Stories from Wednesday, July 22, 2009

BALLWIN -- Mary J. Rakestraw, 88, formerly of Sikeston, died July 4, 2009. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

NEW HAMBURG -- Marie Ellen Kern, 78, died July 20, 2009, at Chaffee Nursing Center. Funeral arrangements are with the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

ESSEX -- Woodrow Gaylord, 88, died July 22, 2009, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

DALLAS, Ga. -- Joel Tatroe, 72, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died July 20, 2009, at Wellstar Community Hospice in Austell. Funeral arrangements are with the Benson Funeral Home of Dallas. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

BLOOMFIELD -- Lowell "John" Green, 84, died July 21, 2009, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. Funeral arrangements are with the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Jeffery Lee Hicks, 45, died at 12:09 a.m. July 21, 2009, at St. Louis University Hospital. Funeral arrangements are with the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

KENTUCKY LAKE -- The Bootheel BassBusters held their sixth tournament of the year, a dusk and dawn event, on the Saturday evening of July 11 and the Sunday morning of July 12. Mitch Allen won his second consecutive tournament and fourth of the year with nine bass weighing 21 pounds...

SIKESTON-- Sikeston Area Youth Baseball officials and players are busy preparing for two exciting weekends. The Cal Ripken 10-year-old State Tournament will begin this Thursday at the Sikeston Complex, with the 14-year old State Tournament to follow beginning the 30th at VFW Memorial Stadium...

Baseball has long been known as America's favorite pastime. However, when one grows too old for his sport or chooses a career path in life over a few hundred thousand, he must find the next best thing. Enter Wiffle ball. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs track team showed up at every event wearing a Sikeston track shirt that featured Superman's 'S' across the chest. For the past few years, one of those athletes has lived up to the logo pasted on his chest, the 2009 Standard Democrat Male Athlete of the Year, Cal Lane...

BENTON -- Consolidation of 911 centers in Scott County is the key to keeping 911 viable, according to Scott County officials. Tom Beardslee, 911 director for Scott County, Commissioner Donnie Kiefer and Joel Evans, emergency management director for the county, met with officials from Scott City, Chaffee and the North Scott County Ambulance District following the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday...

SIKESTON -- A family-oriented concert and play slated for Saturday in Sikeston will feature actors portraying their characters from a TBS sitcom and stage play. Set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Field House, the program will feature David Mann and Tamela Mann, who star in Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns" on TBS...

MOREHOUSE -- Benji is a good dog. Sandy-colored, he loves attention and has a lot of energy. "He's a cute little dog," said Pete Leija, mayor of Morehouse. "Kids just love him and he's a good dog." For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...