Stories from Thursday, February 5, 2009

DEXTER -- Dennis Ray Ritch, 54, died Feb. 3, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are with the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

JONESVILLE, La. -- William Sikes "Billy" Baker III, 52, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Jan. 29, 2009, at his home. Funeral arrangements are with Young's Funeral Home of Jonesville. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Marie Elizabeth Hibbing, 86, died Feb. 1, 2009. Funeral arrangements are with the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City, Mo. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Ruth Heitman, 83, died Feb. 2, 2009, in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

PLEASANT HILL -- Pallbearers for services conducted today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston for Resa Agcopra, 45, who died on Feb. 2, 2009, were: Rhyne McCoy, Seth Strunk, Scooter Haynes, Josh Holmes, Chris Strader, Brandon Wilson, Dusty Agcopra and Brian Stevens...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Harold Gene Lemons, 71, passed away at 12:40 p.m. Feb. 3, 2009, in the Missouri Delta Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHAFFEE -- Arthur Lawrence Westrich, 83, died at 11 a.m. Feb. 4, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. -- Nadine Ferrell Shuppert, 84, died at her home in Jensen Beach on Jan. 27, 2009. Funeral arrangements are with the Jones Funeral Home in La Center, Ky. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Lawrence W. Murray, 92, formerly of Columbia, died Feb. 3, 2009, at his home in Sikeston. Funeral arrangements are with the Ponder Funeral Home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON - More Southeast Missouri residents are back on line. By late afternoon Wednesday, the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities reported about 60 percent of the city is now operating on electrical power. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.
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BENTON -- The ball is now rolling for Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties to receive state and federal assistance in cleaning up from the winter storms that hit the area last week. Teams with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Association and State Emergency Management Association met Tuesday in New Madrid County and Wednesday in Scott and Mississippi counties for a preliminary disaster assessment...

SIKESTON -- Those with tickets to Friday and Saturday's Wildlife Suppers at the Sikeston First Assembly of God had their meals delayed but the church gained yet another opportunity to minister to the community. With Annual Wildlife Suppers scheduled for Jan. 30 and 31, the church had plenty of food on hand. And with the whole town and surrounding area losing power due to last week's ice storm, the Sikeston Senior High School Field House had plenty of hungry people to feed...

SIKESTON -- If you've ever wanted to go the Sikeston First Assembly of God's Annual Wildlife Supper but didn't receive an invitation, now is your chance. This year's event is open to the community for the first time ever, said Ron Tate, the church's senior pastor...

EAST PRAIRIE - A storm which left Southeast Missouri in shambles now has claimed the lives of a mother and daughter. Jeanice Griffin, 58, and her adopted daughter, Kaitlyn Beckett, 17, were found dead in their home Wednesday morning. New Madrid County Coroner Jim McSpadden has attributed the deaths to carbon monoxide poisoning...

ST. CHARLES -- Several local high school football players signed letters of intent to play football at Lindenwood in 2009. The Lions, coached by Patrick Ross, have won 21 games in the last two seasons and lost by one point in the 2008 NAIA Championship Football Series semifinals last season...

SIKESTON -- While progress is being made restoring power across the area it is also being made restoring basketball schedules. The Sikeston Bulldogs have a slate full of games for the next few days as they will take on the Kelly Hawks tonight at 6 p.m., the Poplar Bluff Mules on Friday and have rescheduled a game that was missed from mid-December against Perryville on Monday. They have also rescheduled a game against Jackson on Saturday, Feb. 14...