Stories from Sunday, March 24, 2002

WAPPAPELLO - Vivian "Tincy" McDowell, 71, formerly of Morehouse, died March 23, 2002, at her home. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, where services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

PUXICO - Pallbearers at services conducted Saturday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Homer F. Evans, 85, who died March 20, 2002, were: Glenn Green, Brian Fleming, Matthew Jackson, Bradley Jackson, George Jackson and Dan Combs.

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at services conducted Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home for Shirley Sadegh Withrow, 62, who died March 21, 2002, were: Jim Caskey, Herman Gardner, Joe Byrum, Dan Ford, Harley Davis and Gary Warner.

WYATT - Christine M. Gibson, 81, died at 5:43 p.m. March 22, 2002, at the Charleston Manor. Born Jan. 17, 1921, in Arkansas, daughter of the late William and Dora James, she lived in Mississippi County most of her life. She worked for the Brown Shoe Company in Charleston for many years and was a member of the New Covenant Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wyatt...

CHAFFEE - Leon Gosnell, 69, died at 9:40 a.m. March 22, 2002, at his home. Born July 9, 1932, in West Frankfort, Ill., son of the late Odus Harold and Anita Bertha Hess Gosnell, he worked at Thorngate Ltd. and then at Florsheim Shoe Factory in Chaffee until retiring...

SIKEST0N - Kendra Riddle and Chelsea Grigory's hard work and determination have paid off in a big way. Not only did their science fair projects take them in March to the Regional Science Fair, but they were the top two picks out of all the competing schools in Southeast Missouri to progress on to the upcoming International Science Fair set for May 12-18 in Louisville, Ky...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The 46th Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair was held March 12 in Cape Girardeau and several Sikeston High School students won awards. Senior Kendra Riddle and freshman Chelsea Grigery won the highest award at the Regional Science Fair. Each received an all expense paid trip to compete at the International Science Fair May 12-18 in Louisville, Ky. At the International Science Fair, they will compete against over 1,000 projects from 40 different countries...

BLOOMFIELD - An ongoing narcotics investigation initiated on Jan. 28 by members of the SEMO Drug Task Force led to the discovery and dismantling of a methamphetamine and marijuana distribution ring. Investigators learned that the ring, based in Blytheville, Ark., had several distribution points in Southeast Missouri to include Dexter...

Dustin Price, 4, signs his name with the help of his mother, Tina Daniel, for the viewers of the Kenny Rogers Children's Center Telethon during his interview by Melody Hudson. In its 22nd year the telethon is the Center's major fund-raiser which helps over 300 children in Southeast Missouri...

Here's the state of the financial picture in Missouri this year. Revenues for the state coffers are so low that Gov. Bob Holden wants to borrow $135 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund. The budget crunch is so severe that virtually all state services short of Medicaid and education have been cut on orders from the administration. To address this major shortfall, a handful of new taxes is being proposed on everything from small businesses to cigarette sales...

SIKESTON - If you have an interest in how much revenue is generated by the city's sales taxes, you aren't alone. "It's a frequently asked question," said Carroll Couch, city clerk. "About 51 percent of the city's entire revenue is sales tax, which is about the same for all other cities in the state."...

MOREHOUSE - "Remember Pearl Harbor" reads a multi-colored placard hanging on the door of the Charles Morris home in Morehouse. But Mrs. Paul J. Sherrard and her sons, Paul Jackson Sherrard Jr., 7, and Charles Richard Sherrard, 4, need no reminder. In fact it probably would be better if young Paul could forget. Mrs. Sherrard and the children witnessed the Dec. 7 Japanese assault as residents in Pearl Harbor and arrived in Morehouse only weeks after a voyage from the Pacific Naval Base...

This in reference to Mike Jensen's March 13 editorial, "Don't blame others for criminal actions." Thank you, Mr. Jensen, for telling it like it is. I totally agree with you. Let them take the blame for the actions they do. I really appreciate you for putting it in the paper that way...

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee Red Devils opened the 2002 baseball season with a dominating 18-3 win over Kelly on Friday. Zac Horman picked up the win in four innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts. "I was very pleased with the outcome," said Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. "Kelly has a good tradition, we ended up meeting for the district championship last year. I knew they had a lot returning and we lost quite a bit to graduation."...

SIKESTON - The SEMO Conference awards were given out on Tuesday night at Poplar Bluff High School. Two Sikeston players were given awards. Junior forward Lontas McClinton won the conference scoring title while being named to first team all-conference. Also senior forward Justin Freeman won the conference free throw title and was named to second team all-conference...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central assistant boys basketball coach David Fields has been elevated to the position of head coach for one of the premier programs in the state. Fields, who came to the school this year from Mayfield, Ky., replaces Joby Holland who will be the school's principal next year...