Stories from Sunday, May 14, 2006

DUDLEY - Eugene Bender, 72, died May 13, 2006, in the Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

PERNERMON - Cleveland Taylor, 69, died May 10, 2006, at his home. Born July 5, 1936, in Essex, son of the late John and Ruth Taylor, he worked at the Swift Corporation for thirty years before retiring. On March 7, 2004, he married Bernice Dennis who survives of the home. ...

CHAFFEE - The Chaffee Red Devils ended a four game losing streak on Friday afternoon, with a 11-0 shutout over the visiting East Prairie Eagles. In what should have been a home game for the Eagles, was changed to Chaffee due to bad field conditions at East Prairie...

EAST PRAIRIE - The Class 2, District 1 Tournament begins on Monday at South Pemiscot High School in Steele. The host Bulldogs received the No. 1 seed and will face Hayti in the first round. Portageville received the fourth seed and will face No. 5 Caruthersville on Monday at 3 p.m...

The holidays bring many joyful events and safety should be on all minds when indulging in fun activities. For some, time will be spent on family activities such as family reunions, camping, hiking and fishing. Fortunately we share this earth with many critters and they have rights and a cause for their existence like everyday folks...

SIKESTON - Coming off the most wins in a season for girls soccer, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs head into the Class 1, District 1 tournament at Perryville seeded No. 3. Notre Dame received the one seed and has a bye to the semifinals. Notre Dame will play the winner of No. 4 St. Vincent and No. 5 Fredericktown. Sikeston's first round opponent will be host Perryville who is seeded No. 2. The Lady Bulldogs have had zero luck against the Lady Pirates, having lost three straight this season...

SIKESTON -- The Class 3, District 1 Tournament will kick off tomorrow afternoon with four first round games at Sikeston's VFW Stadium. Sikeston received the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 Doniphan (11-3) at 4 p.m. Other first round games will pit top-seeded Kennett (16-4) against No. 8 Perryville (2-11) at noon; No. 4 Dexter (10-8) versus No. 5 New Madrid County Central (9-8) at 2 p.m.; and No. 2 Notre Dame (15-6) against No. 7 Fredericktown at 6 p.m...

SIKESTON -- Southeast Missouri teams garnered three of the top four seeds in the upcoming Class 2, District 2 Baseball Tournament. St. Vincent hosts the rotating tournament which will be held at the Perryville City Park on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday...

SIKESTON -The Sikeston Tractor and Implement Co. will hold an open house May 18 at its new location, the corner of Kingshighway and Greer streets. SIKESTON - Superintendent of Schools Lynn Twitty will attend a meeting of the Missouri Governor's Committee of Education Tuesday in Kansas City...

I'm a 87 year old woman. I want to thank 106 for putting gospel music back on the radio. We don't get enough gospel music. Thank God for them on Sunday morning. Thank you Cousin Carl and God bless you. If you have a mother and you have mistreated her, please go to her and apologize. This may be the last Mother's Day for her. I never had a mother to call my own. This is a precious day. Take advantage of it and tell your Mother you love her...

Happy Mother's Day to those who qualify for the honor. Those of us blessed - and that is the correct word - with a loving and caring mother know exactly what advantage we enjoy in life by having that strong, devoted woman who looks beyond our flaws. Dads may well be considered the king of the house but the foundation for that house is more often than not the mother...

SIKESTON - Since Lanette Baker obtained the job of executive director of the Sikeston Area Humane Society six months ago, the Humane Society has grown by leaps and bounds. "The Humane Society is constantly taking care of more and more animals," Baker explained. "We have over 70 dogs and cats to date and temporarily take care of many different types of animals. At one point we had a python, a boa, an alligator, and even a desert tortoise."...

The following is a special message sent from Johnny Ruby, who is currently serving with the United States Marine Corps in a seven-month deployment in Iraq, to his mother, Joann Ruby of Sikeston: Mom, For Mother's Day I wanted to do something special for you. I know I usually send flowers and a card, but it's a little harder this year...

SIKESTON -- Johnny Ruby may be thousands of miles away serving his country in Iraq, but it doesn't stop him from wanting to wish his mother a happy Mother's Day. Weeks before the holiday celebrating mothers even approached, the U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant contacted the Standard Democrat via e-mail to see if he could surprise his mother with a loving message...

SIKESTON - Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Greer Street from South Prairie to Warner will be closed to through traffic, due to the removal of a large tree from the right of way. The project will continue for approximately one to two days, weather permitting...

EAST PRAIRIE - Curtis Huus and Sharon Norman are the parents of their second child, second son, born at 1:08 p.m. March 27, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Elijah Gaige Huus weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Homer and Sharon Baker...

ORAN -- Alfred and Phyllis Darlene Pearson have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Lyne Pearson, to Jesse Cole Rush, son of Rita Janette Rush of Dyersburg, Tenn., and the late Ronald James Rush. A 1995 graduate of Oran High School, the future bride is a 1999 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in child development. She is employed as targeted case manager in children's services at Bootheel Counseling Services in Sikeston...

Home Advantage, 808 Hunter St., held a ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the new location. Home Advantage offers skilled nursing, physical, speech and occupational therapies and home health aids for customers. Cutting the ribbon is Mary Tidwell, administrator. ...

Nancy Driskill, administrator of Hunter Acres Caring Center, cuts a ribbon to open the Center's new unit, Autumn Place. The 26-bed unit will be used for dementia patients, however it is not limited to Alzheimer's patients. This the third special care unit for Hunter Acres. Pictured are members of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, staff of Hunter Acres Caring Center, and staff from area health agencies. Also pictured is Dr. Stephen Welton, medical director for the center...

SIKESTON - Nancy Jones was nominated by her colleagues as "Employee of the Quarter" at Bootheel Counseling Services. Jones has been with the agency for five years and has served as support staff and most recently a medical records clerk. She was chosen for her loyalty, compassion for clients, pleasant, dependable and always wants to help out others...

Cindie and Mike McReynolds, owners of Mike Rentals Inc., display the President's Image Award for 2006 which they received from the American Rental Association. Presented at the National American Rental Association Convention in Orlando, Fla., the award is given in recognition of major building improvements which promote a professional business image and enhance the stature of the entire rental industry. ...