Region digest 12/7

Sikeston woman killed in one-vehicle accident

VANDUSER, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., woman was killed Wednesday night when she was involved in a one-vehicle accident near Vanduser.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Doris Jean Hull Stokes, 43, was driving on Scott County Road 445, three miles north of Vanduser when her vehicle ran off the road and struck a tree and ditch. She was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Oak Ridge Boys brings Yule show to Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Concert at 6:30 p.m. today will bring with it the biggest stage production ever seen at the Black River Coliseum.

"The thing that's going to surprise people is the size of the production," said Jim Hoyt of Larry Hillis Dodge, a concert sponsor.

There will be seven Christmas trees, snow, a Santa Claus and singing elves.

While the concert is a celebration of Christmas, it also will feature the group's traditional hits, like "Elvira." There will be gospel and patriotic music with a Christmas theme finale.

Elk killed on I-55 thought from Bluff area

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An 800-pound elk killed by a motorist on I-55 near the Kewanee junction on Oct. 4 was thought to be the same elk Rick Davis spotted in a Butler County rice field in September.

The New Madrid County sheriff's office reported the elk hit a 1998 jeep driven by Michael Sample Jr. of Memphis, Tenn. Sample was not injured.

A deputy reported that "the driver said he was driving along and there was a big deer in the middle of the roadway" and that he didn't see it in time.

The elk was found dead on the side of the highway a half mile from the accident site.

It is about 50 miles between the rice farm where the elk was spotted and the Kewanee junction.

Christmas parade set Saturday at East Prairie

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- The sixth annual Country Christmas Parade will get under way at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The festive, colorful and brightly lit event is a highlight of the community's Christmas celebration, said officials with the East Prairie Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the event. It will be held in the downtown area amid the city's holiday light display.

Featured will be several floats, marching bands, numerous walking units, twirler and dance units, Christmas pageant winners, holiday characters, horses and carriages, decorated vehicles. Of course, no Christmas parade is complete without a visit from Santa Claus.

A special tribute to America and the community's veterans is planned. Area Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, the National Guard and ROTC units from area schools will also participate in paying honor to the United States as well as past and present military personnel.

-- From Southeast Missouri News Service reports