Stories from Sunday, December 25, 2005

PORTAGEVILLE -- Thomas Clark, 96, died on Dec. 22, 2005, at Shady Oaks Nursing Center in Thayer. Services were held Saturday with the Rev. Vic Elliot officiating. Burial followed in the Portageville Cemetery with the DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville in charge of arrangements...

MATTHEWS - Frankie Eaves, 71, died Dec. 20, 2005, at Missouri Delta Media Center in Sikeston. A memorial service is scheduled for Dec. 29, at Sells Rest Home in Matthews. Other arrangements are incomplete at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

Put your hand in the hand of. . . This is to all the people who believe they came from apes instead of God's creation. As Jesus said when He was tempted by Satan, "It is written that God created Heaven and Earth and everything in it." So, I believe that God did create humans and he also created apes. ...

SIKESTON - Miss Margaret Gray Anthony, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W.A. Anthony, was honored this week by election to membership in Pi Lambda Theta, national educational fraternity of Missouri in Columbia, where she is a senior. VANDUSER - The Vanduser Extension Club held its meeting Friday at 7:30 p.m. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- With a field of teams ranging from the smallest to the largest classes, it's always interesting to see who will rise, who will fall and who will fit Cinderella's slipper at the annual seMissourian Christmas Tournament. The 61st edition of Southeast Missouri's premier holiday tournament tips off Monday with 16 teams vying for area bragging rights at the Show-Me Center...

SIKESTON -- Mark and Debbie Crocker have announced the engagement of their daughter, Kerry Olivia, to Thomas Matthew Evans, son of Thomas Martin Evans of Blodgett and the late Katherine L. Wallace. A 1999 graduate of Sikeston Senior High School, the future bride is employed by Bootheel Counseling Services in Sikeston...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Jerry and Toni Dement have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lindsay Brooke, to Joshua Blake Miller, son of Blake and Kathy Miller of Cape Girardeau. A 2001 graduate of Central High School, the future bride earned a degree in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University this month. She is the granddaughter of Thad and Phyllis Ryan of Morehouse, Kenneth L. Dement of Cape Veteran's Home and Gail Fennessey of Denver, Colo...

NEW MADRID -- Jim and Debbie Russell have announced the engagement of their daughter, Leslie A. Russell, to Daniel L. Sutton, son of Mark and Martha Sutton of Matthews. A 2003 graduate of New Madrid County Central High School, the future bride attends Southeast Missouri State University and is employed by Regions Bank in New Madrid...

MALDEN - The Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri recently conducted its annual awards banquet to acknowledge the contributions of key staff. Professional caregivers from all 14 counties of VNA's service area gathered were recognized. Teresa McCulloch, CEO, commented on the agency's accomplishments in 2005 and the vision for the coming year. ...

SIKESTON -- Amanda Dawn Hammock and Bryan Russell Bedell were united in marriage during a 6 p.m. ceremony June 18, 2005, on the beach of Seaside, Fla. Parents of the bride are Jesse and Janet Hammock of Sikeston, and the bridegroom is the son of Don and Pam Bedell of Sikeston...

The offices of the Standard Democrat will be closed Monday and no paper will be published in order to allow the newspaper's employees to enjoy the Christmas holiday with their families. The office will reopen at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. We at the Standard Democrat wish you a very merry Christmas...

SIKESTON -- llusionist Morgan Strebler hasn't performed in his hometown in about nine years -- until now. On Thursday the Sikeston native will have a chance to once again show the area his love for magic when he performs at the Albritton-Mayer Cultural Center in Sikeston. "Magic of Morgan" will begin at 8 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting the Sikeston Area Humane Society...

Andrew Driskill, 4, of Sikeston, had some help in opening his Christmas gifts from the puppy Kramer. Even with all his new toys, Andrew discovered one of the best Christmas gifts is love - from family, friends and yes, even dogs.

SIKESTON - Sikeston residents who decorate with real Christmas trees during the holidays have a valuable conservation asset which will have a positive impact well beyond the holidays. By "recycling" a real Christmas trees through the annual Christmas tree collection program, area residents can improve fish habitat in the City's lakes in the Recreation Complex and R.S. ...

SIKESTON -- Housing in Sikeston made gains in both quantity and quality in 2005. Although the number of building permits for single-family residential construction and the total estimated value is down from 2004, 2005 was still "one of the better years for construction" over the last five years, according to Trey Hardy, community redevelopment coordinator...

SIKESTON - Onetia Williamson is the parent of her first son, born at 1:55 p.m. Nov. 11, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. James Alexander Leo Williamson weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Grandparents are Linda Williamson and John Moore...

BLOOMFIELD -- For seven years, the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament has known just one champion -- the Dexter Bearcats. It's a streak unlike any the tournament has ever seen and may never see again. The unprecedented streak, however, could come to an end this season as the tournament enters its 49th year...

SIKESTON - Walk into any weight room in the area these days and you hear the usual sounds of weights being lifted and bodies being worked to optimum usage. What is out of the ordinary, but becoming the norm, is that what was once a sanctuary for males to pump iron, has become integrated with eager females lifting right alongside them...