Stories from Thursday, August 7, 2003

Stewart SIKESTON - Nicole D. Stewart and Donald E. Gordon Jr. are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 1:30 p.m. July 9, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Phillip Eugene Stewart weighed 8 pounds and was 19-inches long. Stewart, daughter of Lonnie Stewart of Sikeston and the late Phyllis Stewart, is employed with the City of Sikeston Collector's Office...

For some time, I, like many others in our state, have concerns regarding the financial situation the State of Missouri is in. I am hoping you will print my letter and ask other fellow Missourians to consider these suggestions. Let's start by using oil as an example. Does anyone think if Missouri was rich in oil, the politicians would pass up the opportunity to drill oil and profit from it? If this was the case, the state and the people would benefit from it...

SIKESTON - The 51st Annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo got underway on Wednesday night. Here are the results from the action on Wednesday. Scott Montague took first place in the bareback riding with 77 points. Justin Stover took second with 74 points and Will Lowe finished third with 70 points...

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City School Board named former Caruthersville coach Jackie Johnson new head football coach at a special meeting on Wednesday night. Johnson will take over for Jason Burkman, who unexpectedly resigned two weeks ago. "I'm very excited to be named head coach," said Johnson. "I came to Scott City to be an assistant, but I like the challenge of being a head coach. All of a sudden, I'm sitting in the head chair again."...

SIKESTON - Among the 350 contestants competing at the 51st annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo will be top-ranked competitors in their sports, local heroes and some who are both. Carrie Potashnick, Sikeston's only competitor in the rodeo, is slated to ride in the barrel racing event Saturday. "Barrel racing is the only event women can do in pro rodeo," she explained. Potashnick has been barrel racing "about 12, 13 years," she said. "Ever since I was 13."...

SIKESTON -- Luckily for Rebecca Patterson, the group at the Sikeston Senior Citizens Nutrition Center isn't a "seniors only" group. In fact, it's just the opposite. The seniors welcome all faces, especially the young ones, and the staff and visitors can't seem to get enough of their 12-year-old volunteer...

BENTON - A lot of people apparently didn't think Tuesday's elections were so special - at least not special enough to cast a ballot. Turn-out was light, election officials reported Wednesday. In Scott County Morley voters renewed their city sales tax and the Chaffee R-2 School District approved a $500,000 general obligation bond issue...

I was driving down Ingram awhile ago, and saw a man throw half a watermelon out into a side ditch. I followed you home and I know where you live. It's a good thing I couldn't see a house number and you had no license plate on the back of that truck, or I would have reported you to the police. Don't you know it's against the law to litter?...

BENTON - Benton is now the possessor of electric lights. They are getting the current from Missouri Public Utilities. Heretofore, their only lights were from the Delco system. --- SIKESTON - The Baker-Bowman Hardware Company has purchased the stock and fixtures of the Sikeston Hardware Co. and is now open for business...

CHICAGO, Ill. - Georgia Anna Pullen Orr, 78, formerly of Bell City, Mo., died Aug. 1, 2003, in Chicago. Born Nov. 27, 1924, in Bell City, daughter of the late J.C. Pullen Sr. and Floia Montgomery Pullen, she retired as a registered nurse for St. Joseph Hospital...

CLUTE, Texas - Betty Jo Toutcheque, 35, formerly of Bloomfield and Dexter, Mo., died Aug. 4, 2003, at her home. Born April 13, 1968, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of Lowell "Bud" Lewis of Puxico and Mary Ellis Massingill of Dexter, she was manager of the Prairie 204 Video Store in Bloomfield before moving to Texas in 2002. She was a member of the National Humane Society...

DEXTER - Pallbearers at graveside services conducted Wednesday at the Chalk Bluff Cemetery near Dexter for Imogene Davis, 72, who died Aug. 2, 2003, were: Terry Davis Sr., Bobby Davis Sr., James Steele, Terry Davis Jr., Chris Davis and Dallas Davis...

CHARLESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted today at McMikle Funeral Home for Dorothy D. Darby, 90, of Bertrand, who died Aug. 4, 2003, were: T.W. McDermott, Don Moxley, Richard Gage, Larry Miller, Roger Tesney and Dwight White. Burial followed in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston...

SCOTT CITY - B.J. Bradley Jr., 5, died Aug. 6, 2003, at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Born Dec. 6, 1997, at Cape Girardeau, son of Billy Joe and Nikki Scott Bradley of Scott City, he played for the Scott City Cubs T-ball team...

A cowboy hangs on in the bareback competition in rodeo action at Wednesday night's Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. The rodeo will continue tonight and run through Saturday. Tonight's entertainment will be provided by Trick Pony.