Stories from Sunday, October 12, 2008

MINER -- Dressbarn will host a Teacher VIP (Very Indulgent Party) event for area teachers from 3 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the store located at 100 Outlet Drive. The shopping celebration is an in-store shopping party that allows dressbarn associates to indulge teachers by giving them undivided attention, celebrity service and additional savings. Each guest will receive 15 percent off their entire purchase...

NEW MADRID -- In early September, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), along with the U.S. Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Council, announced that Kontek Industries, Inc. was selected to receive one of its 2008 Annual HUBZone Awards for obtaining the second largest HUBZone contract awarded in the Midwest for FY07. The $5.2 million contract was awarded to Kontek by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a military construction project at Ft. Riley, Kan...

LAKE CITY, Fla. -- Former Standard-Democrat staff member Todd Wilson has been promoted to publisher of the Lake City Reporter, a daily newspaper in Lake City, Fla. He took over as the newspaper's chief executive on July 21. Before his promotion, Wilson served as editor of the Lake City Reporter since 2004. From 1989-1995, he held positions as a reporter, city editor and sports editor at the Standard-Democrat in Sikeston, Mo...

By Michelle Felter michellef@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A new set of May Brothers is making an entrance into the Sikeston business scene. Garrett and Gavin May are the sons of Alfred and Tanya May. Alfred May co-owns a fireworks franchise that has been in business for almost 40 years. The two operate the Sikeston business together, while Alfred May and his two sons have worked over the years to expand the business to other cities across the Midwest...

SIKESTON -- Kendill Marie McCollom and Nathaniel Britt Pullen were united in marriage during a 6 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008, ceremony at the Coach House Inn in Sikeston. Larry Fraser, pastor, performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McCollom Jr. of Sikeston and the bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Pullen of Wyatt...

SIKESTON -- Valerie Ann Haman and Joseph Caldwell "Cal" Crader were united in marriage April 19, 2008, at Sikeston's First Christian Church. Mary McCord, minister of First Christian, performed the double-ring ceremony. Parents of the bride are Rodney and Margaret McConnell of Sikeston and Dr. Jerry and Teri Haman of Kirksville; grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. James Swiney of New Madrid, Dorothy McConnell of Kansas City and the late Mr. and Mrs. John Haman and Tobe McConnell...

KENNETT -- The Sikeston Bulldogs football team surged past the previously undefeated Kennett Indians 45-7 Friday night on the road in Kennett. However, the Bulldogs offensive game plan looked uncertain Friday afternoon. With starting quarterback Charlie Bohannon sidelined this week with an injury and backup Sam Erwin out with a fever, Sikeston gave the nod to junior Jordan Williams at quarterback. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- It only took MC Williams seven plays to rack up 207 yards as he was a key part to East Prairie's 56-30 victory on Friday evening against the visiting Portageville Bulldogs. The Eagles' feature back rushed for three touchdowns in the first quarter alone, accumulating over 100 yards before 12 minutes had worn off the clock...

DELTA -- The Oran Lady Eagles advanced to the Class 1, District 1 championship game on Friday, doing so in comeback fashion against the Naylor Lady Eagles 11-5 in the district semifinal. After falling behind by two runs early in the first inning, Oran gained one run back in the bottom of the second but then fell behind even further when Naylor scored two more runs in the third inning...

BENTON -- The Kelly Lady Hawks moved one step further towards a district title on Friday afternoon using a combination of stellar hitting and the arm of Danielle Dock to cruise past the Scott City Rams 15-0 after four innings. "We hit extremely well," Kelly head coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "The girls came out swinging. We got our timing down and laid it in there."...

CHARLESTON -- After the very much improved performance that the Charleston Bluejays had against the Dexter Bearcats last week, they could not carry that over into their game against the undefeated Fredericktown Blackcats this Friday as they fell 49-6...

What does it say when both candidates running for president have unfavorable ratings above 50 percent? Maybe we need to call a mulligan on this election and ask both political parties to reconvene their conventions and come up with better candidates...

Government is all about money and political power and greed. It does not consider what is good for American people - the millions of people who work hard each day to support those in power who think only of themselves. This includes the retired persons who do not have a way to hear their voices heard by the government. ...

SIKESTON - Dr. and Mrs. William Critchlow of Sikeston are parents of a son born Tuesday afternoon at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. PORTAGEVILLE - Voters Tuesday approved annexation of 160 acres in the city limits 474-62. SIKESTON - Sgt. ...

Two young Eagles fans take a break from the Homecoming game to show off their 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink' shirts East Prairie High School sold at Friday night's football game. Students chose cancer awareness as this year's homecoming theme. Results of the Eagles' victory are in today's sports section...

SIKESTON -- An alternative care site hospital with use of the new medical cache equipment will be deployed Tuesday at the Sikeston Armory. The equipment and supplies are designed to equip a hospital to provide basic medical care during a disaster. The public is welcome to tour the alternate hospital at the Armory from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday...

SIKESTON -- E-mails are circulating for people to be aware when grocery shopping in the late evening hours. The e-mails allege someone is following people home after shopping, then robbing them. Those in law enforcement are unsure if that really is the case, but are taking the opportunity to remind people to be aware of their surroundings...

SIKESTON -- When Neal E. Boyd was pronounced winner of the NBC show "America's Got Talent," quite a few doors opened. And he's working to make sure he walks through every one he can. "This is a big moment in my life, and I don't know how long it's going to last," Boyd said. "I truly have to lay the foundation of a career."...

Top: A student from Anchor Academy in Vanduser attempts to lasso a bull from a makeshift horse at Beggs Family Farm near Blodgett. At left, students from St. Vincent's School in Cape Girardeau ring the bell after completing the rope maze. The farm, which features several activities and a 12-acre corn maze depicting the 100th anniversary of the Model T Ford, is open from 10 a.m. ...

SIKESTON -- Margaret Thomas, 75, died Oct. 10, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

CANALOU - Roy Bernard English, 82, died at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 10, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born July 18, 1926, in Canalou to the late N.C. and Velda Hart Allen, he was a U.S. Army veteran serving in World War II and of the Protestant belief. A retired farmer, he had been employed by Lois Newman Farms...

SOUTHERN SHORES, N.C. -- Nancy Susan Whtiehead Risko, 61, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died at 1 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008, at the Britthaven of the Outer Banks Nursing Facility at Southern Shores. Born Feb. 26, 1947, in Mississippi County, Mo., to the late William C. ...

SIKESTON - Lawrence "Bud" Fugate, 65, died Oct. 10, 2008, at his home in Sikeston. Born Oct. 27, 1942, in Morehouse, son of the late Orby Lawrence and Flora (Cole) Fugate, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Calvary and stationed in Germany. He had worked as an air quality control foreman at Noranda Aluminum...

MOREHOUSE - Opal Bernice Brashears, 79, died Oct. 9, 2008, at the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 5, 1929, in Lamar, Ark., to the late Bradley and Anna (Grace) Carter. On Dec. 26, 1954, she married Billy Lee Brashears, who preceded her in death June 30, 1986...

SIKESTON -- Jerry Webster Helmes, 66, died Oct. 9, 2008, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Sikeston. Born March 23, 1942, in Anniston, son of the late Elsie Lavern (Robison) Helmes, he was of the Baptist belief, a member of the Harley Owners Group "HOG" and the Sikeston Masonic Lodge. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during Vietnam, and he was owner and operator of Helmes Quick Sack for 27 years before retiring...