Stories from Monday, May 13, 2002

Stop the drugs It seems that day by day, month by month, year by year, the problem of substance abuse worsens. So many times we want to think that it's only in the larger towns and cities where this problem, among other social ills, prevails. However, especially those of you who have children know that it is prevalent right here in our small town community. We, as well as our children, are being subjected to and affected by drugs and alcohol every day at work, at school and on the street...

SIKESTON - Local rain gauges showed nearly two-inches of rain falling in Sikeston today. The Bootheel, with a dry Saturday and Sunday apparently was luckier than other areas as thunderstorms stretched from Texas to New England for a second day Monday, causing deadly flooding and leaving thousands of customers without electricity...

ORAN - Janel Diane Nelson is the mother of her first child, a daughter, born at 8:44 p.m. April 19, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Serenity Jalenzie Stevens weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces and was 18-inches long. Grandparents are Earl Stevens of Oran and Elizabeth Nelson of Chicago, Ill...

Everybody could use a hug now and then and in this case it appears they both enjoyed the tight squeeze. It didn't take long for Maverick Firestone and this puppy to find each other Saturday at Big Dogs Sportswear, located at the Sikeston Factory Outlet...

I'm calling in regards to the East Prairie prom which was held May 4. I was under the impression that if someone wasn't a junior or senior, their date had to be approved by the administration. When I attended the grand march, I was shocked to see who the administration had allowed to attend. ...

SIKESTON - Children entertained at a birthday party for Carolyn Sue Corlew were: Betty Ann Nicholas, Niva Pearl Clark, Billy Brown, Betty Drake, Phyllis Morrow, Stella Jean Shankle, Dottie Sue Clayton, Marilyn Eaker, Gloria Ann Carter, Patsy Bartholomew and Barbara Goforth...

CLARKTON - Mary Nell Jones Holiman, 90, died May 12, 2002, at her home. Born April 30, 1912, in Trezevant, Tenn., daughter of the late Wade H. and Mollie Gill Jones, she was a faithful member of the Clarkton United Methodist Church, where she worked tirelessly in many capacities, including as district officer in the Women's Society of Christian Service for the United Methodist Women. ...

SIKESTON - William Howard "Bill" Edwards, 80, died May 12, 2002, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home.

PORTAGEVILLE - Dorothy Atwell, 79, died May 12, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 29, 1922, in Boekerton, daughter of the late Charles and Grace Nicholas Starks, she was of the Baptist belief. She was first married to Bill Dial and later married Gayle Atwell...

DELTA -- Everett Milton Moore, 74, died at 2:45 p.m. May 12, 2002 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Dec. 2, 1927, near Delta, son of the late Charles and Anna F.W. Bock Moore, he was a retired self-employed farmer in the Oak Valley area. He was a member of the Trinity Methodist Cemetery Association and St. Paul Luthern Church in Chaffee...

SIKESTON -- Our sweet daughter, Jordan Danielle Kempe, returned to her Father in Heaven on May 11, 2002. She was born on April 24, 2002, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Jordan was a special spirit given to our family and will be dearly missed. She was the daughter of Joseph and Angelyn Hall Kempe of the home in Sikeston...

ESSEX - Khylia ShaRee Moore, daughter of Angela Moore of Essex and Christopher Scott of St. Louis, died at birth May 9, 2002, at Three Rivers Healthcare North in Poplar Bluff. Survivors in addition to her parents include: her maternal grandparents, Moses and Margaret Grayson of Essex; and her paternal grandmother, Debra Scott of St. Louis...

DEXTER -- Kathleen M. Ross, 57, died May 11, 2002, at her home. Born Feb. 20, 1945, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of Augusta Kerperien Ross of Dexter and the late Floyd Ross. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and had been a cook at area nursing homes...

SPRINGFIELD -- Roy Lee Williams, 80, died May 11, 2002, at his home. Born April 30, 1922, in Puxico, son of the late Tom and Cordelia Shoemate Williams, he had lived in Puxico and St. Louis before moving to Springfield 17 years ago. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he was a retired dispatcher with a motor trucking company and attended Central Assembly of God Church in Springfield...

CHARLESTON - Arthur Cagle, 92, died May 13, 2002. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home.

SIKESTON - Myra Propst, 84, died May 10, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Oct. 14, 1917, at Morley, daughter of the late Robert and Lillie Bynum Minner, she was co-owner of Propst Mobile Home Sales and a member of the First Christian Church and Order of Eastern Star...