Stories from Sunday, June 24, 2007

SIKESTON -- Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy and Kathy Griswell of Sikeston announce the engagement of their daughter, Teresa Gammons-Miller, to Percy Owens Sr., son of Catherine and Edgar Owens of Charleston. Plans are being made for a July 28 wedding at First Assembly of God in Charleston, with reception to follow...

Jane Murphy, customer service representative/credit analyst with Progressive Farm Credit Services, receives her certificate for completing the Eighth Annual Agricultural Lenders School from Joe Horner, extension economist at the University of Missouri-Columbia. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Kessie Hinkle has joined American Red Cross as development specialist for the Southeast Missouri Chapter. She will be working out of the Chapter's Cape Girardeau office meeting with people in the nine county service area of Perry, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, Stoddard, Mississippi, New Madrid, Dunklin and Pemiscot...

Summer is here, and Downtown Sikeston is ready for a great one! The Historic Midtown Development Group had a busy start to the summer season. Our friends at Missouri Main Street Connection visited Sikeston for a two-day workshop on downtown revitalization and how we can use the Main Street "Four Points of Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring" to address Downtown Sikeston's problems and opportunities and make it a wonderful community within the larger Sikeston community to live, work, visit, shop and invest. ...

SIKESTON -- As business at Video One grew and grew, owner Angela Anderson knew just what to do. She opened Video Two. Tucked in Eakins Plaza at 2107 E. Malone Ave. (just behind Wallpaper for Less and across from Judy's Buy Rite), the store opened May 15...

CHARLESTON -- From a skinny freshman to a dominating athlete on both the basketball court and the gridiron, Charleston's Justin Clark is the poster-child for improvement. The 18-year-old, who just graduated this past spring, improved so much that he became a two-sport athlete, and to top it off, a state champion in basketball...

PORTAGEVILLE - Bethany Jane St. Mary and Barry Leroy Richardson III exchanged wedding vows during a candlelight ceremony Jan. 6, 2007, at the First Baptist Church in Portageville. The Rev. Matthew Johnson, cousin of the bride, officiated at the double-ring service...

LAS VEGAS -- Fallan Nichole Thiele and Trevin Blake Mayabb were married May 27, 2007, in Las Vegas. The bride is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri and will attend the University of Missouri School of Medicine in August. She is the daughter of Doris and Ed Thiele of Jackson...

Tuesday is yet another critical day in the history of our fragile nation. Despite a lopsided vote two weeks ago to drop the controversial immigration bill in the United States Senate, the measure will be resurrected once again this Tuesday. Senate leaders need 60 votes to continue discussion on the miserable legislation but two weeks ago fell 15 votes short. ...

This is a Speakout on the cell phone use in Sikeston to pass an ordinance. I don't think it is a good idea. What is Sikeston becoming where we can't have whatever we want to do. They are putting all these ordinances in just to help pay for whatever Sikeston wants to do - build a new police station or what else. I think if Missouri passes it, that is one thing, but not the city of Sikeston...

SIKESTON - The new Sikeston Grapette Bottling Company began operations today in the building on Highway 60, formerly the home of S&K Products. SIKESTON - The Head Start program for the summer opened at the Southwest Elementary School. It was designed to take care of 150 students, with 10 teachers and 20 aides instructing children ages 4 through 6...

BENTON - Scott County deputies not only solved two burglaries, arresting three suspects, but also took two wanted fugitives into custody during an investigation. Charged with the burglary of two Scott County residences are Gary F. Gray, 27; Timothy Q. Ingram, 20, and Travis W. Moit, 25, all of Benton. Each is charged with two counts of burglary and stealing with bond set at $7,500 each...

SIKESTON -- More and more people seem to be getting out on motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. With no protective barrier, these drivers and riders are highly susceptible to injuries in a collision or single-vehicle accident. "If you are riding a motorcycle or ATV and get involved with a car, usually the results are not too good" said Lt. Jim McNiell of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E. "Your chances for being injured or killed are significantly increased."...

