Stories from Sunday, May 26, 2002

MALDEN -- Cornelaus Jackson, 93, died May 23, 2002, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. Born Jan. 4, 1909, in Hickman Bend, Ark., daughter of the late Julius and Marie Morgan Hayes, she was a member of the House of Prayer in Parma. On Oct. 6, 1934, in Kewanee, she married Floyd Jackson who preceded her in death on Feb. 25, 1960...

SCOTT CITY -- Gary Lynn Poyner, 57, formerly of Charleston, died at 8 p.m. May 23, 2002, at Barnes-Jewish North Hospital in St. Louis. Born Oct. 5, 1944, in Success, Ark., son of the late Fremon H. and Ozella Bellah Poyner, he had lived in the Scott City area a number of years where he was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the V.F.W. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he retired from Super Value Company after 25 years of service on May 19, 2002...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Velma Sams, 95, formerly of Dexter, died May 23, 2002, at the Luthern Home in Cape Girardeau. Born March 26, 1907, in Columbus, Ky., daughter of the late George and Lala Gardner Lochridge, she was a former employee of A & P Tea Company and was of the Methodist belief...

BENTON -- Roy Gross died May 25, 2002, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

ORAN -- Ethel Rosalia Schlosser, 81, died at 3:40 p.m. May 23, 2002, at the Monticello House in Jackson. Born Jan. 25, 1921, in Oran, daughter of the late Frank Lawrence and Sophia Goetz Heisserer, she was a homemaker and a member of the Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran and the St. Ann Sodality...

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Jesse Lee Jackson, 61, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died May 21, 2002. Born Oct. 1, 1940, in Charleston, son of the late Warren and Locia McWright Jackson, he was a welder for the John Deere Company for more than 30 years. In 1970, he married Elizabeth Jackson who survives of the home...

DEXTER - Pallbearers at services conducted Friday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Berry Holder, 88, who died May 20, 2002, were: Bob Holder, Michael Holder, Earl Young, Brian Penrod, Scott Chasteen and Jon Daniel.

CLINTON, Ark. -- Bill Allen, 70, formerly of East Prairie, died at 8:20 p.m. May 24, 2002, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

SPRINGFIELD - After clinching the Class 3A state golf championship, Dexter head coach Eric Sitze said, "It'll be two weeks before you can wipe the smile off my face or the kids' faces." Well it's been two weeks and Sitze is still smiling over winning Dexter High School's first state title in any sport...

SPRINGFIELD - The Sikeston tennis team had a disappointing finish at the Class 1A-3A state tournament in Springfield on Friday. Due to inclement weather, the consolation bracket was canceled and matches were to be decided by tiebreaker if the competitors were to split the first two sets...

CHARLESTON - The Sikeston man shot by Charleston police officers May 5 at the Knights of Columbus Hall's parking lot is now facing charges filed Friday by the Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Decarlos "Carlos" Clemons, 25, is charged with eight felonies: two counts of first degree assault of a law enforcement officer; unlawful use of a weapon for displaying a handgun in an angry or threatening manner; resisting arrest; three counts of armed criminal action; and one count of receiving stolen property as the gun was reportedly stolen.. ...

SIKESTON -- Over 500 motorcycles are expected to roar into Sikeston for the Third Annual Bootheel Wings Rally on June 1 at the Chamber of Commerce grounds. "Last year, a couple from Raleigh got married at the rally," said Andy Gilliam, rally promoter. "We set up a stage. They drove the motorcycle up one side of the ramp, said their vows and rode back down the other side of the ramp. They're still married, too."...

The mural on the river-side of the New Madrid Historical Museum is getting a fresh look. Painted two years ago by art students at New Madrid County Central High School and art teacher Linda Melkersman, the mural is getting a new coat of paint and a few changes by the group. The students will continue their work for the next several weeks, completing it with a sealant to preserve it from the weather...

POPLAR BLUFF - Residents and local governments in Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties are now available for disaster assistance to recover from the effects of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. Twenty-four more Missouri counties were added to the presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance from FEMA. ...

If today's column sounds like a broken record, you've been paying attention. For a dozen years now I have written a one-man crusade against drunk drivers over this first-of-the-summer holiday weekend. But as we all know, it goes far beyond drunk drivers. Carelessness, inattention, the emergence of cell phone usage in automobiles and the excitement of the holiday weekend all combine to make this one of the deadliest weekends of the year. Oh how I wish it were not so...

SIKESTON - Miss Eleanor McClure was hostess at a small dinner party Wednesday evening at her home on Park Avenue. The guests were Miss Betty Ruth Limbaugh, Miss Sue Tanner, Dean Righter, Bob McCord and Ramsey Garner. CAPE GIRARDEAU - Miss Nancy Abernathy, daughter of Mr. ...

If anyone has seen a gray and white dog around the area of Kathleen or Gladys streets, please leave a number in the paper and I will call you to claim him. To the person who called about the baseball cards, call me at 481-0777. We had lost some baseball cards and hope these are the ones we're missing...

Chris Hart and Bill Nance, employees of the Sikeston Parks Department, hang the large flag at the Sikeston Sports Complex just in time for Memorial Day. Sikeston and area residents can join in the annual Memorial Day observance set for 10:30 a.m. Monday at Veterans Park...

JEFFERSON CITY - The Sikeston track and field team competed at the Class 3A state meet in Jefferson City on Friday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. After five events, Sikeston was in fourth place with 13 points. The meet continued on Saturday. Since there will be no paper on Monday due to Memorial Day, final results will be in Tuesday's paper...

ADVANCE - To some, it takes a lifetime to make a Final Four appearance. To the Oran Eagles baseball team, three years may have seemed like a lifetime. The Eagles reached the Class 1A state semifinals for the first time since 1999 on Friday with an 11-1, six-inning victory against Advance...