Stories from Monday, February 4, 2002

CHARLESTON - The national 4-H program is celebrating its centennial anniversary as this nation's longest-serving youth development organization. To kick off Missouri's celebration, Missouri's 4-H members gathered at the state Capitol in January for a bit of pride and pageantry. Leading the way was a color guard made up of Mississippi County 4-H members...

SIKESTON - Holding a candy bar, bag of chips and a sucker in his arms, 10-year-old Alex Clark, hands a one-dollar bill to Louis T. Wiggins, director of the STAIRS Developmental Learning Center, and said, "Here." "Well, what's this for?" Wiggins asked...

Two years ago a fund-raiser was begun to benefit St. Jude's Research Hospital by collecting aluminum cans in a cotton trailer that is parked at Inside Lane, 2010 N. Main St. When the trailer becomes full, the cans are sold and the check is made payable to St. Jude's. Every penny from this effort goes to the benefit of children suffering from cancer. We have sent $5,000 plus to St. Jude's through this effort...

NEW MADRID - Fishing every day - it sounded pretty good before he retired said Charles Reaves. But after weeks of casting his line into the water for days on end, he just wasn't hooked on it. Reaves, who had worked in education for over 30 years including his last 16 as principal at Morehouse Elementary School, began fishing for a new line of work. In October, he landed a job with the University of Missouri Extension Service as their 4-H Youth Specialist...

DEXTER - The Dexter Police Department is investigation a telephone scam. According to reports, the police department received a complaint from a victim who had received a telephone call from someone advising the victim had won a substantial cash prize...

HAYTI -- Portageville rolled to the Bootheel Conference title on Friday night, defeating Kennett in the championship game, 51-36. With the win, the state-ranked Bulldogs have now avenged both of its losses this season. "We lost to Kennett in the first game of the year at their place," explained Portageville head coach Jim Bidewell. ...

DEXTER - The Dexter Bearcats rebounded from Thursday's loss at New Madrid County Central with an 80-65 win over the Advance Hornets on Friday night at Dexter High School. Dexter (18-3, 6-0) will host Bell City (18-4, 6-0) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the regular season championship of the Stoddard County Conference...

First I would like to ask you, Mr. Jensen, what does black ex-convicts have to do with your editorial on the Symbionese Liberation Army? You made reference to the Harris' and black ex-convicts. The SLA consisted of people from all walks of life. A matter of fact, heiress Patricia Hearst was a member. ...

SIKESTON - The condition of Mrs. J.D. Sturgeon is said to be improving at Sikeston General Hospital. Mrs. Sturgeon suffered a stab wound Jan. 25 at her home. --- SIKESTON - Mrs. Burt Rice gave a surprise dinner for her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Kindred of McMullin. Mr. Kindred turned 80 Feb. 2 and Mrs. Kindred was 68 on Jan. 30...

SIKESTON - Thomas Hilton Grady, 94, died Feb. 2, 2002, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Oct. 4, 1907, at Union City, Tenn., son of the late Samuel and Jessie Grady, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He received the Purple Heart. ...

SPRINGFIELD - Dr. Dale Alfred Hill, 61, formerly of Sikeston, died Feb. 2, 2002, in Cox South Hospital. Born Feb. 22, 1940, in Salem, Ill., son of the late Robert B. and Opal Hill, he grew up in Carmi, Ill., attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., and later attended and graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis...

JONESBORO, Ill. - Laddie Price, 80, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died at 8 p.m. Feb. 3, 2002, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Marian. Born Sept. 28, 1921, at Hazard, Ark., son of the late George and Rosie Lawrence Price, he worked 29 years as a millwright at the Peninsula Paper Company in Ypsilanti, Mich. He was an Army veteran of World War II...

SIKESTON - Jack Bledsoe, 79, died at 3 a.m. Feb. 4, 2002, at the Miner Nursing Center in Miner. Arrangements are incomplete at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

SIKESTON - Virtually every time the Sikeston Bulldogs and the Poplar Bluff Mules meet on the basketball court, fans can expect an exciting game. They got exactly that on Friday as the Bulldogs pulled off a thrilling 48-46 victory over the Class 4A No. 3 ranked Mules in front of a packed homecoming crowd at the Field House...