SIKESTON - Around 90 Sikeston elementary students are doing what may seem like the unthinkable to some children - going to school for fun. The students are participating in enrichment programs this summer, held at their respective schools. Classes at the different elementaries range from physical education to "space camp."...

NEW MADRID - Three New Madrid city employees are safe following a job-site accident Friday. At approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday, Richard Bodi and Tyler Tindle were digging in a trench along Route U and Kingshighway when a dirt wall collapsed, pinning them...

VAN BUREN -- Pallbearers at services held Friday for Glouria Hammock, formerly of Sikeston, who died June 21, 2007, were: Jesse Hammock, Shay Borders, Matt Bedell, Andrew Bedell, Eddie Hedge and Francisco Tartabini.

CHARLESTON - Rose Causey Spencer, 65, died June 21, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born July 4, 1941, to the late Frank Henry and Gertrude Causey, she received a bachelor of science degree from Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss. ...

LEAWOOD, Kan. - Naomi Ruth Scherer, 81, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died at 9:30 a.m. June 21, 2007, at her residence in Leawood. Born March 5, 1926, in Sikeston to the late Fred J. and Hazel Lepley Struwe, she was a homemaker as well as a former Girl Scout leader and member of the Daughters of Isabella. A member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Sikeston, she attended the Church of the Nativity in Leawood since moving there in 2000...

PARMA - Pallbearers at funeral services conducted June 23, 2007, for Carl Edward Wright Jackson, 69, who died June 14, 2007, were Johnny Wright, Roger Wright, David Wright, Michael Wright, Don Wright and Larry Wright. Honorary pallbearers were: Charles Jackson, Desmond Smith, Tommy Donaldson, Isaiah Wright, Duane Thatch and David Thatch...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Juan Milkeson Spencer, 38, died June 20, 2007, in Memphis, Tenn. Born July 29, 1968, he was the son of Bobby Spencer, who survives, and Rose Spencer, who died June 21, 2007. He attended elementary and high school in the Charleston R-1 School System. After graduating high school in 1986, he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and also studied at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He was employed by the Department of Human Services in Memphis...

PERKINS -- Bonnie Jean Senciboy Dowler, 58, died June 22, 2007, at her home. Born Aug. 6, 1948, at Oran, daughter of Harold Senciboy of Perkins and the late Lucille Wyatt Senciboy, she worked in home repairs. She had worked at the Advance Nursing Center for three years and was a member of the Advance Eagles...

DEXTER - Opal Stickles, 84, died June 22, 2007, at the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 26, 1922, in Dexter, to the late Ernest and Mabel Jarrells Edwards, she had lived in Dexter most of her life and was a member of the Church of Christ...

BERNIE - Margie Boyle, 85, died June 22, 2007, at the Malden Nursing Center. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.

MORLEY - Franklin Berry, 74, died 11:20 p.m. June 22, 2007, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

CHARLESTON - William H. "Bill" Brantley Jr., 80, died June 22, 2007, at his home in rural Charleston. Born May 17, 1926, in East Prairie to the late William H. "Ben" and Lorene Harold Brantley, he had lived in Mississippi County his entire life where he had been employed with the Brown Shoe Company in Charleston and the Ameren (Union Electric) Company until his retirement. He was a member of the Elm Street Baptist Church...

DEXTER - Pallbearers at funeral services conducted June 23, 2007, at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter for Novalene Hann, 69, who died June 16, 2007, were: Michael McDonald, Norman Hann Jr., Sean Creado, Nathan McDonald, Randy Oliver and Brandon McDonald...

CHARLESTON - Monica and Terry Jones are the parents of their first son and daughter, twins, born May 25, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Terrell Lamar Jones was born at 2:01 p.m., weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 18 inches long. Tamra Andria Jones was born at 2:06 p.m., weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 18 inches long...

DAWSON?SPRINGS, Ky. -- The Sikeston Bulls improved to 10-7 on the season with a 6-4 road victory against the Tradewater Pirates on Friday night. Sikeston's Dan Robbins was the winning pitcher in seven innings of work. Jonathan Simpher threw the final two innings to record the save...