Stories from Monday, January 6, 2003

To the person who complained about dogs being out at night and said they should be chained up, you shouldn't be walking at night. They're just out there doing their job. ---- To the person who spoke out and said they were walking down the street and a dog started chasing them, why were they walking at night? Some of us let our dogs out at night to keep our streets safe...

SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Sikes were hosts at their annual "Open House" Christmas Eve for their friends. --- MORLEY - Larry Wayne Hooper was honored with a combined birthday and Christmas party for his birthday. His birthday was on Christmas Eve...

MOREHOUSE - Tabitha Wagner and Eric Martin are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 5:32 p.m. Dec. 16, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Mara Ava Martin weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and was 18 1/2-inches long. Maternal grandparents are Leigh Ann Boyle, Terence Boyle, Tim Wagner and Vicki Wagner...

SIKESTON -- Vaccinations for a few dozen military personnel began mid-December, and by the end of this month states are expected to begin inoculating health care response teams and others who would respond to a smallpox attack. Members of the Missouri Delta Medical Center staff could receive voluntary smallpox inoculations late next month...

Earl McConnell takes down his Christmas decorations Saturday afternoon in Sikeston. McConnell spends around eight hours putting away the colored lights and yard ornaments.

SIKESTON - Sikeston DPS officials are warning residents of a new version of the Nigerian scam that is sweeping the country. Area residents so far have only reported "attempts at scams," according to Lt. Mark Crocker of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. "I don't know of anybody actually being swindled of money here."...

MURRAY, Ky. -- Thomas Penman "Tom" McCloskey Jr., 86, formerly of Mississippi County, Mo., died at 11:45 p.m. Jan. 3, 2003, at the Murray-Calloway Hospital. Born Nov. 14, 1916, near Ponca City, Okla., he was the son of the late Thomas Penman and Mary Hannah McAnich McCloskey Sr. ...

SIKESTON -- Jimmie Lee Summers, 70, died at 6:09 p.m. Jan. 4, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born July 30, 1932, in Chaffee, son of the late Leo and Violet Gore Summers, he was a parts exchanger in the International Shoe Factory Maintenance Department in Sikeston and member of Christ Gospel Church in Blodgett...

SCOTT CITY -- David Louis Mattes, 46, died Jan. 4, 2003, at his home. He was born Aug. 28, 1956, in Perryville, son of Mary Jane Wichern Mattes of Kelso and the late John Dominic Mattes. David was a salesman with Glazer Midwest (formerly Paramount Liquor) for 21 years. He graduated in 1974 form Illmo-Scott City High School and was a member of Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City and Elks Lodge 639 in Cape Girardeau. David enjoyed playing cards and spending time with his friends...

SIKESTON -- Delores LaQuita Knuckles, 69, died Jan. 3, 2003, at her home, in a house fire. Born Jan. 13, 1933, in Canalou, daughter of the late William "Bill" and Vernia Rainwater Landers, she was a member of Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church in Sikeston. ...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted at 10:30 a.m. today at Blanchard Funeral Chapel for Alferd L. Magee, 67, of Greenfield, Ind., who died Jan. 2, 2003, were: Dennis Griffith, Terry Hatfield, Mark Warren, Mike Reeves, Brandon Walker, Justin Griffith and Larry Magee...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services conducted at 10:30 a.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Jack Bixler, 79, of Jackson and formerly of Sikeston, who died Jan. 3, 2003, were: Michael Bixler, Joe Bixler, Greg Bixler, Jim Bob Bixler, William Lewis Bixler and Tony Truelove...

BLOOMFIELD -- Loedith Ann Shipley, 87, died Jan. 4, 2003, at the Beverly Health Care in Bloomfield. Born Jan. 24, 1915, in Manila, Ark., daughter of the late Mack and Lena Morgan Colvin, she retired as a cook for the Hickory House Restaurant in Dexter and was affiliated with the Bible Tabernacle Church in Bloomfield...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Billy Max Owens, 62, died Jan. 4, 2003, at his home. Born March 20, 1940, in East Prairie, son of Alpha Gladys Archer Owens of East Prairie and the late Willie Swank Owens, he lived in East Prairie all his life. He was a mechanic for Delta New Holland near East Prairie and member of the First Baptist Church and Masonic Lodge 407 in Charleston...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Lorene I. Compas, 93, died at 6:45 p.m. Jan. 4, 2003, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Aug. 25, 1909, in Rover, Ark., daughter of the late James Thomas and Dessie England Hunt, she lived in East Prairie most of her life, where she was a member of the First Church of God...

A recent article about prosecutors being urged to fight against regulating or legalizing drugs, especially the least harmful of all drugs - marijuana - noted that "Those who support drug legalization are well funded," are these reformers as well funded as the ONDCP? The ONDCP is using taxpayer money to support a political position on an issue...