Stories from Sunday, July 2, 2006

SPRINGFILED -- The Rev. Robert I. Jones, 86, died June 29, 2006, at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield. Born Feb. 3, 1920, at Columbus, Ky., to Fred and Vera Stacy Jones, he lived most of his life in Southeast Missouri and moved to Springfield in 1992. He was a preacher for 63 years, pastoring at General Baptist churches in Southeast Missouri. He also taught in public schools. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the South Pacific with General MacArthur's forces...

ORAN -- James Don Graviett, 47, died at 3 a.m. June 30, 2006, at Cape Girardeau, due to a motorcycle accident on May 26. Born May 4, 1959, at Cape Girardeau, son of Roy Edward Graviett and the late Stella "Suggie" Stubenrauch Graviett, he was a self-employed farmer and machine operator at Good Humor-Breyers in Sikeston. A former member of the Oran Jaycees and member of the Jaycee hunting club in Oran, he belonged to the H.O.G. in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON -- Fred L. Nelson, 86, died June 30, 2006, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born May 8, 1920, in Hartman, Ark., son of the late Jess and Birtha Matlock Nelson, he was of the Baptist belief and had worked on the family farm in Arkansas and later in southeast Missouri for over 50 years before retiring in 1980...

BLOOMFIELD - Helen Garner, 90, died June 15, 2006, at her home. Born Sept. 12, 1915, at Guttenburg, Iowa, daughter of the late August and Martha Kohler Friedlein, she was a former cook and dietitian for the Bloomfield Public Schools and a 60-year member of the Order of Eastern Star in Bloomfield...

SIKESTON -- Tollie LeRoy Howard, 82, died at 2:50 a.m. June 30, 2006, at Clearview Nursing Center. Born Oct. 24, 1923, in Lexington, Ala., son of the late Clarence M. and Bertha F. Putman Howard, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. A carpenter for the Sikeston Public Schools, he was a member of the Morley Memorial VFW Post 5368...

SIKESTON - Loleta M. "Lee" Sides, 93, died at 3:30 p.m. June 30, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born April 28, 1913, in Flat River, daughter of the late Frank and Olive LaPlante Matkin, she was a sales and service representative for 35 years with Gaylord Container Corporation in St. Louis before retiring April 30, 1976. She moved from St. Louis to Sikeston in 1976, where she was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella and Legion of Mary...

SCOTT CITY -- Barbara Ann Campbell Kellett, 63, died June 30, 2006, at the home of her daughter in Scott City after her hard-fought battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren and family. Born March 4, 1943, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Clifford and Delsie Lambert Campbell, she was employed by Ferrell Mobile Home in Benton and was a member of the Unity Baptist Church in Benton...

The Oran picnic will be this Tuesday. A family style or buffet meal, including roast beef, fried chicken, dressing, ham and all the trimmings, plus dessert, will be served 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and again from 4 - 7 p.m. The all-you-can-eat meal is $7 for adults, $2.50 for children 6 to 12, and free for those under 6...

ORAN -- The Oran Knights of Columbus Fourth of July picnic's roots run deep in not only the small town, but also in many families who have been involved for many generations. Just ask Lawrence "Lefty" Seyer. Since moving to Oran as a child in 1935, he has been to the picnic every year but one, when he went to a family gathering. For the most part, family gatherings are in Oran, though...

Control is an important aspect of our lives. We want to be in control as much as possible without being controlling - if that makes sense. We're told we control our own destinies, though I sometimes question that statement. But sometimes, there are just simply some aspects of life that seem beyond our control...

How come the kids in our school system get TV's and radios for public attendance and for the honor roll they just get a ribbon? This is for you Democrats who think you are going to win mid-term elections because of George W. Bush's approval ratings. Don't get your hopes up. We may not be pleased with our President's performance, but we don't want Democrats in control of our federal and state governments. I for one hate the Democratic party more than ever because of its pro-homosexual, pro-...

SIKESTON - Sikeston will definitely have parking meters installed in the downtown area due to action taken by the city council at its regular meeting Monday night. CHARLESTON - The assignment of oil leases on 7,9444 acres of land in the Pinhook community to George Bey was recorded here this week and immediately started a flurry of rumors regarding additional oil exploration in Mississippi County...

