Stories from Sunday, January 2, 2005

MATTHEWS -- Violet R. Wallace, 87, formerly of East Prairie, died at 7:50 a.m. Dec. 30, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 25, 1917, in Hickman, Ky., daughter of the late James and Janie Tinsley Johnson, she had lived in East Prairie most of her life and was employed with the Anniston School and Charleston R-1 Schools as a cook until her retirement. She was also a member of the Anniston Christian Church...

SIKESTON -- If it weren't for Traci Jackson and Terri Johnson, the senior high division of the basketball church league with the YMCA of Southeast Missouri technically wouldn't be co-ed. But lucky for the 17-year-olds, being the only females in the league suits them just fine...

Meredyth Moyers, daughter of Michael and Mari Ann Moyers, is the Standard Democrat's Calendar Girl for January. The second alternate in the 2004 Miss Sikeston Contest, Miss Moyers plans to attend Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and intends to major in psychology...

SIKESTON - Civic-minded residents of the Bootheel have started throwing their hats in the ring for public office with about two weeks left to file for all but two of the area's April 5 municipal elections. Filing in both Sikeston and Charleston closed Nov. 23 as cities that have primary elections have an earlier filing window, according to the Missouri election calendar. If needed, the primary election would be held Feb. 8...

We would like to thank all of the good people of Scott County who gave of their time and the use of their equipment to help us clear the roads of snow. We would especially like to thank Harlan Duncan, the superintendent of Scott County Roads, and his crew for working the extra hours and Christmas Eve. The county has 377 miles of roads and without this help, we would still be trying to clear roads for traffic...

SIKESTON - Montgomery Bank, formerly The First National Bank, recently received a new look at their Sikeston facility. New signs were installed depicting the bank's new name and logo. Montgomery Bank formally announced its name change from The First National Bank earlier this year to honor the founder of the bank, Joel Montgomery Sr., and to establish a unique market name in the areas it serves...

JEFFERSON CITY - Dexter farmer Charles E. Kruse was re-elected to his seventh two-year term as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization. The election occurred at Missouri Farm Bureau's 90th annual meeting in December...

SIKESTON - Two new stylists, Jamie Campbell and Amy Walker, have joined The Cutting Edge staff. Campbell is specializing in manicures and pedicures as well as hair services. A native of Texas, Walker has 10 years experience in the business. She is certified in the Chi Hair Straightening System...

The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce staff is busy kicking off the new year with our Business Expo/Career Fair. This will be our 10th annual and it promises to be just as exciting as the previous nine. Over the years, the Expo has changed and is now a mixture of small business, manufacturing and educational institutions. ...

SIKESTON - Junior Bell, softball pitcher superb, has been chosen by The Standard as athlete of the year 1994 and his five shutout exhibition here will remain a target for pitchers to shoot at in years to come. SIKESTON - Governor-elect Warren E. Hearnes will cut the ribbon Saturday morning when the Security National Bank formally dedicates its new quarter-of-a-million dollar building at 625 N. Main and enters Sikeston's business community...

My wife and I were in your city Dec. 22-24 due to the snow and Missouri's inability to handle bad road conditions. We stayed at the Days Inn. It was a wonderful stay with polite and helpful employees. We dined at one of the best Chinese buffets ever. ...

I sure wish I had some words of wisdom, some nuggets of information or predictions to launch a new year. But alas, my crystal ball is faulty and my predictions are highly suspect. In short, I'm just trying to muddle through this holiday maze like everyone else...

ORAN - Mark Phillip and Jacqueline Rae "Jacqui" Hobbs are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 11:56 p.m. Dec. 7, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Taylor Ann Hobbs weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20-inches long...

SIKESTON -- The year 2004 lent itself to a another outstanding year of local high school sports action, from Sikeston baseball standout Blake DeWitt being drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers to state championships by the Kelly Lady Hawks softball and Bell City boys basketball teams...