SIKESTON — A Sikeston man has been arrested on murder charges two weeks after a woman was found dead in her home. Fabayan Larry, 37, of Sikeston is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action for the Sept. 18 death of 49-year-old Carolyn Kelso Hann...

**UPDATE: Jonathan O'Dell who escaped from Phelps County Jail was taken into custody without incident in Ray County at approximately 5 p.m Sunday, Oct. 1 by the FBI, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Ray County Sheriff's Office.** The FBI and Phelps County Sheriff’s Office are searching for an inmate who escaped the Phelps County Jail at approximately 11:09 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Inmate Jonathan S. O’Dell and another inmate, Steven Timothy Scott, escaped by comprising the structural integrity of the cell and exiting the building. A short time later, Scott turned himself in. O’Dell is facing federal charges...

Avery Fritz, center, was crowned Junior Miss Sikeston during the contest during the 79th American Legion Cotton Carnival Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds. First runner-up was Gelaiya McCray, left, and second runner-up was Kennedi Sims...

Young attendees of the 79th Annual Sikeston American Legion Cotton Carnival enjoy a ride together Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds.

SIKESTON — Sikeston’s annual fall community clean-up program is back this year and will take place over the course of nine days.  This year’s fall cleanup will take place from Saturday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 29.  Darren Martin, street supervisor, said items can be dropped off at the compost site on Compress Road between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily...

Allison Jones, daughter of Joey Jones, is the Standard Democrat’s Calendar Girl for October. Jones, a finalist in the 2022 Miss Sikeston Contest, is currently completing a clinical medical assistant program which she will graduate from in May. She hopes to finish her certification course and start a career focused on medical assisting and phlebotomy. ...

SIKESTON — Sikeston High School has entered the digital arena with its recently added electronic sports, or eSports, team. The league is an organized competitive video gaming teams for girls and guys.  SHS eSports head coach Alex Mays assisted in getting eSports launched at Sikeston High School and said he’s looking forward to Sikeston’s first full school year with eSports as the program launched in the district in January...

The Garwood and Ruth Felker Sharp Community Outreach Fund recently provided a $1,000 tuition assistance to The Christian Academy. The fund was created and funded by the Sharp family under the leadership of Ruth Felker Sharp to support and encourage various missions and activities in her hometown of Sikeston. The grant will be used to offset tuition costs for a TCA student. Pictured are, from left: kindergarten student Lola Rogers, TCA Administrator Mike Jensen and Harry G. Sharp...