Looking Back...2008 Year in Review

The Daily Dunklin Democrat is going to publish a Year in Review series of summaries from news stories published throughout 2008. The Year in Review will appear each day through the Wednesday, Dec. 31 edition of the paper.

January, 2008

* Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center welcomed its 2008 New Year's baby, Ashlynn Marie, daughter of Marylynn Friend and Steven James Summers of Kennett.

The new baby girl was ushered into the world at 11:16 p.m. on January 1 and weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 20 inches long.

* The Missouri Department of Natural Resources visits Cardwell to oversee the replacement of a water line and remove petroleum contaminated soil, following an extensive environmental investigation. During the investigation, the department found petroleum contamination in the soil and groundwater on and near the now idle Brewer Brothers bulk petroleum plant and Martin Oil service station in Cardwell.

* The Honorable Judge Jerry C. Stillman, 68, of Kennett, dies on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at his residence. The community shows an outpour of appreciation and respect, while sharing memories of a man who built a reputation over the years of a man who was loving, honest, sincere, compassionate, and fair.

* A faculty member at Kennett High School finds a folded piece of paper in the halls of the high school campus indicating a possible bomb threat against the school , which was later proven to be a hoax.

* Sheriff's deputies arrest three individuals, a juvenile, and Rodney A. Mayberry, 27, and Teresa Mayberry, 35, of Kennett, Mo., for stealing and property damage relating to copper wire stolen from several area utility poles. The arrest is one of many pertaining to strings of copper thefts throughout Southeast Missouri.

* Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said in a press release from his Washington, D.C. office that he will introduce legislation to protect children from sexual predators.

* The Dunklin County Sheriff's Department served Dr. Jonathan Wilson, veterinarian, with a court order to remove all animals from the premises of his practice, located at 1904 North Horner Drive, off U.S. Hwy. 412 West at Kennett, after concern was expressed from the state humane society following a recent visit to the clinic.

* The Missouri Department of Transportation receives the state's annual Recycling Award.

* Dr. Steve M. Pu of Kennett is named chairperson of the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH).

* Dr. Jonathon Wilson, Kennett veterinarian, is officially charged with Animal abuse for allegedly failing to provide adequate and sanitary drinking water, food, and shelter for the animals. 45 dogs, a cat, and two cockatiels were taken by authorities from Wilson's care and places with The Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis for care. Wilson was charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

* Kennett Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Noble asks the Kennett School Board to accept a recommendation to approve a board resolution calling for a special school bond election to be held on April 8, 2008 for a "no tax increase" bond issue.

* Mary Buschmann, executive director of the USTA Missouri Valley, presents a grant check to Matt Shetley, president of the Kennett school board representing Kennett Public School District, toward the construction of new tennis courts on the high school campus. On hand for the presentation were Janet Hilburn, KHS girls tennis coach, and Wendell Crow. Crow was representing his daughter, Sheryl Crow, who additionally pledged $100,000 toward the construction.

* Delivering his fourth State of the State speech, Republican governor Matt Blunt declares Missouri's economy growing, its schools improving and its health care system transformed since he took office in January 2005.

* Kennett High School alumni and University of Arkansas sophomore Kristin Privett joins an elite group of twirlers chosen to perform at the 2008 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

* Kennett High School hosts its 39th Annual MOD assembly which raises $3,367 through student and community donations.

* History is made as Freddie Graham officially takes office as president of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

* Five new members, Lanny Geary, John Gamble, Shawn Sando, Sarah Jo Morgan, and Charley Hilburn are added to the 15-member Board of Directors of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

* Kennett police assisted a United States Marshal in apprehending a Kennett woman that was wanted by federal authorities for escape from custody on Friday. According to assistant chief of police Steve Williams, the U.S. Marshal had an active warrant for Pearl Elizabeth Martin, 66, who had escaped from a prison in the state of Georgia in 1969. Martin was located at a residence on Floyd Street in Kennett, arrested on the warrant and turned over to the U.S. Marshal.

* Pizza delivery ends in police chase. Jerry Snipes, delivery driver for Pizza Hut in Kennett, has his car stolen as he delivers a pizza to the local Super 8 Motel. Antuan L. Madison, 31, of St. Louis, Mo., the person responsible for the theft, was later involved in a car accident on US 62, one mile south of Malden, where he crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on, while being pursued by police. The vehicle that was struck by the stolen car was a 1995 Ford Ranger driven by Chase D. Winder, 17, of Malden. Winder and Madison were taken to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis, Tenn., by Air Evac as a result of the crash. Both were listed as suffering serious injuries.

* Department of Natural Resources removes water lines and tests petroleum contaminated soil, following an extensive environmental ongoing investigation at Cardwell, Mo.

