Stories from Friday, November 14, 2008

SIKESTON -- Amber Croney and Michael Nelson are the parents of their second child, first daughter, born at 8:35 a.m. Sept. 15, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Payton Cheyanne Nelson weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long...

BELL CITY -- Gary Rhodes, 52, died Nov. 13, 2008, at his home. Born Oct. 27, 1956, at Chaffee, to Pearl Burton Rhodes of Vanduser and the late Grant Rhodes, he had lived all his life in Vanduser and Bell City. He had worked the past 20 years for EMCON Technologies in Dexter...

CHARLESTON -- Junior E. Harris, 83, died at 7:20 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008, at the Charleston Manor. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Fadedrick Lamont Holmes, 18, died Nov. 7, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Born Aug. 3, 1990, in Carbondale, Ill., son of Gloria Holmes of Cape Girardeau and Serle Thomas Sr. of Cairo, Ill., he was a member of Freewill Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Genie Lamar Williams, 38, formerly of Cairo, died Nov. 10, 2008 Born July 23, 1970, in Cairo, to Arnetta Garrett Williams and the late Genie Williams Sr., he was a 1987 graduate of Cairo High School and attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he was a member of the football team. He was employed as an over the road truck driver...

PORTAGEVILLE -- David R. Harris, 88, died Nov. 10, 2008, at the Portageville Nursing Center. Born Dec. 6, 1919, in Lexington, Miss., he was the son of the late Sebron and Eliza Sample Harris. In 1952, at Lexington, he married Mary Jones who survives of the home...

PUXICO -- Jerry Edward Park, 65, died Nov. 13, 2008, at the John J. Pershing Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born Jan. 17,, 1943, in Oran, son of J. D. and Edith Griffin Parks of Puxico, he had lived in Texas for seventeen years where he owned his own mobile home service business in Midland, Texas. ...

DEXTER -- Eva Geneva Pauline Ross Stewart, 87, died Nov. 13, 2008, at her home. Born Jan. 31, 1921, in Puxico, to the late Charles Monroe Ross and Grace Louise Ella Kanady Ross, she was the oldest and a very active member of the New Bethel General Baptist Church, which she joined on Aug. ...

SIKESTON - Six Sikeston men received their 32nd degrees in the Scottish Rite in ceremonies held in St. Louis last week. The men were Walter Rayburn, Dennis Cline, Paul Schuerenberg, George Proffer, Bill DeKriek and O.T. Elder. SIKESTON - Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Winters of Sikeston Route 3 were honored on their 25th wedding anniversary with an open house Saturday. They were married in New Madrid on Oct. 23, 1943...

Rush Limbaugh has said he will begin rebuilding the movement by calling out disloyal Republicans. Rush, my friend, in the words of Ronald Reagan, you are part of the problem, not part of the solution. What ever came out of the Topix situation? Is there a petition? I am trying to tackle the same battle in our hometown. The mayor has even asked me for help in this matter...

ULLIN, Ill. -- The Shawnee Community College Saints ran their record to 4-0 Wednesday night, defeating the Forest Park Highlanders 92-91. The Saints fell behind early as offensive rebounding by Forest Park helped the Highlanders build a lead, but Shawnee battled back to lead 47-41 at the half. The second half was like a heavyweight fight with both teams exchanging blows but the Saints used a suffocating defense in the final three minutes to help get the win...

NEW MADRID -- Coming into Saturday afternoon's quarterfinal matchup with the Cardinal Ritter Lions on the gridiron, the New Madrid County Central Eagles are prepared for whatever they may encounter. The Eagles have seen just about every type of offense this season from the run-and-gun to the spread offense that few teams possess, but head coach Arlen Pixley believes Saturday's game will be more interesting than most...

SIKESTON -- A vehicle pursuit that lasted about 20 minutes early this morning resulted in an arrest. According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, a call came in at 12:11 a.m. to report a disturbance at Huck's, located at 823 E. Malone. When officers arrived, a pursuit began, with the suspects leading them through several city streets, then traveling south on Highway 61 and into Matthews...

HAYWOOD CITY -- The former mayor of Haywood City and longtime area minister, the Rev. Roosevelt "Deddy" Johnson, died Nov. 10, 2008, at his home following an extended battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 81. Born Nov. 30, 1927, in Helena, Ark., to the late Willie and Sally Benford Johnson, he was a "man with a contagious smile, unique heart and intelligence who wore many hats," recalled his daughter. ...

CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County officials will have to wait for quarterly tax receipts before they will know if the county's 911 income is dropping significantly or not. Commissioners discussed 911 funding and recent 911 equipment purchases during their regular meeting Thursday...

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BENTON -- When it comes to high-profile trials, a change of venue is often needed. But it's also quite costly. Scott County commissioners received a bill from Boone County during their regular meeting Thursday morning for jury expenses for the trial of Vincent Minner of Matthews held earlier this year on a change of venue. The total costs were $11,010.66...