Stories from Sunday, January 22, 2012

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Billy Ray Warren, 75, died Jan. 19, 2012, at his home. Born March 22, 1936, in Blytheville, Ark., to the late Marvin A. and Nadine Woods Warren, he was a retired self-employed truck driver. On July 31, 1958, he married Rose Marie Carpenter who preceded him in death on Nov. 23, 2005...

SHERWOOD, Ark. -- Jackie Eugene Arington, 67, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died at 8 p.m. Jan. 19, 2012, in the St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock. Born Feb. 13, 1944, in East Prairie, to Vashti Miller Arington of East Prairie and the late John Wyley Arington, he lived in Arkansas for the past several years. He was a retired truck driver and of the Baptist belief...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Joyce A. Ditto, 45, died at 1:08 p.m. Jan. 20, 2012, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is after 5 p.m. Sunday at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday. Online condolences may be made at www.shelbyfuneral.com...

CHARLESTON -- Dr. James Franklin Cooper, 77, formerly of St. Louis, died Jan. 19, 2012, at his residence in Charleston. He was born Jan. 24, 1934, in Charleston to the late Rev. Allen Britten Cooper and May Lawrence Cooper. He lived in Mississippi County and was educated in the Charleston public schools, graduating from Charleston High School in 1952. ...

SIKESTON -- Billy Vinson, 74, died Jan. 22, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

LOLA, Ky. -- Paul Manker, 77, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died Jan. 20, 2012, at Salem. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Gilberts Funeral Home in Marion, with services at 11 a.m. Monday.

It comes as no surprise that Sikeston still has a problem with substandard housing. By now, everyone knows the background in the housing issue locally that resulted in the formation of the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority. The LCRA was charged with the responsibility - funded with a sales tax approved by voters - to address the housing problem and begin the task of removing problem properties...

SIKESTON -- With a combination of hot shooting and pressure defense, the Sikeston Bulldogs defeated Kennett 69-50 on homecoming night at the Sikeston Field House. The Indians came into the contest as one of the hottest teams in the area, winning eight straight games, including the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament championship...

CHARLESTON -- Charleston's Jamaul Gray didn't care who was standing under the rim, he skied above Caruthersville to digest rebound after rebound. Gray displayed yet just another area in which the Bluejays totally command their opposition. The 6-1 senior hauled in 14 rebounds, sometimes out-leaping Caruthersville's sophomore sensation Darrell Monroe, in Charleston's 75-60 win at Charleston High School on Friday night...

CHAFFEE -- Scott County Central's dominance in the Scott-Miss Tournament continued on Friday, but not without a scare from Scott City. On a night when Scott City's Zach Cotner scored his 1,000th point, the Rams couldn't pull off the upset, falling to Scott Central 76-71, giving the Braves their sixth-straight championship...

DEXTER -- Dexter senior Tyler Miller drained a 3-pointer with four seconds left in double overtime to lift the Bearcats to a 61-60 win over New Madrid County Central on Friday night. Dexter led for most of the game and held a 41-38 lead after three quarters. The Eagles fought back however and tied the game and had a chance to win the game in regulation but came up short, leaving the game tied 50-50...

Kelly McCoy of Machen Electric in Dexter installs exterior lighting in the restroom facility for the city's newest park located on the corner of West North Street and Petty Street where the old Compress building was located. After considering several recommendations by residents in the area for the names, Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority board members selected Lincoln Memorial Park...

SIKESTON -- Now through Feb. 17, nominees will be accepted for the 2012 Honors Board installation by the Parks and Recreation Division. Since 1986, 39 individuals have been honored by having their names placed on the Honors Board in recognition of their outstanding volunteer contributions to youth programs in the community including baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. The Honors Board is located near the Ingram Road entrance to the Recreation Complex...

SIKESTON -- It's time to put a team together and begin training. Registration is now open for the 14th Sikeston Corporate Games scheduled for June 10-30. Signups will be accepted until city offices close on Feb. 24. Jiggs Moore, parks division director for the city of Sikeston, described the event held every other year as "a good opportunity for internal team building -- not to mention a little exercise -- through friendly competition with other area companies."...

NEW MADRID -- After a year of recovery and renovations, New Madrid County Clerk Clement Cravens is looking forward to a quiet year in regards to the county's budget. "It will be business as usual," said Cravens, adding, "Though it never really is usual."...

Senior Keyonna Blissett reacts after being announced as the 2012 Winter Homecoming Queen on Friday night at the Sikeston Field House. Applauding Blissett's win is her escort Keldon Warfield.

NEW MADRID - Those four little words she uttered were ones some New Madrid County citizens anticipated while others dreaded. "You've got jury duty," Virginia King, told countless residents through the years. On Jan. 1, that duty fell to someone else in the New Madrid County Circuit Clerk's office. After more than 30 years, King is almost bidding the office goodbye -- although retired, until April she is staying on board helping prepare court records for microfilming...