ESSEX -- It wasn't over at halftime, but during the third quarter Richland (8-11) stepped its defense up another level as the Rebels only allowed Risco's Tigers (5-12) to score three points. Richland, who held a seven-point lead at the half, scored 24 points in the third quarter to take an easy 80-51 win...

SIKESTON - It's more than a grade, it's an all out challenge. And those students who enter the Sikeston Science Fair mean business. The junior and senior high school students spend countless hours on their project, finding themselves with little sleep and plenty of stress...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - "Exhibiting Excellence," the 24th annual High School Art Symposium, opens its exhibit at Southeast Missouri State University today featuring the very best pieces produced in area schools. "It's real big deal," said Linda Melkersman, art teacher at New Madrid County Central High School. "Nearly 800 artworks were submitted." Of those, only 112 were selected to be shown in the exhibit...

SIKESTON - Thomas Grady, 94, died Feb. 2, 2002, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted Saturday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Gladys Boyd, 81, who died Jan. 30, 2002, were: John Chadd, Larry Voliva, Terry Box, Reese Reeder, James Vangilder and Butch Payne.

CHICAGO, Ill. - Sharla "Cookie" Pullen, 37, died Jan. 23, 2002, in Hawaii. Visitation is from 10 a.m. Monday until service time at 11 a.m. at the Second Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Rev. Wiley Reed and the Rev. Howard McGee will officiate...

ESSEX - Berneice Lane, 79, died Jan. 31, 2002, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born April 23, 1992, at Grayridge, daughter of the late George and Lizzie Merritt McConnaughhay, she was a member of Trotter Church near Essex. She had been an employee of the General Motors AC spark Plug Division in Flint, Mich...

DEXTER - Pallbearers at services conducted Saturday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Irma Mallory Dellinger Crank, 75, who died Jan. 29, 2002, were: Melvin Howard Dellinger, James Duran Dellinger, Roscoe Allen Dellinger, Francis Gene Dellinger, Paul Duane Dellinger, Marvin Lynn Dellinger, Calvin Ray Dellinger and John Albert Dellinger...

PORTAGEVILLE - T.C. Kincy, 77, died Jan. 29, 2002, at the Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau. Born June 14, 1924, in Portageville, son of the late Inez McGraw Kincy and Jack Kincy, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II. Survivors include: one son, Gary Kincy of Manhattan, Kan.; one daughter, Sherrie DeProw of Portageville; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren...

MOREHOUSE - Pallbearers at services conducted Sunday for Lois Ella Burton, 77, who died Jan. 30, 2002, were: Dale Flanigan, Buddy Flanigan, Ray Barnett, Will Barnett, Jr. Brown and David Stacks.

PARMA - Pallbearers at services conducted Saturday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Reba Lorane Medlin, 87, who died Jan. 30, 2002, were: Tommy Daniels, Raymond Dickerson, Glen Medlin, Edward Parsley, Jay Parsley and Ron Shrum. Honorary pallbearers were: Jessie Bartlett, Don Cameron and Allen Parsley...

I'd like to say that one of our local community stores is in severe need of our help. Let's please join together in support at this time and help Kmart to prevent the folks who work at Kmart from losing their jobs and to keep this great store in our community. Help Kmart now...

What did we do before the Super Bowl came along to introduce a bit of excitement into the cold landscape of winter? This single sporting event has grown to gigantic proportions over the years and has become far more than a simple football game. The numbers alone prove that...

SIKESTON - Two car loads of wives and sweethearts are headed for the west coast to spend several weeks near loved ones. Among those leaving were Mrs. H.E. Dudley and son, Mrs. Jack Shelby, Mrs. Charles Beal, Mrs. T.C. Dye and sons and Mrs. E.P. Aldridge...