Stories from Thursday, December 21, 2006

NEW MADRID - Mr. Bennett Collins Commer, a resident of New Madrid, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006. Mr. Commer was born Dec. 18, 1921, in Pope, Miss., to William Andrew Commer and Maggie Pearl Commer. Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Commer enrolled at Mississippi State University. ...

SIKESTON -- Carl Eugene "Gene" Phillips, 67, died at 12:40 a.m. Dec. 21, 2006, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Peters. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel of Sikeston.

PARMA -- Pallbearers at services conducted Wednesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Helen Cravens, 87, who died Dec. 17, 2006, were: Bill Cravens, Oscar Sapp, Jerry Chaney, Mike Cullum, Donnie Cullum and Robert Stultz.

DEXTER - Glenda J. Capps, 79, died Dec. 17, 2006, in Tulsa, Okla. Born June 3, 1927, in Caledonia, Miss., daughter of the late O.H. and Mamie Caple Stark, she had been a resident of Tulsa since 2001 but lived most of her life in Dexter where she was a member of the First Baptist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary...

DEXTER -- Daisy Deem died Dec. 20, 2006, in the Cypress Point Healthcare at Dexter. Born at Brookfield, daughter of the late Edward "Ned" and Kathryn Kelly Hubbard, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter, the Order of Eastern Star 311 and the Women's Business Club. She was past-...

SIKESTON -- Willie Jean "Billie" Martin, 82, died at 6:55 a.m. Dec. 20, 2006, at Miner Nursing Center. Born Feb. 13, 1924, in Matthews, daughter of the late Albert and Effie Widdows Cox, she was a housewife and a homemaker. She was of the Baptist belief...

SIKESTON -- Elzie John Pulliam, 89, died Dec. 19, 2006, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born July 31, 1917, in Pocahontas, Ark., son of the late Arlon and Emma Wilson Pulliam, he was a farmer before retiring. He is survived by one sister, Nadine Giesing of Jacksonville, Fla.; and nieces and nephews...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Opal M. Foster, 89, died Dec. 20, 2006, at the Portageville Nursing Center. Born Nov. 12, 1917, in Tennessee, daughter of the late William Morton and Mary Ellen Mansel Powell, she was the retired owner/operator of Jitney Grocery Store in Portageville and was a member of the Hayward Baptist Church...

CHAFFEE -- Robert Eugene "Bob" Redfern, 77, died at 7:48 a.m. Dec. 19, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 14, 1929, in Chaffee, to the late Robert H. and Iris Eileen Proffer, he was a self-employed electrician and also formerly owned Ace Trash Service and Ace Package Store, both in Chaffee. Also he was employed by Wosley Investigation as a security guard. He was a member of the Chaffee American Legion Post 389 and the Chaffee V.F.W. Post 3127...

CROWDER -- Lorene A. Bennett, 86, died Dec. 20, 2006, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born June 5, 1920, in Walcot, Ark., daughter of the late Wilford Edward and Minnie M. Sturgeon Dial, she was a housewife and homemaker. On Jan. 11, 1941, in Benton, she married Elmer Bennett, who preceded her in death on Nov. 14, 1983...

CATRON -- Jon Noel Stahl, 71, died Dec. 20, 2006, at his home. Born May 31, 1935, in LaValle, son of the late Chauncy and Daphne Haughey Stahl, he had lived all his life in the Catron area and was a member of the Catron Baptist Church. On March 2, 1958, in Woodlandville, he married Glenda Wade who survives of the home...

BENTON -- Essie Marie Ray, 81, formerly of East Prairie, died at 2:15 Dec. 19, 2006, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born April 15, 1925, at East Prairie, daughter of the late John Louis and Ethel Gertrude Woods Buttery, she was a member of Unity Baptist Church in Benton...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents has elected Brad Bedell of Sikeston as its new president. Cape Girardeau lawyer Al Spradling III was elected as vice president of the board. Bedell succeeds John Tlapek, whose term on the board expires Dec. 31. Tlapek, of Cape Girardeau, will continue to serve on the board until his replacement is named by Gov. Matt Blunt and confirmed by the Missouri Senate, school officials said in announcing the board changes...

Why would a babe be in a manger on Missouri Street? I thought babes were supposed to be in appropriate places like Hooters. Obviously, you've been naughty this year! I'm calling in reference to the SpeakOut about single women who wish to have married men over. ...

NEW MADRID -- A Hayti woman died of injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday in New Madrid County. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 4:05 p.m. on U.S. Highway 61 at Interstate 55, three miles south of New Madrid, the accident occurred as southbound motorist Ashley N. Rogers, 20, of Hayti turned into the path of the pickup truck driven by Larry G. Shy, 59, of Chaffee...

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SIKESTON -- A fleet of fire trucks and squad cars out on the town typically means there has been a fire or accident. But they signaled something different Wednesday -- the arrival of Jack Frost. Make that Operation Jack Frost, what this year's Christmas warrant roundup was dubbed. Twelve suspects were arrested Wednesday afternoon in the roundup, with 11 found in Sikeston and one in Scott County...

BENTON -- After eight years as Scott County's chief executive officer, Presiding County Commissioner Martin Priggel is ready to hand over the reins. Priggel's last day as presiding commissioner will be Dec. 31 with his last County Commission meeting being Thursday...

SIKESTON - The Oscar Carroll home, 371 N. Kingshighway, will be featured in the January issue of Better Homes and Gardens. SIKESTON - In one hour today, the Sikeston Elks Club collected $180 to combat muscular dystrophy. The lodge set up a roadblock near the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 60 near the International Shoe Factory. Nine club members, wearing signs depicting afflicted children, asked drivers for donations...

SIKESTON - Students at Taekwondo Advantage recently spent an exhaustive Saturday afternoon testing for advancement in their chosen martial art of taekwondo. Taekwondo is Korea's national sport and loosely translated means "the way of smashing with foot and hand." Taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility and stamina...

In behalf of the First Church of God in Vanduser, Mo., the congreation would like to say a big thank you for all the people who supported us the last three and a half years with our Thursday night dinners. Without you all we would never had seen our vision to come true to build a Family Life Center for our community...

PERRYVILLE -- St. Vincent fell to 3-2 with a loss at home against Oran Tuesday. Chase Seyer led Oran with 23 points and Robert Lange added 14 points. The Indians were led by Gregory Finger with 12 points. Chris Fischer added 10 points. DELTA -- Josh DeBrock and Dallas Tew scored 14 points apiece to lead the Hawks to a road win on Tuesday...