Stories from Thursday, July 6, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -Laretha Virginia Harris, 83, formerly of Sikeston and Cape Girardeau, Mo. died July 3, 2006, in Memphis. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

SIKESTON - Willard "W.J." McMikle, 82, died at 6 a.m. July 5, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 1, 1924, in New Madrid County, to the late Joseph Bernie and Sally Katherine Black McMikle, other than residing in Tallulah, La. from 1963...

PUXICO - Toni Evans, 47, died July 5, 2006, at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born March 15, 1959, in Dexter, daughter of the late Clifton S. and Lydia Lois Crank Leirer, she and her husband were the former owners of B.J.'s III in Puxico. ...

SIKESTON -- Kenneth Carter, 81, died July 2, 2006, at his home in Sikeston. Born May 10, 1925, in Humboldt, Tenn., son of the late Homer Haddock and Lottie Williford Carter, he had lived in Sikeston since 1961 and was a sales representative for Bruce Terminex for many years; he had also worked for Midway Wholesale Florist of Sikeston. A Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he served aboard the USS Tuscaloosa as a boatswains mate from 1941 to 1945...

DEXTER - Kenneth E. Clark, 75, died July 4, 2006, at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 22, 1930, in Gideon, son of the late Earl and Flava Cornman Clark, he was a former truck driver for Southeast Co-Op Service. He was a member of the Clark Family Gospel Singers and affiliated with the Dudley Community Church in Dudley...

SIKESTON -- Joyce L. Collins, 53, died at 2:46 p.m. July 3, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 20, 1952, in Philadelphia, Miss., daughter of the late John and Margaret Lewis Hickman, she had been a CNA Nurse at Claycliff Nursing Home in Brinkley, Ark. for nine years and was of the Baptist belief...

DEXTER - Pallbearers for funeral services conducted on Wednesday at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter for Willard "Bill" Green, 78, who died on July 1, 2006, were: Steven Green, Michael Green, Paul Slinkard, Tony Courter, Troy Stafford and Zac Rainey...

DUTCHTOWN -- Rebecca Marie Garner Estes Hinkle, 90, died July 5, 2006, at a family home in Dutchtown. Born May 8, 1916, in Sank, daughter of the late Thomas Garner and Estella Wooldridge, she helped work on the farm for many years and was a homemaker. She was a member of Greenbrier Assembly of God Church near Greenbrier...

SIKESTON - Oren Kenneth Whiteside, 85, died at 1:30 a.m. July 5, 2006, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born June 3, 1921, in McClure, Ill., son of the late Cecil Orville and Belva Bradley Whiteside, he was a self-employed auto body repairman. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during World War II, and a member of First General Baptist Church in Scott City and the American Legion Henry Meldrum Post...

LILBOURN - Anna Lucille Frala, 87, died July 5, 2006, at Beverly Healthcare in New Madrid. Born June 6, 1919, in Marston, daughter of the late Ted and Minnie Fires Roe, she was a member of the Church of God in Lilbourn. On July 8, 1939 she married Russell Edward Frala, who preceded her in death on July 19, 1985...

BLOOMFIELD - Barbara Ann Nard, 64, died July, 3, 2006, near Bloomfield. Born April 14, 1942, daughter of the late Cleveland James and Bernice Drane, she had resided in Southeast Missouri for twelve years and was of the Baptist belief. Survivors include: two daughters, Dee Burfield and Natasha Nard of Dexter; three brothers, Joe Drane, Buddy Drane and Jimmy Drane of the state of Michigan; three sisters, Betty, Debbie and Pat of the state of Michigan; six grandchildren; and a special friend, William Davis of Dexter.. ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Robert F. Welborn, 65, died July 5, 2006, at Chaffee. Arrangements are incomplete with the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

SIKESTON -- In Southeast Missouri, how much it rains depends on where you're standing. At least that's what agronomist Anthony Ohmes always says. Sporadic rain fell earlier this week and brought anywhere from a drizzle to up to an inch in some areas, depending on water holding capacity and soil type...

SIKESTON -- So how about that weather? State coordinators for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network are looking for volunteers in this area to record and report the local precipitation. "CoCoRaHS was started by the state climatologist in Colorado in 1998 after a devastating flood," said Tony Lupo, a professor of atmospheric science for the University of Missouri-Columbia. ...

SIKESTON -- An Oran woman was taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau by the Air Evac Lifeteam for moderate injuries after a single-vehicle accident Tuesday. The accident happened at about 11:18 a.m. on Highway 61 at Calvary Street, according to Capt. John Martin of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden, right, talks to an employee of Atmos Energy Wednesday afternoon about a gas leak which occurred in the area of the 200 block of North Frisco. The 200 block of North Frisco and the area of West North Street between Davis Boulevard and North West Street was closed from just after 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. No injuries were reported in the incident...

SIKESTON - A truckload of lumber comprised of 2,500 square board feet, stolen from the Railhaven Courts some weeks ago while the building was in construction, was returned to its owner, Joe Cravens, Friday morning. SIKESTON - The Kiwanis Club swimming program, now in its sixth year, has 280 youngsters enrolled, the largest group ever. The three classes give every child from 6 years and older, an opportunity to learn to swim...

About two months ago I went to Wal-Mart and spent about $30 on new flowers and items to go on my Dad's grave. Well, about two weeks ago I went to visit my Dad's grave and everything was gone. To the person or persons who is stealing stuff off of our loved ones' graves, you just don't know how disrespectful and downgrading that is! How would you feel if someone did one of your loved ones grave like that? That's all we have left now is memories of our loved ones. ...

As a smoker, I pay a good bit of attention to news that involves health and smoking and any new methods to help quit the nasty habit. Thus far, there are ample products on the market designed to help you end the smoking habit but there's also limited success with the current crop of cures...

Nathan May paints the safety barrier around the outfield fence at the National League baseball field Wednesday morning. The Sikeston 10-12-year-old district tournament will begin today.

Exactly what part of the federal law for crossing safety funds that says "the funds will not be spent solely for the railroads benefit" does MoDOT not understand? If the railroad can afford to pay the CEO over $20 million a year why are WE paying millions for a railroad overpass so the railroad can cut jobs?...

Sikeston Area Youth Baseball League 7-8 year-old "B" All-Stars are: (front row) Wyatt Pratt, Austin Dill, Austin Green and Steve Holman. (middle row) Camden Sapp, Caleb Watkins, Sam Cox, McKenzie Worth, Alex Comstock and Austin McMillan. (back row) coaches Andy Comstock, Keith Sapp, Mike worth and Randy Dill...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Post 114 Junior American Legion team captured the SIU Wood Bat Tournament championship over the 4th of July weekend. Post 114 swept five games on the way to the tournament title, opening with a 6-2 win over DuQuoin, Ill., in pool play. Continuing in pool play, Sikeston pounded Wood River, Ill., 15-1, then handed Mattoon, Ill., an 11-4 defeat while advancing to the semifinals...

SIKESTON - The Junior American Legion District 14 baseball tournament got underway on Wednesday at VFW Stadium in Sikeston. The double elimination tournament features six teams from the area and the championship game is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. Sikeston Post 114 received the No.1 seed and earned a bye after posting a regular season record of 30-6. ...

The King's Highway Chapter of DAR would like for each person to focus on the date July 8, 1776, that changed the world 230 years ago when the Liberty Bell was rung from the tower of Independence Hall after the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence...