Stories from Sunday, September 25, 2005

Stan's Carpet added a "Husbands and Children's Room" in June. The room has games, books and a chalkboard to occupy the children. The television offers cartoons for the youngsters and a sports channel for the men. Completing the area is an aquarium and lots of comfortable seating. "We want to make it easier for customers to look at the large selection we have to offer without being rushed by the family," said Helen Beardsley. Stan's Carpet is located on Highway 60 East in Sikeston...

EAST PRAIRIE - East Prairie Junior High School recently received a SMART Board interactive whiteboard under Ameren Corporation's new "Power Up" program that brings technology and support to classrooms and teachers. In 2005, Ameren is donating more than 200 of the devices - with a total value of $600,000 - to kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms throughout the Ameren companies' service areas in Missouri and Illinois...

SIKESTON - It is the doctor's bright red T-shirt, sandals and shorts that are the tipoff - this isn't your typical office. And that is just what Matt Holstein, owner of Gentle Hands Chiropractic LLC, wants. Holstein, who is called "Dr. Matt" by his patients, has set out to create a unique practice since opening the doors on his 500-square foot office, located behind his home at 274 N. Ranney...

NEW MADRID -- Charles David White has announced the engagement of his daughter, Cammy Spreng, to Justin Wade Gilmer, son of Bruce H. and Frieda Joyce Gilmer of New Madrid. White is also the daughter of the late Amy Jeanne Murphy. A 1998 graduate of New Madrid County Central, the future bride received a Bachelor of Science in mass communication from Southeast Missouri State University in 2004. She is employed with Scheffer's Office Furniture and Business Machines in Sikeston...

PEVELY -- Kasandra Lake Bertrand of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, and Peggy and Donald Holman of Miner have announced the engagement of their children, Lyn Lake to Alex Holman. Plans are under way for an Oct. 22 wedding at Bee Tree Park in St. Louis with a reception following at The Christy in St. Louis...

MOREHOUSE -- Hallie Harvey Hight, 92, died at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 22, 2005, at the Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 19, 1913, in Morehouse, son of the late Joe and Ethel Grisham Hight, he was a member of the Morehouse First Baptist Church and had worked for Peoria, Ill., public schools. He was a 32nd-degree Mason with the Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF&AM,...

DEXTER - Gerald "Jerry" Gregory, 57, died Sept. 22, 2005, at his home. Born Jan. 8, 1948, in St. Louis to Margaret Frensko of Benld, Ill., and the late Lester Gregory, he attended the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter. A cement finisher, he was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving during the Vietnam War...

SIKESTON - Martha Floyd, 70, died Sept. 24, 2005, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born Jan. 26, 1935, in Arkansas to the late Tom and Vernice Pride, she was a homemaker and a member of the Calvary Temple. On Aug. 10, 1950, in Osceola, Ark., she married Willard Floyd, who survives of the home...

SCOTT CITY - Dorothy Mae Sebright, 84, died at 1:27 p.m. Sept. 23, 2005, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born Dec. 9, 1920, at Fort Smith, Ark., daughter of the late William Green and Nora Light, she was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Scott City and of the St. Mark's Chapter 167 of the Eastern Star in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON -- Whitney Beth Wright and Jason Scott Noland were united in marriage during a 3 p.m. ceremony June 4, 2005, at the First Baptist Church in Sikeston. The Rev. Rick Ramsey performed the ceremony. Vocalists were Rachel Riggins and Harold Myrick with Dana Lynch as the musician...

NEW MADRID -- Jody Lynn Riggs and Heath Allan Duncan were united in marriage during an early evening ceremony April 30, 2005, at the New Madrid Baptist Church in New Madrid. The Rev. Kenneth A. Jones performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Ronnie and Judy Fisher of Portageville, and parents of the bridegroom are Larry and Evelyn Duncan of New Madrid. ...

BENTON - When a major disaster hits, professional first responders may have more than they can handle. That's where Community Emergency Response Teams come in. "CERT is designed to fill the gap as professional responders quickly become overwhelmed in disaster situations," said County Developer Joel Evans. ...

Maybe Katrina and now Rita will serve as a wake-up call that this nation must address the issue of energy supply. Far too long dependent on others - primarily the volatile Mideast - this country must begin to face some issues head-on. Not one new oil refinery has been constructed in this country since 1978. Not one new nuclear facility has been constructed since 1973. And yet, as you well know, our need for energy sources - gasoline and heating oil - are increasing daily...

NEW MADRID - A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Simpson of New Madrid at the Sikeston General Hospital Sept. 18. SIKESTON - Miss Barbara Irwin, 16, will reign as Miss Sikeston. She won over 19 high school seniors at the 21st annual American Legion Cotton Carnival...

I think the citizens of Howardville, Missouri, need to band together against the city council. They are raising our taxes again. We get taxed on library, public health and we receive neither of these services. According to state auditor Claire McCaskill, they should stop charging the tax. ...

Sikeston senior Tiffany Robison reacts after being named Fall Homecoming Queen at the half of the Sikeston/Jackson football game Friday at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium. She is escorted by Scott Gardner.

JEFFERSON CITY - Two New Madrid County schools from two different school districts were among seven schools in Missouri named No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools of 2005. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the Gideon Elementary School at Gideon and the Matthews Elementary School at Matthews will each receive an award certificate as part of the Blue Ribbon Schools program for the progress they have made under No Child Left Behind...

MORLEY -- It may lack a few minor details, but for the most part, the new gymnasium at Scott County Central High School is ready to see some action. "We're just tying up some loose ends and wires that maybe need connections, but it's near completion," said Mark Freed, president of the Scott County Central Board of Education...

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central, a huge underdog, shocked undefeated Charleston in a SEMO Central Conference matchup. The NMCC Eagles came back from an early 16-0 deficit to upset the seventh- ranked Charleston Bluejays 24-22 on Friday at New Madrid...

DEXTER - The Dexter Bearcats overcame a slow start Friday night against the visiting Malden Green Wave and notched a victory on football homecoming as the Bearcats rolled 34-12. Dexter fell behind by 12 early in the game due to an interception return and a botched punt snap that put the Bearcats in a tight spot after one quarter of play...

DESOTO -- The Sikeston soccer team improved to 4-6 on the season with a 2-0 road victory against DeSoto on Friday night. Sikeston got a goal from Chris Carnell at the 24:00 mark on an assist from Blake Taylor. Taylor then scored his 13th goal of the season on an assist from Justin Deere at the 30:00 mark...

SIKESTON - At least for one game, the Jackson Indians solved their turnover problems. After turning the ball over 11 times in two of its first three games during a 1 -2 start, the Indians had none in a near-flawless performance in beating SEMO North rival Sikeston 42-0 on Friday night at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium...

SIKESTON - Bethley Carden and Shawn Clinton are the parents of their sixth child, fifth daughter, born at 2:20 p.m. Aug. 23, 2005, at Southeast Hospital. Chloe Isabella Clinton weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long. Carden, daughter of Freda and Bud Fugate of Sikeston, is employed with Allergy Partners...