A collision at 6:30 p.m. Friday halted traffic in the 2300 block of East Malone Avenue while rescue personnel worked at the scene. One of the drivers was air-lifted to St. Francis Medical Center for treatment of injuries. The second driver, reported to be Terry Cole by Miner Police Chief Roger Moore, received minor injuries in the rollover crash. Moore said the accident was still under investigation and no further details were available at press time...

SIKESTON -- While working folk look at holidays and weekends as time off from the job, many thieves see them as opportunities to go to work. With the price of used equipment and scrap metal at an all-time high, equipment owners are being encouraged by law enforcement to take additional care and implement as many strategies as possible to make life harder for equipment thieves...

SIKESTON -- Former Sikeston Bulldog standout Ben Nelson was recently hired to take over the Holcomb baseball program. Nelson graduated from Sikeston High School in 2001 after helping lead the team to a second place finish in Class 3A that year. Nelson, an all-conference player, didn't play baseball in college, but his passion for the game didn't fade...

SIKESTON -- Some job seekers may wish they had a crystal ball to know what to expect during the process from start to finish. But magic isn't what they need at all -- they only need a little preparation and research. Knowledge about the company is a good selling point. "It certainly helps if they show they've done some research on our company and know information about the position and what we do here," said Darryl Minner, human resources coordinator at Associated Electric in New Madrid...

Well, summer is in full swing in the Sikeston/Miner area with a lot of family activities taking place. There is swimming, baseball, fishing and now the Chamber is busy planning a new family activity, our first Rodeo Run. The run will take place Aug. 5 beginning with registration at 6:30 a.m. at the Sikeston Sports Complex Pavilion 1. The run begins at 7:30 a.m. It is a 5K walk/run with a non-competitive mile walk. There will also be a kid's one-...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- WestRidge Place Assisted Living by Americare recently received an award for resident service, during the company's annual meeting in Nashville. WestRidge Place was selected from Americare's 53 assisted living facilities to receive the award based on exemplary quality in the area of Resident Service. ...

CHARLESTON - Cathy Walters and Tracy Williams of the Charleston Rural Development office were recently recognized for their years of service. Walters, presently the Rural Development manager of the local office, has 35 years of service. The Rural Development specialist, William has 15 years of service...

CHARLESTON - A reception is set for July 6 to honor Laura Vance, who will retire at the end of July from her position as associate superintendent of operations of the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston. The reception, which will include refreshments, honoring Ms. Vance will be from 12:30-2 p.m. July 6 at Charleston United Methodist Church, 1700 East Marshall St. The public is invited to attend...

SIKESTON -- Jim Beaird and Mike and Nikki Vaught of Sikeston have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Nicole Beaird, to Cory Blake Goetz, son of Kevin Goetz of Sikeston and Ellen Lingle Wilburn of East Prairie. A graduate of Sikeston High School and Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, the future bride is employed at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. ...

SIKESTON -- Jim and Judy Leigh of Sikeston and Walter Herring of Richmond, Va., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Melody Ann Herring to William Chesley Lyell, son of James Wesley and Bess Lyell of Richmond. A 1990 graduate of Ritenour High School in St. ...

SIKESTON -- Family and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Beotis Hyler are invited to attend an anniversary celebration in honor of the couple at 2 p.m. July 3 at The Clinton Building in Sikeston. Hyler and the former Erma Jean Nicholson were married July 2, 1964. They have 11 children and 56 grandchildren; three children preceded them in death...

Lindley Duncan, daughter of David Duncan and Marcia Duncan, is the Standard Democrat's Calendar Girl for July. Duncan, a finalist in the 2005 Miss Sikeston Contest, graduated from Sikeston High School in May. She plans to attend Arkansas State University in the fall...

SIKESTON -- When Captain "Magic" Valentino Willis was introduced to the assembled group of kids at the First Baptist Church, he marched through the doors and stole the show. Immediately he had captivated the audience with his energy and excitement and his talent with a basketball...

EAST PRAIRIE - After a two month search for a boys basketball coach to replace the departing Jason Irby, East Prairie has found their man. Matt Schonhoff has been hired to take over the boys program. The position had been available since May, when Irby resigned to coach closer to his hometown in Illinois...

SIKESTON - Lindsey Jones and Andrew Robinett are the parents of their second child, first daughter, born at 8:53 a.m. May 30, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Taylor Rae Robinett weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long...