The sky's the limit for kindergartners who enroll in the Kinder Community Academy. They can create clay art or learn Spanish. Some might be interested in learning about cowboys and cowgirls, being able to do sign language or dance and play to music...

SIKESTON -- After the Sept. 11 attacks, many people stood in line for hours waiting to give blood. Now, just five months later, the nation's blood supply has dwindled to pre-attack levels and the need for blood has resurfaced. "Right now, (Southeast Missouri) is in particular need of O-negative and B-negative blood," said Jennifer Wylie-Fauser, American Red Cross media relations coordinator for blood services in the Missouri-Illinois region. ...

NEW MADRID - The solid stone exterior of the New Madrid County Courthouse belied what was happening inside. The interior, admitted county commissioners, was an eyesore. But things are changing. And a new look - from top to bottom - is under way inside...

SIKESTON - An American Red Cross Website honoring "everyday heroes" is featuring one found right here in Sikeston - Charles Mitchell. "Volunteer of the Week: The Faces of Service" is a new addition to the Red Cross Website originally dedicated to honoring Red Cross heroes who responded to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 by gathering their stories, according to Ray Steen, who works in communications and marketing at the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C...

CHARLESTON - The search intensified Saturday for an Illinois man who has been missing for more than a month. Walter Gibbs Sr., 73, of Alto Pass, Ill., was last seen Dec. 11 while driving to Thebes, Ill., to visit friends. On Saturday, Mississippi County Sheriff Larry Turley's office reported a second shoe was found near the river in the search area. ...

DEXTER - Helen Phillips, 73, died Jan. 11, 2002, at Southern Missouri Healthcare. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

PORTAGEVILLE - Odell Mann, 83, died Jan. 9, 2002, at the Gideon Care Center. Born Nov. 5, 1918, in Alabama, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Emma Williams Franks. Her husband, Charles Hartley Mann, preceded her in death. Survivors include: one daughter, Peggy Carlisle of Portageville; four sons, Waymon Mann of Jasper, Ala., Jackie Mann of Winfield, Ala., Roger Mann of Nauvoo, Ala., and Bruce Mann of Gulf Breeze, Ala.; and 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.. ...

DEXTER - Barney Miller, 81, died Jan. 11, 2001, at his home. Born July 14, 1920, at Lutesville, son of the late Robert Emmett and Elizabeth Trotter Miller, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter. The former owner and publisher of the Daily Statesman in Dexter was a member of the Missouri Press Association, past president of the Southeast Missouri Press Association and a 1998 inductee to the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame. ...

DEXTER - Dexter's Bearcats galloped to their 12th victory of the season Friday night as they rode the Bernie Mules (11-3) to a 60-45 win. Although he was rather ineffective in the first quarter, Dexter's coach Eric Sitze began by speaking about his 6' 7" center: "Chris (Carr) is always a big factor. Any game that he shows up to play in, he is going to be very effective. He changes a lot of shots for us and he score well for us."...

DONIPHAN - The Sikeston Bulldogs had their most explosive offensive game of the year in routing the Doniphan Dons 80-56 on Friday night at Doniphan gymnasium. The Bulldogs improve to 7-5 overall this season and 2-1 in the SEMO Conference with the victory...

SIKESTON - An application has been filed with the Federal Communication Commission for a license to operate a radio station here. The application was made by Dupree "Pete" Medley, manager of the Malone and Rex Theaters, theater owner O.W. McCutcheon and Harold Sudburry, manager of KLCN radio station in Blytheville, Ark. The three men seek the permit as partners. Property at the South Y has been leased for the 250-watt daytime-only facility...

As sad as it is that two people were killed and two others injured in the recent collision involving a Scott County deputy sheriff, to me it is not too surprising. I've predicted for a long time now that it will happen on Highway 77 between Benton and Interstate 55. ...

One of the major social challenges ahead will center on failing schools. There's absolutely no doubt this topic will plague society in the years in the future. And here's why. As immigration increases, schools will be forced to teach students with no academic background and limited English skills. And as inner city schools continue to struggle for funding because of diminished property values, the challenge for teachers and administrators will be virtually impossible...

