Stories from Sunday, September 21, 2003

Depending on how you measure success, the city of Sikeston's Roundtable discussion this past week was a successful opportunity for residents to share their views and suggestions on the direction of our community. Though the discussion failed to generate concrete solutions, it clearly showed that residents here are interested in housing improvements and public safety. That should come as no surprise...

I am the person who called in about child support. You don't have the whole story. My friend, when she got too old, decided she wanted to have a baby. I asked her to marry me but she said she did not want to get married, didn't want a father for the baby, a husband or anything to do with it. ...

SIKESTON - Miss Mary Sikes will leave this Tuesday night for New York City, where she is a student at Julliard School of Music. SIKESTON - An invitation has been extended by the Sikeston Library Board to the public to view the new $33,000 addition to the building. The public is invited to an open house Sunday...

PERKINS - Lucille Maurine Senciboy, 76, died at 2:51 p.m. Sept. 19, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born April 19, 1927, at Selmer, Tenn., daughter of the late John Edward and Annie Jones Wyatt, she retired as an inspector for Venture Products in Oran and was a member of the Arbor General Baptist Church in Arbor, the Ladies Auxiliary Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 4154 in Advance, and the Morley Ladies Auxiliary of VFW No. 5368...

WAPPAPELLO - Edith Grachel Andrews, 78, died Sept. 18, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born March 31, 1925, at Clarkton, daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Dee Riley Miller, she was affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Puxico...

PORTAGEVILLE - Mary Gaye Burgess, 82, died Sept. 19, 2003, at the Hillcrest Manor in DeSoto. Born June 23, 1921, in the state of Tennessee to the late Lattie Stewart and H.T. Edmundson, she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Portageville. On Jan. 9, 1945, in Hayward, she married Yvon Burgess, who preceded her in death on June 9, 2003...

BLOOMFIELD - Ova Jeanette Smith, 89, formerly of Sikeston, died Sept. 19, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born March 3, 1914, in Clinton, Ark., daughter of the late Samuel Obediah and Amanda Jane Tucker Mowery, she was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Sikeston. She had been a seamstress and was a volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program for 15 years...

SIKESTON - Pallbearers at funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Connie Havener, 93, who died Sept. 19, 2003, will be: Mike Perry, Bill Sloan, Don Rodgers, Andy Rodgers, Steve Akins and Brad Akins. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery...

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Dale King, 36, formerly of Sikeston, died Sept. 18, 2003. Services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at Limestone Chapel in Athens.

LILBOURN - Donald L. Caldwell, 48, died Sept. 17, 2003, near LaForge from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born May 13, 1955, in Wyatt to Condra Caldwell of Charleston and the late Verlar Mae Caldwell, he was employed by Noranda aluminum of Marston and was affiliated with the Baptist Church...

SIKESTON -- Krissi Crum of Dexter was recognized recently for her work in helping farm customers prosper. Crum, a farm marketer with Cargill AgHorizons' farm service business in Sikeston, was one of nearly two dozen farm-marketing specialists honored for superior customer service and sales at Cargill AgHorizons' national sales conference in August in Minneapolis, Minn...

I want to let everyone know how great the Savor the Southeast Festival turned out. On Aug. 21 Sikeston's Clinton Building was lined with around two dozen tourism-related businesses from the 12 counties of the River Heritage region. These vendors, loaded with brochures and information at their decorated booths along with their specialty foods, were there to advertise their locations and specialties to 44 Missouri Showcase group leaders...

SIKESTON - Dana Moore is the Bootheel Counseling Services' "Employee of the Quarter." In naming her to the honor, officials noted her dedication, flexibility, professionalism and dependability. Moore is the center's support staff coordinator. Bootheel Counseling Services is located at 760 Plantation Blvd. in Sikeston and has a branch office in Dexter...

CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Blue Jays built up a 24-7 lead on the visiting Caruthersville Tigers Friday night on a Marcus Dixon field goal. But they were shutout the rest of the way and dropped their second contest of the season 42-24. "We executed well in the first half and did pretty much what we set out to do," said Charleston head coach Brent Anderson. ...

DEXTER - In Week 1 of the season, turnovers hurt the Sikeston Bulldogs football team. In Week 2, the Bulldogs didn't turn the ball over, but penalties proved costly. On Friday night against Dexter, the Bulldogs were able to keep the penalties to a minimum, but five turnovers were too much to overcome against a fired up Bearcats squad...

SIKESTON - Those planning on watching the Cotton Carnival Parade this year should take note of its new route. "This is the first year for the route change," said Blair Moran, co-chairman for the parade. "The route change was made because of a request from the marching bands and we wanted to accommodate their wishes. I think they felt the route was too long."...

SIKESTON - "Even after all these years this time of year reminds me of the Cotton Carnival downtown," writes a guest in a recent entry on the Standard Democrat Website guestbook. "It was the same every year and, maybe, that was part of the charm."...

NEW MADRID -- Remond Willis rushed for 323 yards and scored four touchdowns, rallying New Madrid County Central past Farmington, 26-17 on Friday night. The Eagles trailed 17-6 at halftime, but ended the game with 20 unanswered points to pull out the win...

SCOTT CITY -- Two years ago, East Prairie went to Scott City and picked up a 35-14 win. It was the last time the Eagles won a game. Until Friday. The Eagles made a return trip to Scott City and, with the help of three touchdowns from freshman Paris Tipler, won 34-7 and ended a 19-game losing streak...

BENTON -- It may not be a bumper crop, but the quality and size of this year's apple supply is enough to leave smiles on the faces of producers and consumers well through the end of fall. "We're having an excellent season," said David Diebold, owner of Diebold's Orchard in Benton. "This is the biggest crop we've had -- not the most -- but the biggest."...

We all believe in free speech and the wonders of the Internet, but we should also take care if we're going to preserve a civil community. In the last few weeks there have been a series of particularly vicious e-mails sent to our city councilmen. I have only seen a couple of them and cannot imagine what the author(s) hope to accomplish. Of course, they've been anonymous...

SIKESTON - "Know your numbers," emphasizes Sandra Bollinger. Bollinger isn't talking about dates or bank accounts or even lottery numbers. The numbers she is referring to include cholesterol levels, blood sugar, bone density and other health-related levels which can make the difference in an individual's well-being...