News

SIKESTON — A house fire early Thursday in Sikeston has been deemed suspicious and is under investigation. At 4:38 a.m. fire crews responded to the 400 block of Ashley in reference to a report of a structure fire, according to Capt. Austin Henley, fire division commander for Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

James Buckley and Robyn Merideth are both candidates for Miner Police Chief on the June 2 ballot. The following is a Q&A with Merideth. When contacted, Buckley chose not to participate. Describe your background: Merideth: I have 11 years law enforcement experience, and have three beautiful children. ...

Jimmy Thomas Jr. and Phillip Winters are both candidates for Ward 1 alderman in Miner in the June 2 election. The following is a Q&A with each candidate. Messages left for Ward 2 candidates Kay Johnson and Billy Williams were not returned. Describe your background (family, career, social clubs):...

Positive coronavirus cases continue to increase locally while two more people have died in area counties related to COVID-19. The Scott County Health Department reported that ninth person has died in Scott County related to COVID-19. No further information was released about the death...

SIKESTON — A former Sikeston police officer charged in a deadly crash that occurred Feb. 29 has pleaded not guilty. Andrew Cooper, who is charged with one Class B felony count of driving while intoxicated and causing a death, one unclassified felony count of armed criminal action and three Class D felony counts of driving while intoxicated and causing serious physical injury, waived a formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday...

A fifth person has died in Stoddard County related to COVID-19. According to the Stoddard County Public Health Center, a resident of Crowley Ridge Nursing Home died at approximately 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. The death is the fifth from the outbreak at the nursing home...

CHARLESTON — Members of the Missouri National Guard were at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a plan to have sentinel testing at all Missouri Department of Corrections adult institutions. “We now have the necessary number of supplies to be able to meet the needs for testing our entire division of adult institutions, staff and offender populations, which is approximately 32,000 people,” said Anne Precythe, director of the Missouri Department of Corrections at Tuesday’s press conference with Missouri Gov. ...

SIKESTON — The City of Sikeston is seeking funding for a Regional Workforce Development Approach project that would be a cooperative effort between the Sikeston R-6 and New Madrid County R-1 School Districts. Approval to apply for the Community Development Block Grant funding was approved unanimously by Sikeston City Council at a meeting held by Zoom Tuesday afternoon...

SIKESTON — Following a two-month delay of the municipal elections due to COVID-19, voters in the Sikeston R-6 School District will decide on June 2 whether to approve a bond proposal to construct a new elementary building and a high school facility...

SIKESTON — For Alex Mayes, the proposed $18.6-million bond proposal to be decided by voters on June 2 will make all the difference to students, staff and community in the Sikeston R-6 School District. A 2009 graduate of Sikeston High School, Mayes has also worked the past two years as an English teacher at Sikeston High School, where he’s attended classes as a student and worked as a teacher in C building on the high school campus...

SIKESTON — Planning is still on schedule for the 2020 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. Despite the recent coronavirus pandemic occurrences, rodeo chairman Travis Deere said that he still plans on everyone showing up and putting on a quality show. He did add that there would be guidelines...

Another person died related to COVID-19 in Stoddard County over the weekend as local counties continue to see an increase in positive cases. The death is the fourth in Stoddard County, all related to an outbreak of the coronavirus at the Crowley Ridge Nursing Home. The Stoddard County Public Health Center last reported 74 positive cases with 42 of those active. There have been 28 recoveries and four deaths...

KENNETT, Mo. — A Kennett man was killed and four others injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday in Dunklin County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 3:50 p.m. on US 412 at east city limits of Kennett, the crash occurred as the westbound vehicle driven by Brenda K. Harris, 23, of Portageville, Mo., ran off the road and overcorrected into the path of the eastbound vehicle driven by James Shallie, 32, of Jonesboro, Ark. Shallie’s vehicle struck Harris’ vehicle in the right side...

SIKESTON — The Standard Democrat office will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday. We wish everyone a safe holiday.

New details of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s investigation into a Feb. 29 fatal two-vehicle crash in Sikeston, Missouri, were finalized and published in a 149-page crash reconstruction report, which includes body-camera footage, speed analyses and vehicular data captured from both vehicles’ internal computers...

Flags are seen at the Missouri National Veterans Memorial in Perryville. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Memorial Day ceremonies have been postponed, replaced by online ceremonies in some cases. See page 12 of Sunday's newspaper for details.

Emma Drury is the Standard Democrat’s Calendar Girl for April. Drury, the daughter of Fred and Heather Drury, will be attending Dyersburg State University where she will play college softball and major in early childhood education. Editor’s Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the April Calendar Girl is running in May...

The New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a War Eagle boat. The suspects forced entry into a farm shop north of Matthews during the night on May 20. The pewter-colored boat has a 115-horsepower Yamaha outboard motor. Anyone with information relating to the theft, is asked to contact Lt. Danny Ware at (573)748-0148 or the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office at (573)748-2516...

SIKESTON — Sikeston R-6 Hall of Fame and Honor Wall nomination forms are being accepted until June 1. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and/or teams who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to Sikeston R-6 Schools and brought honor to the school and community in athletics and school activities. The Honor Wall recognizes individuals and/or teams for their meritorious service to Sikeston R-6 Schools...

SIKESTON — Are you ready to enjoy some great food and have a good time? The 2020 Crawfish Boil is still on and will happen Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds. Headlining the event will be Little Texas, who won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Album of the Year in 1994, with “Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.”...

SIKESTON — A Sikeston man faces felony drug charges following a traffic stop in Scott County. DeAndre Markez Tipler, 29, is charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid; felony possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid; felony driving while revoked/suspended; and misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to online court records...

Two additional positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Scott County. According to the Scott County Health Department Friday afternoon, two women, one over the age of 80 and another between the ages of 60-69 tested positive in Scott County. There are just 16 active cases with 91 total positive cases to date. There have been 67 residents that have recovered with eight deaths...

Five candidates, Justin Cashmer, Don Foster, Peggy Holman, Bill James and Frank Tatum are vying for mayor of Miner in the June 2 election. The following is a Q&A with all five candidates. Describe your background: Cashmer: I was born and raised in Sikeston. ...

SIKESTON — Guidelines are in force for the upcoming Sikeston Area Youth Baseball League (SAYB) season. A statement was sent out by the SAYB board last week with 14 areas for fans, coaches, players, and staff. The season will begin on June 1. The statement said that team schedules would more than likely not be available before Tuesday, and that the Missouri Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth organizations told the board to plan for all-star tournaments after the season...

SIKESTON — A former Sikeston police officer has been formally charged for his alleged involvement in a February fatal in Scott County. Andrew J. Cooper, 47, a captain with Sikeston Department of Public Safety who resigned early this month, faces charges in the Feb. 29 crash that killed a 22-year-old Sikeston woman and seriously injured four others, including himself...