Stories from Thursday, December 20, 2001

Tyson Foods, the giant meat producer and major Missouri employer, was charged this week in a federal indictment with smuggling illegal immigrants from Mexico to work in their Midwestern plants. If the charges are proven true, Tyson should face a fine unparalleled in American history. And those involved in the illegal scheme should spend time in jail...

Lee Bowman loads a bicycle in a truck Wednesday morning to give to a needy child as part of the Community Christmas Campaign. Over two dozen people helped deliver gift baskets to more than 250 needy families in the Sikeston area.

CARBONDALE -- New Madrid County Central's undefeated record will be in serious jeopardy next week in the 38th Annual Carbondale Holiday Tournament. The Eagles (5-0) went 0-2 in the tournament last year, and this year's field appears to be even stronger. NMCC has been seeded fifth among the eight teams on the Class A side of the bracket...

CHAFFEE - Robert "Bob" Lewis Harris, 56, died Dec. 18, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Robert Lewis Harris, known to all of his family and friends as "Bob," was born Dec. 24, 1944, to Robert "Smokey" Harris and Marie Harris, he was the third of six children, the first of three sons...

SIKESTON - Perry Jolliff, 66, died Dec. 20, 2001, at his home. Born Feb. 12, 1935, at Rover, son of the late Aaron George and Nora Hamilton Jolliff, he was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church. For 35 years, he was superintendent at International Shoe Factory until its closing and owned and operated Jolliff Aviation...

DUDLEY - Virginia Lee, 81, died Dec. 18, 2001, at the Three Rivers Healthcare North Campus in Poplar Bluff. Born Sept. 29, 1920, at Ordway, Colo., daughter of the late Charlie and Zelma Dennington Chase, she was a member of the Dudley Community Church...

ESSEX - Dianne "Cissy" Crites, 60, died Dec. 19, 2001. Arrangements are incomplete at Rainey Funeral Home in Dexter.

PORTAGEVILLE - Donald Dell Rone Sr., 81, died Dec. 19, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 22, 1920, at Portageville, son of the late G.W. "Son" Rone Jr. and Dora Klopfenstein Rone, he was a member of the Masons for 50 years having obtaining a 32nd degree and was a lifelong farmer and landowner in the community. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Portageville...

DEXTER - Pallbearers at services conducted Wednesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Paul Ellis, 74, who died Dec. 17, 2001, were: Paul Green, Keith Ellis, Jay Vickery, Brian Wicks, Kevin Cagle, Bill Hoskins, Gary Scroggins and Terry Scroggins.

NEW MADRID - Harold Leon "Cotton" Johnson, 77, died Dec. 19, 2001, at his home. Born Nov. 28, 1924, in New Madrid County, son of the late Mart and Glennie Depro Johnson, he was a farmer in the Kewanee/LaForge area and a former employee of the New Madrid County Sheriff's office. He was a member of the New Madrid American Legion Post No. 595 and the Church of the Bretheren in Farrenburg. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II...

MATTHEWS - Gladys Mae Noble, 68, died at 9:50 p.m. Dec. 18, 2001, at Sells Rest Home. Born Oct. 15, 1933, at St. Louis, daughter of the late Edward Elliott and Agnes Marie Sadler Wilhite, she was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Chaffee...

MOREHOUSE - Police Judge R.R. Givens of Morehouse received word from the federal government Sunday that his son, Reuben, was lost in action in the original Japanese attack Dec. 7 on Pearl Harbor. Reuben had been in the Navy the past year and a half...

I'm tired of spending my tax dollars on car alarms. What's the purpose of putting car alarms on ambulances? I'm unable to call speakout because I'm an inmate in the Charleston Prison. I would like to comment on the person who thinks we have the good life. ...

SIKESTON - Brandy Deann Keith became the bride of Ronnie Mason during a 5 p.m. ceremony July 7, 2001, at the Fellowship Baptist Church. The Rev. Joe McCullough officiated during the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of John and Sherrie Crouthers of Sikeston and granddaughter of Cecil Atchley of Lilbourn and Elizabeth Nelson of Cape Girardeau...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central basketball standout Dereke Tipler was named a McDonald's All-American candidate on Wednesday. The nomination is the first step in the long elimination process it takes to play in the prestigious game, which features the top 20 high school players in the nation...

BENTON - A Sikeston woman will be tried for first degree murder in the death of a five-month-old infant. Latoya Marie Fletcher, 21, is charged with first degree and armed criminal action in connection with the Sept. 17, 2001, death of Octavia Nyshae Clark...

BENTON - Road deputies of the Scott County Sheriff's Department are a bit safer on the job after being issued new body armor this week. Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell said with the increase in violence against law enforcement officers in today's society he feels much more at ease knowing...

PINHOOK - Jim and Aretha Robinson Jr. have announced the engagement of their daughter, LaToya Annette, to Virgil Lee Tate, son of Shirley Coleman of Sikeston. A 1990 graduate of East Prairie High School, the future bride earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, graduating in 1994...