Stories from Tuesday, March 4, 2008

POPLAR BLUFF -- In the Dec. 14 match-up against the Doniphan Dons, the New Madrid County Central Eagles fell by a score of 58-44. Wednesday night, they'll have a chance to avenge that loss, and gain a shot at moving closer to the Final Four in Columbia...

I want to speak out about all the candidates running for president. Out of all the candidates running for president, I have not heard a one saying anything about bringing jobs back or trying to get more jobs. That's what we need, people are hurting. Lots of people have lost their jobs, and can only find low-...

SIKESTON - An alert citizen and the help of the city's camera system enabled law enforcement officers to arrest an individual on the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Most Wanted List. Andrew Washington, 22, of Sikeston, was arrested Monday on four counts of first degree statutory sodomy after DPS was alerted by a individual who recognized Washington from the DPS "Most Wanted" Web page, according to a news release from the Department. ...

SIKESTON -- Monday's added precipitation to already saturated grounds in southeast Missouri will mean more delays for farmers and gardeners. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for area counties beginning Monday afternoon. Heavy, widespread rainfall hit the area late Sunday and early Monday, and the precipitation is predicted to last until later today, said Mary Lamm, hydrologist. ...

SIKESTON -- The first phase of a citywide community trail may be ready for walkers, joggers and bicyclists by the end of this year. During their regular meeting Monday, City Council members approved using $400,000 of the city's Surface Transportation Program funds and $162,000 in local matching funds to build a trail connecting the Kindergarten Center, the Sikeston Sports and Recreation Complex and Veterans Park...

SIKESTON - Old Lady Luck and White, the Puxico center, teamed up last night to defeat the Sikeston Bulldogs 45-37 in a semifinal game in the regional tournament at Dexter before an overflow crowd. --- SIKESTON - Today the Malone Theatre will present "Brute Force" with Burt Lancaster and Charles Bickford...

SIKESTON -- The city will spend about $486,000 on streets and drainage projects this year. Bids for the 2008 Street and Drainage Improvement Program were awarded during the regular City Council meeting Monday. Approved were four bids: asphalt by Apex with Waters Engineering totaling $93,418.55; asphalt by Apex with Lambert Engineering totaling $162,877.10; concrete by Lappe with Waters Engineering totaling $102,906.10; and concrete by Kluesner with Lambert Engineering totaling $80,705.50...

HAYTI - Charges were filed Monday in custody in connection with the stabbing death of a Pemiscot County woman. Christopher Smith, 31, of Hayti is charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of Anita Elizabeth Sims, 42, of Homestown, according to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department. Sims died from an apparent stab wound to the chest on Thursday...

Members of the Seventh and Eighth Grade Center band practice Monday afternoon. The band members will be having their March Madness Concert starting at 7 p.m. at the school on Lindenwood. Over 150 band members will be performing tonight.

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Portageville Lady Bulldogs will clash against the Greenville Lady Bears in Class 3 sectional action Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Poplar Bluff. This meeting will mark the first time in 20 years that the Lady Bulldogs have reached Missouri's sweet sixteen after beating the Kelly Lady Hawks 53-34 in an emotional District 1 finals...

DEXTER - Roger R. Reinbott, 82, died March 3, 2008, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Born Nov. 17, 1925, at Moore Haven, Fla., to the late Charles and Clara Bell Chaney Reinbott, he had been employed with the Army Corp of Engineers where he had worked on a dredge boat. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter and a U.S. Army veteran...

DEXTER - James D. Carney, 69, died March 2, 2008, at the Springfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Born Nov. 26, 1938, at Dexter, to the late James H. and Alice Rebecca Aarant Carney, he had worked as a meat packer and had been a manager of the Astro Bowl in Dexter. A former building inspector for the City of Dexter, he was of the Baptist belief...

CHAFFEE - Virginia Jordan McConnell, 77, died at 10:10 a.m. March 3, 2008, at the Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Born March 5, 1930, at Trumann, Ark., to the late Alvin Eric and Opal Garnet Kitterman Jordan, she was a secretary at Chaffee Grade School for many years. She had worked for Chaffee Head Start for many years before retiring and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chaffee...

ORAN - Thelma Cook, 83, died at 1:20 p.m. March 3, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 29, 1924, at Gideon, to the late Frank Lee and Ethel Jordan Vaughn, she was a homemaker and member of Hooe Baptist Church in Oran. On Dec. 31, 1948, she married Delmar Cleave Cook, who survives...

DEXTER - Pallbearers for services conducted Monday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, for Vickie Short, 47, who died on Feb. 29, 2008, were: Ricky House Jr., Ross Wolters, Donald Inman, Ronnie Brown, Tim Short and Kenny House.

PARMA - Pallbearers for funeral services conducted on Monday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Parma for Flossie Beaird, 88, who died on Feb. 29, 2008, were: Johnny Chalk, Bob Chalk, Ron Culp, Jerry Garland, Keith Garland and Jim Garland.

DEXTER - Eloise Hart died March 3, 2008, at her home in Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter.

DEXTER -- Johnny Gilbert Earl Grubbs, 87, died Feb. 29, 2008, at his home. Born July 26, 1920, in Essex, to the late Callie and Pearl Ellis Grubbs, he attended Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church. A former carpet layer for 23 years with Morgan Furniture in Dexter, he was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II...

DEXTER - Pallbearers for services conducted on Monday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, for Arzie "Junior" Baldwin Jr., 76, who died on Feb. 28, 2008, were: Sam Bruschi, Bill Baldwin Jr., Tony Burdin, Jeff Baldwin, Jeff Shelton, David Swinger, T.J. Baldwin, Chris Baldwin and Rickie Baldwin...

BERNIE -- Rick Calbert, 55, formerly of Malden, died March 1, 2008, at his home. Born May 1, 1952, in Crenshaw, Miss., to Edith Imogene Frazier Calbert of Sikeston and the late Jack Calbert, he had been employed with Federal Mogul in Malden. He was a member of the National Guard and the Church of the Latter Day Saints...