Stories from Sunday, June 4, 2006

NORMAN, Okla. -- Lester Leo Loucks, 76, formerly of Malden, died June 1, 2006, at Norman Regional Hospital in Norman, Okla. Born Nov. 17, 1929, in Malden, son of the late John Henry and Clara Mable Kincade Loucks, he was a retired maintenance supervisor at the U.S. Post Office in Norman and had also retired as a mechanic at York Air Conditioning in Norman, where he worked for 14 years. He was a U.S. Navy vetrean, having served as a seabee in the Korean War...

SIKESTON -- Eight area residents including three Sikeston men were arrested following an investigation into the theft of approximately $35,000 worth of motorcycles and four-wheelers. According to a press release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, thieves apparently entered the fenced area of B & B Boats and Bikes, 110 Missouri, after business hours on Tuesday night. ...

Rodeo clowns try to protect bull rider Matt Pojanowski from getting trampled after he got bucked off during Friday's bull riding event of the 2006 Sikeston Jaycees Health Facilities Rehab Services Professional Bull Riders competition held at the Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo grounds...

SIKESTON -- The SEMO Health Network will receive over $300,000 from the Missouri Foundation for Health to expand its school-based dental program. The Missouri Foundation for Health recently announced grant awards totaling $1.8 million to six nonprofit organizations as part of its new funding opportunity called Smiles Across Greater MO. The grants will provide dental sealants for an estimated 10,420 underserved children in Missouri...

SIKESTON -- For two local churches, the summer is not simply a time to kick back and relax. Members of the First United Methodist Church and Miner Baptist Church in Sikeston are using their time for mission work across the U.S. and around the world...

Todd Kennard and Rich Bramlett, both City of Sikeston Parks Department employees, test mosquito foggers. The City will start the fogging part of the Mosquito Abatement Program Monday afternoon.

SIKESTON - At the Rex, "Strange Confession" with Lou Chaney, and at the Malone, "Saratoga Trunk" with Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper. SIKESTON - Shelton Rhodes of Sikeston will be the new Farm Bureau Insurance agent for Sikeston. He will replace Bill Brown. Rhodes has been an agent in New Madrid County for the past 12 years and will continue as agent there and will be assisted by his son, Bill Rhodes...

Before the students were allowed to walk across the stage and receive their well-deserved diplomas, they and all attending sat and listened to all the speakers acknowledge what an exceptional class they were. Then the students and guests were informed that clapping, whistling, noise makers or any such other noises would not be tolerated and would everyone please wait until all students receive their diplomas before making any noise. ...

Funny how small things can irritate you from time to time. I was casually reading an Associated Press report this week on the state of the economy and one simple little phrase brought a rise in my blood pressure. The news story was summarizing the retail sales reports for May and said that Wal-Mart stores were having lackluster sales increases because their "low-income consumers are feeling the squeeze from $3 a gallon gasoline."...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulls got off to a great start in Kitty League action with a 1-0 shutout over the visiting Farmington Firebirds in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at VFW Memorial Stadium. Results from the second game of the doubleheader were not available at press time...

BLODGETT - The man sways easily in the swing, waiting patiently for the arrival of his buddies. Together they will swap stories, mostly true, and enjoy their coffee as they sit at the "Liars Corner," a declared and very important part of the Ole' Time Deli...

The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Springfest, beginning Tuesday, June 6, through Saturday, June 10, at the Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo Grounds. We hope everyone comes out and enjoys the rides and games provided by Miller's Spectacular Shows. Wristband nights will be Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. and wristbands can be purchased in advance for $10 at the Chamber office...

SIKESTON - Mike Kasting has joined the sales team at Morlan Dodge Inc. 1110 S. Main St. A native of Southeast Missouri, Kasting resides in Sikeston with his wife, Stephanie. He has two children, Hannah and Ross. Kasting, who has been a part of the sales force for a month, said he is looking forward to working with the public in meeting their automotive needs...

Tower Loan, 132 E. Front St., conducted a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday afternoon. Cutting the ribbon is Jeremiah Owens, manager. From left are: Missy Marshall, Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce executive director; John Testa, SACC; Owens; Lori Fowler, SACC, Michelle Fayette, SACC, and Leslie Winchester, SACC. The business provides loans from $500 to $50,000 for a variety of financial needs, including home, personal and equity loans...

SIKESTON -- Rene Spohn of Westfield, Ind., and David Kimes of Modesto, Calif., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Brandy Lynn Kimes, to James "Jamie" Riley, son of Diana and David Thomure of New Madrid and Michael and Sue Riley of Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Jerry and Elizabeth Hawkins of Sikeston have announced the engagement of their daughter, Tiffany Dawn Graves. to Christopher Martin Pobst, son of Chuck and Debbie Pobst of Vanduser. A 2005 graduate of Scott Central High School, the future bride attends Southeast Missouri State University and Cape Girardeau School of Real Estate...

SIKESTON - Katherine and Ryan Dennis are the parents of their first child, a son, born at 1:31 p.m. May 4, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Andrew Lee Dennis weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Mark and Marsha Hart of Charleston...

SIKESTON -- Mrs. Stella Viola Tate Duke was the guest of honor during her 100th birthday celebration April 22 at the North Acres General Baptist Church, where a host of family and friends gathered during the afternoon. About 200 people attended the event, including State Rep. ...

Nicknamed "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali is considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, as well as one of the world's most famous individuals, renowned the world over for his boxing. Chris Parrish of Centralia, Missouri, a wild turkey hunter for 27 years Chris has been turkey calling professionally on the turkey calling competition circuit since 1983. ...

SIKESTON -- Mary Margaret Story Yarbrough's life ended far too soon, but her legacy of caring lives on. Charleston-native Yarbrough, 25-years-old at the time of her accidental death by a fatal fall off a bluff at the Current River in July 2005, is remembered with a scholarship in her name, to benefit aspiring funeral professionals...

SIKESTON - The sound of nearly 50 kids jumping into the YMCA pool at 7:30 a.m. can only mean one thing, the Sikeston Sharks Swim Team is back in action. "Swimming is a really good sport because it is team driven but there are still individual roles," said Thomas Reiker, the new head coach of the Sikeston Sharks. "You don't have to win to win. If you shave time off of your swim or get second or third place that is an accomplishment."...

SIKESTON - After the final bell had rung to close the school year, the halls, classrooms and parking lots of high schools quickly emptied. But this wasn't so for all of the lockers, with some students leaving behind unwanted clothes and bookbags; books they didn't return to the library; and moldy, green, two-month-old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...

DEXTER -- With the hiring of Chris Trimmer, the Dexter Bearcats boys basketball team will be getting a head coach that has been around the coaching block in Missouri. Trimmer, 46, comes to Dexter with over 280 varsity wins and 15 years of head coaching experience. He comes to Dexter from Ste. Genevieve, where he coached basketball from 1993-2000...