* Melvin Simms, 44, of Kennett pleads guilty to four felony counts of distribution of crack-cocaine in court before United States District Judge Henry E. Autry. The plea followed a series of drug-related events involving Simms that took place on Jan. 21, 2007, July 17, 2007, July 24, 2007, and August 8, 2007, in which an informant for investigating officers successfully purchased crack cocaine from Simms in Kennett.

* Mo. Governor Matt Blunt bows out of Governor race, announcing he will not seek re-election during a press conference at the Capitol.

* Family and Friends mark 2-year anniversary of Teresa Butler's disappearance.

* Two charged in connection with alleged murder victim found at Kennett home. Police Chief Barry Tate says officers located the body of Phillip Jarvas, 32, of Sullivan, Mo., under a carport at a residence on East Fifth Street. Sullivan was reported to have been stabbed, following an altercation at a party. Max Arnold, 26, of Caruthersville, Mo., and Shelon Skelton, 30, of Senath, Mo., were arrested in connection with the incident.

* A Federal grand jury has indicted James Raulerson and James Raulerson Farms of Pemiscot County for violating the Clean Water Act following an investigation by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

* Wind damages several structures in Dunklin County following an intense storm that produced winds up to 66 miles per hour or more throughout the area.

February, 2008

* Schools and community celebrates Black History Month.

* Weather system blankets Southeast Missouri with several inches of snow.

* Governor Matt Blunt is the key note speaker at the 62nd annual Kennett Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held on Monday, Feb. 11th at the American Legion building in Kennett.

* Dunklin County voters participate in primary election on Tuesday, Feb. 5, with the numbers showing a majority in favor of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

* Senath-Hornersville receives threat from unknown terrorist with plans to clean up the school and get rid of the African Americans and Hispanics.

* Kennett Mayor declares war on trash throughout the city. Warns to issue citations to those who don't comply with keeping their property trash-free.

* Darren Harris of Harris Pharmacy is recognized for his role in "Building a better community" by the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

* Fire destroys the business and residence of area businessman Metz Skelton.

* Police get serious about enforcing curfew ordinance. Chief Barry Tate tells public citations will be given to parents of children who do not comply with city's curfew.

* Republican candidate for governor, Kenny Hulshof visits TRRMC at Kennett.

* U.S. Navy Band performs before several hundred people at KHS gym.

* Rotary Club begins its annual 2008 auction to raise funds in support of such charities as South Elementary's D.A.R.E. program, and supporting sports and kid-friendly organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

* Hillbillies and City Slickers face off for cancer as TRRMC hosts its annual Donkey-basketball game for Relay for Life.

* Kennett Board of Education considers random drug testing policy.

March, 2008

* A Caruthersville, Mo., man, Silas Smith, was arrested over the weekend and charged with a Class A felony for assault on a Kennett Police officer.

* Judge determines animals taken from Kennett Vet, Jonathan Wilson, will remain in possession of Humane Society.

* Kennett council carefully reviews bid from Knuckles Brothers, in the amount of $25,000, for completing the wiring portion of the downtown lighting project.

* Kennett native and country music artist Trent Tomlinson prepares to take vows with fiancé, Jessica. Talks about move from Nashville, Tenn., to Nascar hotspot Lake Norman, North Carolina.

* Kennett selected to station high-tech vehicle called the Command 17S, a $40,000 Suburban equipped with more than $220,000 worth of former military satellite communications equipment.

* The AVICTA complete cotton seed blimp flies over Kennett.

* Grammy-award winning artist and hometown girl Sheryl Crow visit Kennett, making a stop at South Elementary School to visit with students and co-write a song with a group of third-graders.

* Prices at the gas pump reach new highs, surging a painful 2.1 cents overnight to a record national average of $3.267 a gallon.

* Congress appropriates funds to supplement and expand emergency food and shelter programs on the local level for 2008. Dunklin County is awarded $25,288 to assist such programs-- an increase of more than $2,700 from 2007. Past recipients of these funds have included DAEOC, the Kennett Ministerial Alliance's Helping Hand, the Malden Nutritional Center, The Bootheel Human Needs Center, the Migrant Whole Health Outreach, UMOS, and programs in Cardwell, Holcomb, and Steele.

* MOHELA reports operating loss of $12.4 million for the year.

* Chamber recognizes James Finch for accomplishments, names him "Educator of the Year."

* Larry McDowell is named the 2008 Community Service Award winner by the Daily Dunklin Democrat.

* Harris Pharmacy wins Image Maker Award from the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

* Copper thieves sink to new lows by stealing copper, aluminum, and bronze vases from headstones at area cemeteries.

*Additonal year in review excerpts will appear in the Tuesday, Dec. 30 edition of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.