Stories from Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Having written this column for nearly 35 years, I'm reminded that my tone was not always political. No Carter bashing in those early years. No Reagan fawning. Even Bill Clinton's drama went virtually unnoticed - at least in the world of this minor column...

I used to think that Internet dating was something computer nerds did in their taped-at-the-nose, horn-rimmed glasses. But then I became single and realized there was a whole other world out there I didn't realize. It wasn't that meeting girls in bars wasn't successful. I met plenty of girls in bars but they all seemed to be suffering from the disease. I'm not sure of the name, but it affects both the eyes and their ears. For example, I walk up to a girl and politely say:...

BENTON -- The undefeated Kelly Lady Hawks continued their hot start to the season on Tuesday with a 9-0 win over Twin Rivers. After a scoreless first frame the Lady Hawks took the lead with a two-run rally in the second before going ahead 5-0 after a three-run third. Kelly scored one more run in the fifth and three in the sixth to make up the final...

CHARLESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs picked up a much needed win on Tuesday when they shut out the Charleston Lady Bluejays, 9-0. "Everyone on the team played very well today," Sikeston head coach Russ Dial said. Of the Lady Bulldogs' nine matches, six were shutout wins with Kelsey Dial, Geena Hooper and Ali Price all blanking their competition...

SIKESTON -- An open net can sometimes be the scariest thing. With nothing in front of you but a goal and opportunity, tremendous pressure can sometimes lead to a botched shot. With all the commotion surrounding his situation, Sikeston's Adam Johnson wasn't so sure he connected with his shot...

SIKESTON -- After watching early leads slip away late in both sets on Tuesday the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs saw the visiting Puxico Lady Indians pull off a sweep, 25-22, 25-19. "Overall I'm pleased with the play because their was a lot of intensity for most of it," Sikeston head coach Steve Beydler said. "But the couple little let downs is what did it. Where we would let them get three or four points in a row to catch up or barely go ahead of us...

CHICAGO -- Evelyn Hunt, 91, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Aug. 27, 2012, at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Born Dec. 11, 1920, in Shaw, Miss., daughter of the late Francis and Henderson Jacobs, she later moved to Sikeston where she worked with her husband running a family business and briefly worked at Missouri Delta Medical Center before her retirement. ...

CHARLESTON -- Terry David Cumpton, 38, formerly of Caruthersville, died Sept. 10, 2012, at his home in Charleston. Born Aug. 3, 1974, in Kennett, to Patricia McLemore Telker of Charleston and George David Compton of Caruthersville, he lived in Charleston since 2008. He was of the Pentecostal belief...

CHARLESTON - Harry Lee Showmaker, 91, died Sept. 11, 2011, at MIssouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.

ORAN -- Joan Gayle Hill, 69, died Sept. 11, 2012, at her home. Born Nov. 11, 1942, at Miller City, Ill., to Edith Louise Davison Ice of Cairo, Ill., and the late Thomas Franklin Ice, she had lived in Oran for over 40 years and was a member of the Miner Baptist Church. She had been employed as a home health worker until her retirement...

SIKESTON -- The American Legion 68th Annual Cotton Carnival will be Sept. 25 through Sept. 29, (Tuesday through Saturday) with the parade beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. This year's theme will be "A Salute to All Reserve Forces - National Guard, Air Force, Navy and Marines."...

A fire truck took out part of the Miner Fire Department as an unidentified firefighter was backing out of the bay on Tuesday. No further information was available at press time.

BENTON -- What's the difference between Fox Meadow Lane and Fox Meadow Road? About 20 miles -- and several minutes of travel time when each seconds counts. Scott County Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday that he was asked by Ken Coffey why the street on which Coffey owns several lots was renamed and expressed concerns about selling those lots with a changed street name...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way has kicked off its 2012 campaign with a six-figure goal. "This year, we are aiming to raise $105,000," said Chester Cardwell, chairman for this year's campaign. The group, which covers an area stretching as far west as Poplar Bluff and south to Portageville, raised more than 100 percent of the 2011 goal of $95,000, bringing in about $116,000...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston High School students who took the ACT exam during the 2011-2012 school year scored just below the state average but showed gains from the previous year. During Tuesday's regular Sikeston R-6 Board of Education meeting, high school academic leader principal Shannon Holifield provided members with the 2011-2012 ACT results. Holifield said 157 Sikeston students took the ACT, which is 15 less students than last year...