Stories from Tuesday, December 14, 2004

CHARLESTON -- Elisabeth Caroline Gibson and Sam Goodin Austin were married in a 9 a.m. outdoor ceremony July 16, 2004, on Magen's Bay Beach in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. The bride is the daughter of Samuel Dale and Betty Gibson of Oak Ridge, Tenn. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Frank Robinetti of Sweetwater, Tenn., and the late Frank Robinetti and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibson...

About three or four times a year, a piece of crime news will cross my desk from the Associated Press that helps illustrate my support for the death penalty. You can imagine my surprise when two such cases appeared this week alone. If ever there were candidates for the death penalty, the following two examples should help clear the air...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted Monday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Loretta Joyce Skelton, 63, who died Dec. 10, 2004, were: Larry Gier, Brian Harper, Dewey Harper, David Bridges, Tom Eiceman and Jim Sloan.

DEXTER - Bertha M. Farmer, 100, died Dec. 13, 2004, at Central Gardens Residential Care in Dexter. Born Nov. 1, 1904, in Grayridge, daughter of the late Joseph and Lide Clark Alsup, she lived in the Bloomfield community most of her life and lived in Dexter the past few years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bloomfield...

CHARLESTON - Willie Finley Moore, 93, died at 8:20 p.m. Dec. 13, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 17, 1911, in Deventer, daughter of the late Cyrus and Sadie Traylor, she was a lifelong resident of Mississippi County and was of the Pentecostal belief...

EAST PRAIRIE - Dorothy Grogan, 56, died at 7:12 p.m. Dec. 13, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home.

SIKESTON - Lillian Ancell Braden died at 6:05 p.m. Dec. 13, 2004, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Arrangements are incomplete at Blanchard Funeral Chapel.

DEXTER -- Pallbearers at services conducted today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Doris Lorine Clark, 83, who died Dec. 7, 2004, were: Jay Clark, Michael Clark, Ron Clark, Jeff Gallimore, Ryan Clark and Daniel Nouiger.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for David Lee Campbell, 51, of Gravois Mills and formerly of Sikeston, who died Dec. 11, 2004, will be: Joey Jones, Dwight Young, Ronnie Haynes, Ricky Haynes, Dale Vaughn Jr. and Terry Mace...

CHARLESTON - Wilma Frances Telker Bohannon, 79, of Charleston, died at 11:02 a.m. Dec. 13, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Jan. 13, 1925, in Texas Bend, daughter of the late William Raymond and Margaret Renaud Telker, she lived in Charleston most of her life. ...

SIKESTON -- Students aren't the only ones counting down the days to their holiday vacations -- their teachers are also anticipating the upcoming two-week break. "It is it good to have that down time and we can all come back refreshed," noted Kelly Elementary third grade teacher Shannon Chanley about the break. "And the students are more eager to start back in January, and even the teachers kind of get in a rut."...

LILBOURN - Joe Edward Albright, 62, died Dec. 12, 2004, at his home in Lilbourn. Born March 31, 1942, in Lilbourn, son of the late Ernie Albright and Wanda Sue Duncan, he was raised by his grandmother, the late Effie "Tick" Duncan. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lilbourn where he taught Sunday school and also served as a deacon. ...

SCOTT CITY - Dwight L. "Buck" Buchanan, 56, died at 5:30 a.m. Dec. 13, 2004, at the Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 10, 1948, in Poplar Bluff, son of Marjorie Deardorff Buchanan of Dexter and the late Carl Buchanan, he was a truck driver for Truck Transport and attended the Christian Faith Academy...

Members of Daisy Troop 22 wrap Christmas packages Monday afternoon on St. Francis Xavier school grounds in Sikeston. Each troop member wrapped her own package, and all packages are being donated to the House of Refuge in Sikeston.

New Madrid County Central Middle School students treated the public to a holiday concert Monday evening. The sixth (pictured above), seventh and eighth grade concert bands under the direction of Butch Owens performed a variety of holiday favorites such as "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman."...

SIKESTON - While the Miss Missouri Teen USA title went to a girl from Naylor, and the Miss Missouri USA crown to a Kansas City resident, this area was well represented during the pageants. Among those competing in the event, which culminated with the coronations Sunday at the Music Hall in downtown Kansas City, were Laura Schuchart, 16, of Sikeston; Abbie Cook, 17, of Scott City; Jenna Johnson, 20, of Gideon; Ashley DeProw, 19, of Portageville; and Whitney Nelson, 18, of Caruthersville...

This time of year when we are bombarded by talk shows and news about holiday depression, I have a few simple tips to avoid the holiday blues. First, remember this is a time of joy and thanksgiving for the many blessings you receive and enjoy every day. ...

SIKESTON - Huge shipments of surplus war materials, especially airplanes, are expected to begin arriving in Sikeston Dec. 16 to be stored at the recently closed Missouri Institute of Aeronautics Airport, according to William Sutton, manager of the field. The field was made into a Defense Plant Corporation storage base Dec. 1, but activity has been confined to preparation for the string of the expected equipment...

SIKESTON - City staff will begin firing cannons to disturb blackbird roosting Wednesday, according to Tom Bridger, public works director. Today they will be looking at and assessing locations for firing the city's three cannons. "Citizens are encouraged to participate," Bridger said, by banging pots and pans to make noise or by getting a permit from the Department of Public Safety for fireworks or shotguns. "It takes everyone's efforts to get them to relocate."...

CLARKTON - The fourth-seeded Risco Tigers lost a heart-breaker on fifth-seeded Southland on Monday night in the Clarkton Holiday Tournament. Risco's Andrew Halford hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds left but Southland's Bryan Nipper was able to score a coast-to-coast layup to retake the lead with 1.5 seconds left...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs fell to the Farmington Knightettes 58-40 at the Field House on Monday. After scoring the last five points of the first quarter to pull within two at 13-11, it was an uphill battle for the Lady Bulldogs. Turnovers, some forced by Farmington's fullcourt pressure and others resulting from inept Sikeston ballhandling, helped the Knightettes to a 32-19 halftime edge...

CHARLESTON -- The 2004-2005 Kennett Lady Indians are a very young inexperienced team, however, Coach Christel Jefferson's squad showed that dedication and teamwork can bring home a victory. The Lady Indians trailed the over-sized Charleston Lady Bluejays for most of the contest Monday night at the "Round House," nevertheless, Kennett dominated the second half, defeating CHS 40-39 to move to 4-2 on the season...