Stories from Thursday, February 23, 2012

She was part of the Dexter Park Board before there really was a board, but following a 33-year run, Mary Ann Taylor is hanging up her Park Board hat. "It's just time for new blood - younger blood - to take over the role," Taylor says as she steps down from a position through which she's witnessed the transformation of the city of Dexter's humble park system in the late 1970s into the complex and competitive park system it is today...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Perryville boys basketball team had high hopes for an upset after playing Sikeston tough early this season. Defending Class 4 state champion Sikeston never gave the Pirates a chance in Wednesday night's rematch. The second-seeded Bulldogs rolled past third-seeded Perryville 82-55 in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 1 tournament at the Sikeston Field House...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Notre Dame boys basketball team expected a tough battle from Fredericktown on Wednesday despite having routed the Blackcats by 26 points in early January. "Coach told us they were really improved from the first time we played them," Notre Dame senior guard Ryan Hale said. "They're a really good team. We knew they would give us a fight."...

John B. Snyder, age 72, of Dexter died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Snyder was born Sept. 30, 1939 in Flint, Mich. He was a retired Schneider National truck driver. He lived a full life, seeing the country from coast to coast. He enjoyed spending his last few years with his surviving children and grandchildren...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor A funny thing happened on the way to the last Red Cross Blood Drive held in late December - actually, it happened AT the Blood Drive, and no one was more surprised than two veteran volunteers from Missouri Southern Hospital's Auxiliary...