Stories from Friday, October 9, 2009

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- The Rev. Brian S. Fraction, 55, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Oct. 4, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are with the Williams Funeral Home of Charleston, Mo. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Gary Dale McDermott, 61, died at 3:10 a.m. Oct. 8, 2009, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are with the McMikle Funeral Home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

MATTHEWS -- Price David Baker, 78, died Oct. 8, 2009, at Sell's Close to Home Nursing Center in Matthews. Funeral arrangements are with the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Irene Estes Kruse, 97, died Oct. 7, 2009, in the Cypress Point Health Care in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

RICHLAND HILLS, Texas -- Carolyn Maxine Lyles, 71, formerly of Oran, Mo., died Oct. 6, 2009, at Texas Health Harris HEB in Bedford. Funeral arrangements are with the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

sd_sports@yahoo.com DEXTER -- Keeping the ball in the air and off their side of the floor is priority No. 1. Whether it was from diving, digs from inches off the ground or one-handed tips the Dexter Lady Bearcats' defense led the way in their straight set win over the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules on Thursday night...

sd_sports@yahoo.com SIKESTON -- Heavy rain that fell overnight and during the day on Thursday, as well as more that is expected today, has forced some changes in local sports action. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, is calling attention to potential funding opportunities available to Missouri communities for energy efficiency and conservation block grants funded through the Federal Recovery Act. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Pemiscot County man was sentenced Thursday to federal prison on multiple federal charges. Timmy Nathan Johnson, 49, of Caruthersville was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment on one felony count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of money laundering and one counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County may get more Emergency Watershed Protection Program funding this round than anticipated. Steve Jones, county commissioner, provided an update on the Natural Resources Conservation Service's EWP program during the regular County Commission meeting Thursday...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Due to popular demand, the public has a few more days to sift through unclaimed professional portraits of individuals, teams and businesses that span 30 years. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

BENTON -- A Benton man is in jail following his Thursday arrest on sexual-related charges. Gregory H. McElroy, 44, is charged with statutory sodomy in the first degree. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

michellef@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County motorists will soon see a change in some road signs. During Thursday's commission meeting, Joel Evans, county developer and emergency management manager, updated officials on information he's found since he brought up the notion of using larger, easier-to-read signs a few weeks ago. He suggested using hexagon-shaped signs, like older versions...

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