Stories from Wednesday, March 5, 2003

SIKESTON - Marie Scott, 56, died Feb. 28, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 29, 1946, in Catron, daughter of the late Marshall and Abbie McIntosh Gibbs, she was a lifelong resident of Missouri and member of Smith Chapel Methodist Church...

SIKESTON - Paul G. Fisher Jr., 81, died March 4, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 7, 1921, in Sullivan, son of the late Paul G. and Alice L. Fisher Sr., he graduated from Westminster College with a degree in economics...

BELL CITY - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Southern Baptist Church in Bell City for Geraldine Watkins, 92, of Sikeston, who died March 4, 2003, will be: Brandon Hoosier, Harold Hart, Josh Stovall, Steven Stovall, Donald Stovall and Winford "Butch" Watkins...

When you go out to eat at restaurants, you need to check your food. I visited a restaurant here in town recently, and there was hair in my pizza. The manager said he had never heard of that and wouldn't do anything about it. After reading the Feb. 17 column, "War isn't the answer," I just had to rebound. ...

The Sikeston Eagles and I would like to express our greatest appreciation for all the help we received in our St. Jude Children's Research Hospital benefit which was held Feb. 21. We also want to thank all who bought tickets and made cash donations and donations to the auction. With the wonderful support of all those who participated we were able to send $2,000 to St. Jude's in memory of Joe Beck Jr...

COLUMBIA -- Former Sikeston Bulldog all-state football player Brandon Barnes, now a senior with the Missouri Tigers, has moved from free safety to inside linebacker. In Missouri's spring press conference, Tiger head coach Gary Pinkel explained the switch...

DELTA - For the second year in a row, top-seeded Bell City will square off with No. 2 Oran for the Class 1, District 2 championship on Thursday at 8 p.m. Both teams took care of business in the semifinals with Bell City defeating No. 4 Leopold 73-49 while Oran blew past Delta 69-28...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Class 3, District 2 boys semifinals took place on Tuesday night at Bloomfield High School. Top-seeded Charleston blew past Bloomfield 93-49, then Kelly upset second-seeded Scott City, 61-55. Charleston will face Kelly in the championship game on Thursday at 7:30 p.m...

BERTRAND - Heather Renay Mayabb and Jerry Chet Hall are the parents of their third son, born at 2:38 p.m. Feb. 4, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Austyn Wayne Hall weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces and was 16 1/2-inches long. Maternal grandparents are Brenda Baker of Bertrand and Harry Mayabb of East Prairie...

BENTON - United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has approved funds for a clean out of the St. John's Ditch. Scott County commissioners discussed the project with Brian LeGrand from the NCRS and Tom Bridger, Sikeston's public works director, during their regular meeting Tuesday...

Katherine Wethington speaks to members of Girl Scout Brownie Troop 192 about her grandson, Zach Stacey. Stacey is in the United States Marines fighting the war on terrorism. The troop is sending Stacey Girl Scout cookies and writing him letters.

SIKESTON - The 21st president of the University of Missouri system will make his first visit to the Bootheel Friday. Dr. Elson S. Floyd, who assumed duties as president of the University of Missouri System Jan. 6, will be the guest at a reception scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Clinton Building in the Sikeston Sports Complex. The reception is hosted by the University of Missouri Alliances of Alumni Association and Outreach and Extension...

SIKESTON -- Cindy Taylor was smiling ear to ear -- and it's all because of the rock on her finger. No, she didn't get engaged recently, and it wasn't her birthday. It's something a little more special, more "precious," than that. It's even landed Taylor recognition in the March 11 edition of the national magazine, Woman's World, and an upcoming edition of "Chicken Soup for the Soul."...

SIKESTON - Because of the drastic need for waste fats, tin and reclaimed silk and nylons, Sikeston is beginning this week a sustained effort to collect and put into use in the war effort all these articles accumulated by Sikeston people. The new campaign, under the direction of Frank Miller, is not a drive that will terminate at a certain date, but a collection effort that will continue "for the duration."...

With a war in Iraq becoming a distinct possibility, the debate within America has taken on a 1960s feel. Anti-war zealots are taking to the streets in an attempt to influence public opinion against the war. And pro-war forces too are rallying behind the administration. Into this fray comes Hollywood...