Stories from Friday, February 7, 2003

EAST PRAIRIE - Stephanie Chris Parker and Michael David Bratton are the parents of their fourth child, second daughter, born at 5:53 a.m. Jan. 15, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Emmahrie Caroline Bratton weighed 8 pounds, 1/2 ounce and was 20-inches long...

SIKESTON - Clarence Preston "Junior" Black, 82, died at 6:10 p.m. Feb. 6, 2003, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born April 17, 1920, in Wyatt, son of the late Clarence Preston and Dollie Mae Graham Black, he was a car salesman in Sikeston and Charleston and had worked for the Sikeston Motor Company for 20 years before retiring. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston...

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Justin R. DeLisle, 48, died Feb. 4, 2003, in Pensacola. Born June 29, 1954, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., son of the late J. Byron and Madelon DeLisle, he lived in the Pensacola area for the past 13 years. Survivors include: one daughter, Ashley DeLisle of Grand Prairie, Texas; four brothers, Jon Gregory DeLisle and Rouget DeLisle of New Madrid, Mo., Jerome DeLisle of Pensacola and Jacques DeLisle of Sikeston, Mo.; two sisters, Yvonne Patterson of Cape Girardeau and Michelle Mooneyham of Pensacola; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, JoAnne Matikonis of Delaware.. ...

The more you pay attention to State Auditor Claire McCaskill, the more you like the actions of her office. This week McCaskill's office agreed to investigate the St. Louis Election Board's finances, which are at best, miserable. In short, she wants to know why $350,000 in cell phone bills have gone unpaid for two years. We deserve the answer...

GRAYRIDGE - Melba Harlan, 61, died Feb. 6, 2003, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. Born April 21, 1941, in Blytheville, Ark., daughter of the late Paul and Alma Sutton Ritch, she lived in Grayridge most of her life. She had been a nurse practitioner at the John J. Pershing Veterans Administration Medical Center in Poplar Bluff and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary in Poplar Bluff...

CHARLESTON - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at McMikle Funeral Home for Ulyes C. Brumley, 79, of Wyatt, who died Feb. 6, 2003, will be: Rich Williams, Mitch Pullen, Marty Pullen, Randy Pullen, Bill Harris and Charles Baugh. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home...

PUXICO - Pallbearers at services conducted Thursday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Ralph E. Byrum, 93, who died Feb. 4, 2003, were: Don Selvidge, Marcus Selvidge, Richard Selvidge, Greg Pulley, Rodney Reagan and Lonnie Hickman.

AQUILLA - Rick Bostic, 43, died Feb. 6, 2003, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.

Does anybody know what ever happened to the show, "Baby Bob" that used to come on KFVS-TV? My little daughter liked it very well. Does anybody know why it went off the air? Why in the world, where are they getting this huge rating that George W. Bush has? They are not talking to Democrats (it's probably all Republicans that they are talking to). Everybody I talk to despises the man and say he is ruining our country. Please get him out of office. He needs to be impeached - now...

CROWDER - Loss in excess of $1,000 occurred during the early morning hours Monday in a fire which destroyed a platform and 19 bales of cotton at the Stoddard Gin Company, five miles west of Crowder. SIKESTON - The sixth Boy Scout troop in Sikeston, Troop 133, was this morning sponsored by the Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church. ...

KELSO - A shooting is under investigation at Kelso. The Scott County Sheriff's Department reported Friday morning that officers are on scene, however no further information was available.

PARMA - An ongoing narcotics investigation in Stoddard County has led to charges against five Parma residents. Early today search warrant was served by members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, SEMO Drug Task Force and the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department at the residence located on Stoddard County Road 780 at the intersection with Stoddard County Road 283, just outside of Parma. The house is occupied by Edward Ben Hardin, 21, and Amanda K. Crosno, 21, of Parma...

CHARLESTON -- Charleston's girls basketball team grabbed its eighth win of the season Thursday night, beating Oran at home, 58-28. The Lady Bluejays jumped out to a 16-9 lead, only to see Oran shave the lead down to five points at halftime. Charleston regrouped in the second half, outscoring the Lady Eagles 12-6 in the third quarter and 21-2 in the fourth for the convincing 30-point victory...

SIKESTON - Southeast Missouri residents should be getting good at driving through winter weather. Thursday's snowstorm blanketed the area, creating slick road conditions for drivers. However, none of the area sheriff's department reported any serious injuries from the accidents which kept law enforcement officers and highway patrol troopers busy throughout Thursday morning...

SIKESTON -- Physical education teacher of 15 years, LaVeta Williams, blows her whistle to signal the start of another exercise. On cue a group of sixth and seventh grade girls begin a set of jumping jacks while spelling Sikeston Bulldogs aloud and ending with a couple rhythmic claps. ...