Charlie Scott, Artrain USA finance chairman; Jim Schwaninger, facilities chairman; Wayne McSpadden, Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities; and Ed Throop, director of the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities; discuss the planned location of the Artrain USA at the Sikeston Depot. BMU and Fabick are providing equipment to power the train for the four days it will be in town. Artrain USA, which will stop at the Sikeston Depot Jan. 24-27, is the nation's only art museum on a train...

EAST PRAIRIE - Maloy W. Jackson, 89, died Jan. 11, 2002, in the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born May 27, 1912, in Humphreys County, Tenn., son of the late Lewis and Meda Haley Jackson, he was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church in East Prairie. He owned and operated Jackson's Welding Shop in East Prairie...

NEW HAMBURG - Hattie Rebecca "Becky" Dirnberger, 92, died at 5:40 p.m. Jan. 12, 2002, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 11, 1909, in Benton, daughter of the late Robert Cooper and Amelia Steimle Brock, she was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church at New Hamburg...

PORTAGEVILLE - Wilma Christine Cook, 74, died Jan. 12, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Dec. 25, 1927, in Marston, she was the daughter of the late Homer and Rowena Baker Nanney. On April 3, 1943, in Portageville, she married Cecil Cook who preceded her in death on Dec. 10, 1992...

DEXTER - Connie Ray Belt, 58, died Jan. 13, 2002, at the John J. Pershing Veterans Administration Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born Dec. 4, 1943, at Campbell, son of Wynona Belt of Campbell and the late Russell Belt, he lived in St. Louis for several years before moving to Dexter four years ago. He was a member of the American Legion and had served in the U.S. Air Force...

DEXTER - Russell L. Dodd, 92, died Jan. 12, 2002, at Three Rivers Healthcare North Campus in Poplar Bluff. Born April 1, 1909, in Dexter, son of the late John and Pauline Queffenne Dodd, he was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Dexter and retired from Elder Manufacturing...

BENTON -- Robert "Bill" Milam, 65, died Jan. 13, 2002, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton.

DEXTER - James Ruben Erving, 47, died Jan. 12, 2002, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. Arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home.

La FORGE - Henry Fowler, 83, died Jan. 14, 2002, at the Beverly Health and Rehab Center in New Madrid. Arrangements are incomplete at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid.

SIKESTON - Jerald Anderson "Red" LaFont, 84, died Jan. 13, 2002, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born March 1, 1917, only child of the late John A. and Edith Feagans LaFont, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and owned and operated LaFont's Grocery from 1947-1967, as well as LaFont Rental Properties until 2001. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston and the Sikeston Masonic Lodge No. 310...

SCOTT CITY - Fred Joseph "Fritz" Bles, 86, died at 8:44 p.m. Jan. 12, 2002, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 1, 1915, in Commerce, son of the late Ambrose and Mary Theresa Hess Bles, he was a blaster with West Lake Quarry. A member of the U.S. Army during World War II, he was a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 6407 in Scott City...

BLOOMFIELD - Helen Phillips, 73, died Jan. 11, 2002, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born April 20, 1928, in Frankfort, Ill., daughter of the late Francis McCain and Beulah Strobel McCain, she was a member of Mount Pisgah Church near Bloomfield. She had been employed by Elder Manufacturing in Bloomfield and formerly owned the Hornet's Nest Restaurant in Advance...

ORAN took down Holcomb Friday 82-46, improving to 10-3 on the year. Ryne Wood led the Eagles with 24 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Patrick Friga scored 19 and Nathan Seyer had 12. Lynn led Holcomb with 11. CHARLESTON rolled over Scott Central 79-51. Lezcano Dean had another stellar night, scoring 19 points to pace the Bluejay offense. Center Kewain Gant was also productive, finishing with 12. Sophomore Chris Pullen led Scott Central with 15...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central hammered Cape Central with a stellar defensive effort Friday, 70-30. The Eagles jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, overwhelming the young Tigers with their speed and athleticism...

EAST PRAIRIE - A Sunday morning accident resulted in moderate injuries for a Sikeston man. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the accident occurred at 9:58 p.m. on Highway 102, six miles south of East Prairie when a vehicle driven south by David Summers, 49, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree...