Stories from Friday, January 5, 2007

SIKESTON - John Sanders, 74, died Jan. 4, 2007, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born Dec. 28, 1932, in Graviett, Ark., to the late John L. and Tiny Martin Sanders, he served in the U.S. Army and had worked for the Parker Roofing Company in Sikeston...

SHAWNEE, Kan. -- Ruth Charlene "Cricket" Warren Merrick entered into eternal life at 7:14 p.m. Jan. 3, 2007, at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee. A devoted wife and mother, Cricket and her family were active in the First Baptist Church of Charleston, Mo., and most recently, the First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Mo...

SIKESTON -- Linda Sue Ramsey, 63, died Jan. 4, 2007, at her home in Sikeston. Born Nov. 8, 1943, near Bertrand, daughter of the late Jim and Carrie Carlyle Western, she was a housewife and had previously worked at the McMullin Mini Mart north of Sikeston. She was a 1961 graduate of Sikeston High School...

DEXTER -- Pallbearers for services held Thursday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter for Mary E. Welker, 79, who died Jan. 1, 2007, were: Philip Seyer, Matt Seyer, Dustin Eftink, Scott Henson, Blake Henson and Jim Henson.

CHARLESTON -- Elma Yvette Mitchell, 75, died Jan. 4, 2007. at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Aug. 25, 1931, in Providence, R.I., daughter of the late Clay William and Mary Leota Kirkindal Hudkins, she recently moved to Charleston after living most of her life in California. She had served as one of the WAVES for the U.S. Navy...

SPRING LAKE, Mich. - Robert "Bob" Neal Sawyer, 49, died Jan. 4, 2007, at his home. Born Dec. 13, 1957, in Risco, Mo., to Harice and Cleola Evans Sawyer of Doniphan, Mo., he was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. On Oct. 20, 2003, in Spring Lake, he married Laura Olson, who survives of the home...

CHAFFEE - Misty Cline and Philip Wilhite are the parents of their second child, second daughter, born at 5:22 p.m. Nov. 15, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Paige Lauren Wilhite weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 20 inches long...

Sikeston, Mo., should be very proud of these two young racers, Hunter Schuerenberg and Daron Clayton. I live 20 miles north of Dayton, Ohio, and this past summer I made numerous trips to nearby Indiana watching both of these fine gentlemen race many times. They are definitely two of the best young drivers in the country right now. They not only have the ability to race with the best, they also are very polite and friendly young gentlemen...

SIKESTON -- When the Historic Midtown Development Group hosts its second annual town hall meeting next month, it will have lots of news to share with the community, namely its executive director. Committees will also give reports, which will "include a capsule of what has been accomplished during the past year," said Robin Pace, president of the not-for-profit organization...

BENTON - The 2007 Personal Property Assessment lists are in the mail. Scott County Assessor Teresa Houchin said all property owners including businesses must report all personal property owned or held on Jan. 1 to the Assessor's office. The deadline for reporting the property is March 1...

Mike Bohannon, former Land Clearance Redevelopment Commission chairman; Trey Hardy, City of Sikeston code enforcement supervisor and community redevelopment coordinator; A.C. James, demolition contractor; and David Ziegenhorn, Land Clearance Redevelopment Commission chairman, look over 800 W. ...

Jiggs Moore, Sikeston Park Department supervisor, and Ricky Skelton, a Sikeston Public Works employee, load live Christmas trees into a Pullen Brothers truck Thursday morning. The Christmas trees will be used as fish shelters in ponds and lakes in the area...

CHARLESTON -- Another road grader operator could smooth things out in Mississippi County. During the regular County Commission meeting Thursday, Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said he is "very dissatisfied" with what the county road and bridge department was able to achieve in 2006...

SIKESTON - A cold snap dropped in to Sikeston the past few days. Thursday morning's temperature registered at 18 degrees. SIKESTON - The second semester at Sikeston High School will begin Jan. 16. Any student who plans to enroll in the semester should call the high school office for an appointment with a counselor...

I want to know if our banks are above laws. A woman buys a home from a local bank and mold is discovered. Her payments are current. The bank hires a local cleaning company. After they tear out the floors, ceiling, unhook the water heater, the bank stops the job because of the cost. ...

BENTON - The Kelly Lady Hawks basketball team defeated the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs at home on Thursday night, 55-36. The Lady Hawks forced Sikeston to commit 31 turnovers in the contest and came up with 16 steals with solid full-court pressure. "I was a little worried heading into this game," said Kelly head coach Rod McQuerter. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Dexter Bearcats lost the game to the favored Notre Dame Bulldogs, but it was the way they lost that upset coach Chris Trimmer. "Honestly, this is the first game this year that I'm truly disappointed," said Trimmer, whose Bearcats fell to 3-7, 0-4 in the SEMO Conference. ...

SIKESTON -- After struggling through the Dyersburg Christmas Tournament, the Sikeston Bulldogs basketball team felt relieved to get back in the friendly confines of the Field House on Thursday against South Pemiscot. The meeting between the two Bulldog squads was the first since the 1990-91 season, but the result was much the same as Sikeston dominated its southern neighbors 77-39...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston 8th and 9th grade basketball teams swept Cape Central on Thursday night at the Sikeston Middle School. Sikeston's freshmen, playing without its top two scorers, defeated Cape Central 59-36 while the 8th grade team rallied to beat Cape's 8th grade 32-31...

BENTON -- An observant Scott County Sheriff's deputy on routine patrol arrested an Oran man wanted on a drug-related charge and discovered a methamphetamine lab in the process. Deputy Scott Skinner was on patrol serving civil process Tuesday when he spotted James W. Hendrix, 59, driving a vehicle, Sheriff Rick Walter said Wednesday. Hendrix was wanted on a Scott County warrant for attempt to manufacture a controlled substance,...

CHARLESTON -- Law enforcement in Mississippi County will need to increase its revenue or cut expenses to make ends meet, according to the county's budget officer. County Clerk Junior DeLay presented county commissioners with an overview of the county's major funds for 2006 during the regular County Commission meeting Thursday...