Stories from Thursday, October 21, 2004

SIKESTON - The Sikeston USO unit closed Sunday with a record of having played host to 18,400 service men and women since it opened Feb. 27, 1942. The unit ceased operation with the abolishment of the primary training school here, which last week graduated its last class of cadets...

Tell me something, "Kerryheads." What do you want with Kerry? Do you want more affordable healthcare? What difference does it make how affordable it is if our hospitals have been blown up by terrorists? Do you want more money for education? What's the point if there is such a high risk of terrorists going into our schools and shooting our children? We know it's happened. ...

WEST PLAINS - A season that looked to be lost two weeks ago, all of a sudden has found some life for the Sikeston Bulldogs football team. After starting 0-5 for the first time in 30 years, the Bulldogs have now won two straight with convincing victories against New Madrid County Central (49-14) and Kennett (34-13)...

Members of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety Special Operations Group secure a group of townhouses in the 400 block of Lake Wednesday afternoon. The Special Operations Group was clearing the apartments after one was burglarized.

SIKESTON -- Signs. Signs. Everywhere there are signs ... and more signs and more signs and more signs. For the past few months, election signs have gone up nearly everywhere -- in fields, on lawns, in windows, on cars -- but do they actually influence voters or the outcome of a political campaign?...

SIKESTON - For those who are disabled but have not contributed to the Social Security fund, there is still a "safety net": Supplemental Security Income. "Supplemental Security Income is a program that started in January 1974," said Vernestine Bounds, district manager for Sikeston Social Security office which services Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties...

SIKESTON - Stories of able-bodied people "drawing a Social Security check" are all too familiar for many people in this area. If you ask around, it's not hard to find someone who can tell you about someone they know who has allegedly "cheated the system."...

SIKESTON -- Ray and Pam Massey have announced the engagement of their daughter, Bethany Nicole, to Gary Lee Mize Jr., son of Gary Mize Sr. of Morley and Leah Mize of Poplar Bluff. A 1998 graduate of Sikeston High School, the future bride graduated in 2002 from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. She is employed with the Missouri Children's Division in Stoddard County...

SIKESTON -- Kristi Lynne Ross and Kristopher John "Kris" Heacox exchanged wedding vows in a 7 p.m. ceremony Aug. 6, 2004, in the backyard of Ken and Rosemary Latham of Sikeston. Dr. Rick Ramsey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston, performed the ceremony...

Area Football Standings SEMO Conference Northern Division Southern Division Central Division Friday night's games Top Performers of the Week RUSHING 40 carries, 5.1 avg., 4 TDs. -------------------------------------- 21 carries, 9.5 avg., 2 TDs. --------------------------------------...

SIKESTON -- Family and friends of Parisea Zook are invited to attend a surprise celebration in honor of her 94th birthday at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Clinton Building in Sikeston.

SIKESTON - Arika Vines and Domingo Navarro Jr. are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 12:50 a.m. Sept. 18, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Brandon Javier Navarro weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19-inches long. Maternal grandparents are Samuel Joseph Vines and Lynne Michelle Winebaugh...

The Sikeston Area Life Chain would like to take this opportunity to share our deepest appreciation for the tremendous community support we received in the recent life chain. We know that God's word says, "For where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) God's presence was manifested in a mighty way. Over nine area churches and 100 prayer warriors joined efforts in standing with one voice for the sanctity of life...

LANCASTER, Calif. - Charles G. Hill, 71, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Oct. 12, 2004, Lancaster. Born Nov. 13, 1932, in Sikeston, son of the late Marvin and Lena Hill, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. His wife, Helen Boardman Hill, preceded him in death...

BATESVILLE, Ark. - Myrtle A. Holland, 91, formerly of Bloomfield, Mo., died Oct. 20, 2004, in Batesville. Born Jan. 31, 1913, in Sedgewickville, Mo., daughter of the late Benton and Cora Conrad Murray, she lived in Batesville since 1998 and was a member of the Assembly of God Church...

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. - Thelma Irene Marshall, 80, died Oct. 18, 2004, at the Sheridan Health Care Center in Zion. Born May 24, 1924, in Morehouse, Mo., daughter of the late Jesse Pillar and Bendia Melinda Graham Culbertson, she lived in the Jackson area from 1983 until 1998 when she moved to Lyons, N.Y. She moved to North Chicago in 2000 and was a member of the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

SAVANNAH, Tenn. - Joe William Ray, 75, died Oct. 19, 2004, at Hardin County General Hospital in Savannah. Born May 16, 1929, in Wayne County, son of the late Oliver and Ester Ray, he was a member of Souls Harvest Church of God and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War...