Stories from Friday, November 8, 2002

BENTON - Ray Joe Graham, 75, died at 2 p.m. Nov. 7, 2002, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born June 21, 1927, in Blodgett, son of the late W.O. and Lena Lewis Graham, he was a self-employed farmer. He served with the Scott County Agriculture Soil Conservation Committee from 1975-83 and was a member of the Benton United Methodist Church...

KENNETT - Betty Cravens Collier, 98, died Nov. 5, 2002, at the Heritage Nursing Center in Kennett. Born Aug. 15, 1904, in Lilbourn, daughter of the late L.B. and Martha Jane Cravens, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kennett. Her husband, James A. Collier, preceded her in death...

SIKESTON - Aletha Lucille Miller, 79, died Nov. 7, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Feb. 2, 1923, in New Madrid, daughter of the late Brooks Edward and Fannie Bell Stover Arnett, she was of the Methodist belief. She and her husband operated the Sikeston License Bureau in 1973...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Edison "Curly" Taylor, 83, formerly of LaForge, died at 1:50 a.m. Nov. 8, 2002, at his daughter's home. Born March 8, 1919, in Loretta, Tenn., son of the late James David and Alice Pugh Taylor, he was of the Baptist belief and was a self-employed painter...

DEXTER - Lena Fulkerson, 91, died Nov. 6, 2002, at Cypress Point Healthcare. Born Feb. 8, 1911, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Edward W. and Olive Taylor Bean, she was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ. She worked at Elder Manufacturing before retiring...

BELL CITY - Letha Irene Livingston, 91, died Nov. 7, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Sept. 22, 1911, at Datto, Ark., daughter of the late Joseph and Bertha Miller Kearby, she was a cook and a nurse's aide before retiring...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Lavonna Jean Gammon, 53, died at 5 p.m. Nov. 7, 2002, at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Tulsa, Okla. Born July 13, 1949, in Bonne Terre, daughter of Charles Robert and Nettie Louise Shelton Wade of Rolla, she was a clerical worker for Soskin Cape Toyota. She was a member of Eagles Auxiliary 3775 and VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Cape Girardeau and American Legion in Jackson...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted Thursday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Karen Sue Turner, 54, who died Nov. 4, 2002, were: William Williams, LeRoy Price, Leo Wise, Marty Castner, Harold Springs and Scott Riley.

SIKESTON - Karen Mays and Tim Morris are the parents of their second child, first son, born Oct. 1, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Timothy Aden Morris weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 19 1/4-inches long. Maternal grandmother is Margaret Mays...

It's hard not to write of politics this week though I am trying a self-imposed ban on all things political. But my goodness, for someone who watches the political arena with such keen interest, it's near-impossible not to comment. I am bemused with the rhetoric that followed Tuesday's historic national mid-term elections. From sea to shining sea, the excuses are nearly identical. And, I might add, the excuses are patently phony...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. Dan Robinson have moved into the Arden Ellise property on North Ranney. CHARLESTON - Warren E. Hearnes, secretary of state of Missouri, did today what he has been saying for several months he was going to do. He filed as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1964...

You industrial people really amaze me. You put a man up there named Driskell who is supposed to supply the state and represent industry. I hardly ever hear from the man. He was down here in the Bootheel a week or two ago. You've got this industry thing so out of balance it's never going to get right. ...

SIKESTON -- As growing frustration in the agriculture business continues, other farmers are checking into another trade of farm life -- aquaculture. "Aquaculture has always been quite an interest for Missouri farmers," said Dr. Bob Pierce of the University Outreach and Extension Office in Columbia...

CHARLESTON - Mississippi County election judges made a bit more money than expected for their work Tuesday. On the recommendation of County Clerk Junior DeLay, Mississippi County commissioners increased the compensation to $120 per day for supervisory judges and $100 per day for regular election judges during their regular session Thursday. Commissioners voted to make the change retroactive, effective Nov. 1...

SIKESTON -- All fire fighters have heard the explanation: "The smoke detector woke me up and I was able to wake the rest of the family and get them out in time." Now Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse and the Sikeston Department of Public Safety are teaming up to try and ensure the homes of all the children at Sikeston Headstart are equipped with smoke detectors...