Stories from Wednesday, December 16, 2009

SIKESTON -- David Baker, 43, died Dec. 14, 2009, at his home in Sikeston. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Janet Kearby, 52, formerly of East Prairie, died at 12:45 a.m Dec. 16, 2009, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

WAPPAPELLO -- William Franklin "Bill" Tally Jr., 74, died Dec. 15, 2009, at his home. Arrangements are with DeLisle Funeral Home in Charleston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

GRAND RIVERS, Ky. -- Anabelle Larkins, 80, formerly of Dorena, Mo., died Dec. 14, 2009, at her home. Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie is in charge of arrangements. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Verntasia Zykira Haynes Moore, 4, died Dec. 11, 2009, at the St. Louis Children's Hospital. Williams Funeral Home of Charleston in charge of arrangements. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHAFFEE -- Charles Wayne Moit Sr., 62, died Dec. 7, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Veatrice Wilson, 81, died Dec. 11, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Williams Funeral Home of Charleston is in charge of arrangements. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

I cornered a small businessman in St. Louis over the weekend and asked the question probably heard before: "How's business?" With honesty not always afforded to a stranger, he told me that his business was "off" slightly from the past but that his current sales were not his prime concern. He said he was afraid at what lays ahead...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Taking care of the ball was the first thing New Madrid County Central junior Keith Holmes wanted to do on Tuesday night against Notre Dame. Especially, after losing 60-42 to the Bulldogs last Friday night in the SEMO Conference tournament where the junior had to step into the point guard role usually played by the recently injured senior Dontre Jenkins...

PERRYVILLE -- The Sikeston Bulldogs basketball team traveled north up I-55 to Perryville on Tuesday night and cruised back home with an 83-25 victory. The Bulldogs racked up 183 points in two nights as they improve to 7-0 on the season heading into Friday's road contest against Notre Dame...

BENTON -- Scott County commissioners approved two pieces of paperwork required to establish the county's Enhanced Enterprise Zone. During their regular meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved a strategic economic development plan presented Dec. 8 by Steve Duke, executive director of the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission at Dexter...

SIKESTON -- They have the cornerstone, now they are looking for those willing to build a better future for the community. Members of the Cornerstone Baptist Church, 127 W. Trotter St., presented their plans to construct a family life outreach center to community leaders recently. L.J. Nabors, pastor, explained he and the congregation see the center as providing a place for the town's young people to use after school and weekends...

SIKESTON -- As Sikeston and Charleston are charter cities, filing in those cities was held from Oct. 13 until Nov. 17. "That's in order to hit the primary election on Feb. 2," said Sikeston City Clerk Carroll Couch. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Filing for local school board races began Tuesday, and while many incumbents are seeking re-election, other school districts had no one file for their open positions. In Sikeston R-6 School District, incumbents Paul Boyd and Scott Crumpecker were the only two to file for candidacy on opening day. ...

A customer decides which shipping box she wants to use as U.S. Postal Service employee Yolanda Holt waits Tuesday in Sikeston. While Monday was the biggest day to take in mail during the holiday season, Tuesday and today are the biggest days for postal workers to push out the mail, according to Sikeston Postmaster Craig Slate...