Stories from Sunday, December 20, 2009

BERNIE -- Virginia C. Taylor, 67, died Dec. 17, 2009, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- William Edward Wren Sr., 73, died at 6:18 p.m. Dec. 18, 2009, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are with the Blanchard Funeral Chapel of Sikeston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Gretha Lee McCants, 85, died Dec. 17, 2009, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are with the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

RUSKIN, Fla. -- Helen Harrison, 83, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Dec. 9, 2009 at her home. Funeral arrangements are with the Hamilton Memorial Park Chapel in Westfield, Ind. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHAFFEE -- Virginia Lea Hendrix, 66, died Dec. 18, 2009, at the family home. Born Aug. 17, 1943, at Bloomfield, to the late Harvey and Martha Jennings Funeral arrangements are with the Amick-Burnett Chapel in Chaffee. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CLARKTON -- Things might have been different if the Risco Tigers could have duplicated their second half performance. After getting down by as much as 30 points on Friday night the Tigers quickly closed that gap to just 12 points late in the fourth quarter. However, it was too big of a hill to climb with not enough time to do it...

KENNETT -- The Kennett Indians rolled past Portageville 70-48 Friday night. Kennett led 35-21 at halftime and increased their lead in the third to win going away. Portageville (3-2) was led by Isaac Ray's 15 points. PORTAGEVILLE -- Isaac Ray 15, Fred Treadwell 9, Fernando Minnis 7, Jake Young 5, Caden Robbins 4, Tevin Walker 5, Jansen Darst 2, Rondraius Booker 1. Totals: 19 9-16 48...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Turnovers, lack of rebounding and inadequate free throw shooting led to a Notre Dame Bulldogs victory on Friday evening as the trio of woes plagued the Sikeston Bulldogs in their first loss of the season, 66-61. The five point margin of victory was a struggle for Notre Dame to accomplish, but it didn't seem that way from the opening tip. ...

SIKESTON -- In a typical year, most taxpayers look to qualify for the most deductions possible. And with some new credits and deductions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there are plenty of ways to maximize returns. "It's been an interesting year for taxes because there have been so many opportunities for people to reduce their tax bill," said Michael Devine, IRS media relations for Missouri and Kansas. ...

MOREHOUSE -- Donning his Santa suit complete with black boots and white beard, Robbie Cochran entered Mattie Trum's kindergarten class and greeted her students with a loud "Ho, ho, ho!" The kindergartners jumped up and down, shouting: "Santa! Santa!" and "I love you!"...

CHARLESTON -- Police are searching for a suspect involved in a shooting that left a Charleston man injured. According to a news release from the Charleston Department of Public Safety, at 8:47 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report a person had been shot at the intersection of Vine and Elm Streets in Charleston...

SIKESTON -- If a picture is worth a thousand words, a forthcoming book about Sikeston may be worth half a million. "Sikeston, Missouri: A Pictorial History" is slated for release in 2010, according to the book's committee/section editors, Janice Matthews, Betty Johns, Dottie Limbaugh and Mike Marsh...