Stories from Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Some time ago the City of Sikeston started a "Zero Tolerance" policy in regard to violation of certain city ordinances. The result, at least to us here in Canalou, was dramatic. The condition and appearance of Sikeston improved very quickly. We decided that the same process needed to happen to Canalou. The town has become a junky, shabby and decrepit dumping ground - place where people went because they thought that there were no rules or regulations...

MOREHOUSE - Pallbearers at graveside services conducted Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston for Ulah "Doody" Pitts, 89, of Morehouse, who died Feb. 26, 2005, were: Shannon Newton, Mike Newton, Jim Massey, Thad Ryan, Glen Bryant and Jeff Bryant...

DOGWOOD - Ora Mae Heath, 93, went to be with the Lord at 4:50 a.m. March 1, 2005, at her home in Dogwood. Born May 12, 1911, in Wickliffe, Ky., daughter of the late Della B. and E.H. Sullivan, she was a member of the Dogwood United Methodist Church. She worked tirelessly owning and operating the family farm, cattle operation and antique business. Other interests include her church, family, politics, gardening and sharing her knowledge, wisdom and love with family and friends...

CHAFFEE - Corine Joy Kilburn, 63, died at 4:35 a.m. March 1, 2005, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. Born April 20, 1941, in Oran, she was the daughter of the late Edward Lee and Edna L. Simmons Kilburn. Survivors include: one son, Bill Hickman of Salem; two daughters, JoAnn Hickman of Salem and Edna Hickman of Alton, Ill.; two brothers, David Kilburn of Cape Girardeau and Tom Kilburn of Benton; two sisters, Margie Quinn and Ruby Trammell of Hayti; and 10 grandchildren...

BERTRAND - Jessie M. Lindsey McCain, 53, died at 4:33 p.m. Feb. 28, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Dec. 25, 1951, at Zeigler, Ill., daughter of the late Marion Calvin and Josie Marie Johnson Lindsey, she lived in the Bertrand area for many years and was of the Pentecostal belief...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Mary "Mimi" Allen-Smitten, 79, died at 1:35 a.m. March 1, 2005, at the Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sikeston...

CHAFFEE - Alma Louise Harmon, 89, died at 9:38 p.m. Feb. 28, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born March 19, 1915, in Chaffee, daughter of the late Otis Alma and Mabel Jennie White Keller, she retired from retail work for the Harmon Furniture Store in Chaffee. A member of the First United Methodist Church, she was also a charter member of the Chaffee Business and Professional Women's Club and Chaffee Chamber of Commerce...

MOREHOUSE - Florence Adams died March 1, 2005, at her home in Morehouse. Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

SIKESTON - Vela Mae Polley, 80, died at 1:37 a.m. March 1, 2005, at the Clearview Nursing Center. Born Aug. 5, 1924, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Everett and Gladys Wilson Harbison, she was a member of the Murray Lane Baptist Church. She retired from the housekeeping department at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Jesse Rodgers, 72, died at 7:15 a.m. March 1, 2005, at the Willow Crossing Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born Nov. 6, 1932, in Morley, Mo., son of the late Jesse B. and Willa B. Rodgers, he was a member of the Parkside Baptist Church, a U.S. ...

SIKESTON - Mary E. Mitchell, 76, died Feb. 26, 2005, at the Clearview Nursing Center. Born April 30, 1926, in Walls, Miss., daughter of the late Zingo and Essie Sloan, she lived in Missouri since 1955 and was a retired cook. She was a member of Travelers Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON - Rufus J. "Big Rufus" Sumlin Sr., 76, died Feb. 25, 2005, at the Clearview Nursing Center. Born Nov. 11, 1928, in Renova, Bolivar County, Miss., son of the late Johnnie Sumlin and Ruth Mae Wolfe, he was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston. He was a businessman and had served on various community organizations including chairman of the Labor and Industry Committee of the Sikeston Branch of the NAACP and was a member of the local Steelworkers of America...

MORLEY - A birthday dinner was celebrated at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Odus Boley for his mother, Mrs. John Boley. CHARLESTON - Voters in the R-1 Charleston School District are voting today on the $1.4 million bond issue for a new high school building. ...

Just for my information, I was wondering why there were no articles about the East Prairie Eagles' last two games with Malden and Clarkton. Have we stumbled so much that you do not wish to cover us anymore? You seemed to hit us rather well during our winning streak. Is it our failure to get you the info or is it that you don't wish to have anyone cover our games anymore? Just a little curious...

Gov. Matt Blunt is finding that cutting state spending isn't as easy as some would have thought. That most certainly doesn't mean Blunt is on the wrong path. Quite the opposite. Though most believe cutting state government spending is a necessary decision, the actual process is a virtual obstacle course...

DELTA -- The top two seeds, Bell City and Delta, advance in the MSHSAA Class 1, District 2 boys tournament, setting up a repeat of last year's district final. No. 1 Bell City eliminated pesky fourth-seed Saxony Lutheran 71-55 on Tuesday, while in the nightcap, No. 2 Delta burst the bubble of No. 6 Oran, a first-round upset winner over No. 3 Oak Ridge, with an 80-59 rout...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston seventh and eighth grade volleyball teams split with New Madrid County Central on Tuesday at the Sikeston Middle School. The eighth graders won 25-11, 25-15. In serving, Ariel Reynolds was 7-7 with three aces. Others were Keyarra Blissett (9-10, 7 aces), Andrea Coleman (5-6), DeLana Henry (1 ace) and Janesha Tate (1 ace)...

ST. LOUIS - The Heartland Wrestling team brought home 14 AAU state placers with three state champions. This was a very good opportunity for these wrestlers to show their abilities on the mat. We have practiced so hard this year and these kids drilled and worked on their conditioning that they deserved everything they won up there...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - One man plead guilty, three learned their fate in cases involving drug activity and another man was sentenced on firearm charges Monday when they appeared in federal court before U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. Gary Wayne Hornburg, 50, of New Madrid County, plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine...

SIKESTON -- It's official. Charlie is home to stay. A ceremony celebrating the return of the 1140th Engineer Battalion's Charlie Company was held Tuesday afternoon in the Sikeston Field House. Over 1,500 family, friends and community members came out to show their appreciation...

CLARKTON - Top-seeded Scott County Central had little problems in the semifinals of the Class 1 District 1 tournament at Clarkton. The Braves led 35-16 at the half and cruised. Andrew Pullen led all scorers with 19 points for Scott County (18-8). Ray Rodgers added 10 points. Scott County will play the winner of the Clarkton-Gideon game at 6 p.m. Thursday in the district finals...