Stories from Sunday, September 8, 2002

To the casual observer, the Missouri Department of Transportation stands in a bit of disarray these days, especially coming on the heels of the massive voter rejection of their request for more funding. In August, despite spending $3.7 million to promote Proposition B, voters overwhelmingly defeated a plan that would fund highway projects in the state. That vote of "no confidence" should have sent a clear signal that voters were fed-up with empty promises...

JACKSON - It's been a while since the Sikeston Bulldogs football team has claimed a Week 1 victory. But with a thrilling 21-14 win at Jackson on Friday night, the Bulldogs ended three straight years of season-opening losses to the Indians. "Anytime you can beat a team like Jackson it's a huge win because they have an outstanding program," said Sikeston head coach Charlie Vickery. "They're always going to be a well-schooled team. Just getting off to a start like this is huge."...

I think the City Council should stop trying to rob the Board of Municipal Utilities and find their own way of funding. BMU, on the other hand should, if they have surplus funds, rebate them to the Sikeston residents and customers who use their power in the form of either a rebate or lower power rates...

SIKESTON - Five city building permits were issued during August by inspector Lon Swanner. The permits covering both commercial and residential property improvements and construction involved an estimated $2,975 in building. CHARLESTON - Today marks the 125th anniversary of the city of Charleston. ...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Bobby Dean Ables, 73, who died Sept. 4, 2002, will be: Jonathan Lim, David Lim, Aaron Boyce, Bill Boyce, Don Ables, Zachary Tow and Geary Yant. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery...

BERTRAND - James Aubrey Shaw, 94, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died Sept. 6, 2002, at the Bertrand Nursing Facility. Born Sept. 18, 1907, in Columbus, Miss., son of the late James Benjamin and Jimmie Shelton Shaw, he was an electrical lineman and was also proprietor of the Lusk Chapel Grocery Store near Charleston. A 60-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and 50-year member of Charleston Masonic Lodge 407 AF&AM, he was of the Protestant belief...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Anna "Virginia" Eachus, 87, died at 1:45 a.m. Sept. 6, 2002, at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Ste. Genevieve. Born June 1, 1915, in Hayti, daughter of the late Arthur Virgil and Amanda Polk McDonough, she was a clerical worker with the U.S. Civil Service in St. Louis and a member of the Morley Baptist Church...

ADVANCE - Anna Jenkins Bidewell, 93, died Sept. 5, 2002, at the Advance Nursing Center. Born March 21, 1909, near Advance, daughter of the late William and Maude Helderman Jenkins, she was a member of the Advance United Methodist Church, where she had been a Sunday school teacher and youth director. ...

SIKESTON - They have met every Friday for the past 30 years and haven't missed a Friday yet. They call themselves simply The Friday Morning Prayer Group and members say its impact has changed their lives. It started with individuals wanting to go on a deeper search for God, explained Jean McCord who was instrumental in starting the group...

SIKESTON -- Almost always do we hear of someone being arrested on drug charges, but rarely do we ever hear what happens to these offenders once they're caught. In Missouri, courts are required to order an offender for certain drug offenses, such as selling, manufacturing, possessing or distributing a control substance, to begin REACT, or Required Educational Assessment and Community Treatment...

Visitors at the Sept. 11 Memorial Wall read the names of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Flight 93. The memorial is at the Sikeston Veteran's Park through Tuesday when a final vigil is planned at 7 p.m. The wall will be moved Wednesday to the Sikeston Senior High School Field House where a memorial service is set to begin at 10 a.m...

SIKESTON - Ferguson Medical Group, an independent multi-specialty medical practice on North Main, filed suit in Scott County's circuit court Wednesday against a former partner physician claiming a violation of the group's partnership agreement. The suit claims that Dr. ...

DEXTER -- Trell Edington's 24-yard field goal with no time left lifted Poplar Bluff to a 24-21 come-from-behind victory Friday. Matt Burnett broke the school record for career rushing yards with 68 yards on the ground but quarterback Preston Clark led the charge with a 204-yard night. Clark was 10-for-33 with a touchdown and an interception and found Willie Dooley five times for 129 yards...

HAYTI -- Hayti opened the season with a 52-0 win over East Prairie on Friday, throwing for 299 yards with four touchdown passes. "They are a good ballclub," said East Prairie head coach Ken Latham. "I think they are one of the better teams in the area. They're awfully impressive."...

CHARLESTON - With a poor week of practice heading into Friday night's home opener with SEMO Central foe Kennett, Charleston football head coach Brent Anderson knew his team was in trouble. His fears were right as the Indians cruised to a 21-7 win against the Bluejays...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central lost its first game of the 2002 season on Friday night, falling hard to Jonesboro, Ark., 37-0. The Eagles struggled in several phases of the game, checking in with just 149 yards of total offense. "We ran into a very good football team tonight," said NMCC head coach Steve Rogers. "We didn't block or tackle very well at all, and when we did move the ball, we wound up shooting ourselves in the foot by turning it over."...

Friday night's season opener at Jackson had a playoff-type atmosphere to it. The stadium was jam-packed, as it always is in Jackson, and you couldn't ask for a better game to watch. It's tough to beat a 4th-and-goal with the game on the line. And it's just Week 1...