Stories from Monday, December 28, 2009

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A hot start gave way to the exploration of the bench for Scott Central head coach Kenyon Wright on Saturday morning as his Braves squad blew away the Kelly Hawks 90-22. The top-seeded Scott Central squad is in search of a repeat crown in the 2009 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, held at the Show Me Center...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Ruth Byassee, 88, died at 8:05 p.m. Dec. 27, 2009, in the East Prairie Nursing Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

SIKESTON - Elizabeth "Betty" Marshall, 82, died Dec. 28, 2009, at Clearview Nursing Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

BLOOMFIELD -- Curtis B. Hardy, 86, died Dec. 25, 2009, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. 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 -- Paul Watkins Northington, 71, died Dec. 25, 2009, at his home. Nunnelee 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 -- Larry Donell "Larro" Scott, 49, died Dec. 24, 2009, at the Charleston Manor Skilled Nursing Facility. Williams Funeral Home in 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...

SIKESTON -- Charles Thomas Bratcher, 63, formerly of Piggott, Ark., died Dec. 25, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston 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...

DEXTER -- Daisy Ruth Schaefer, 82, formerly of Bernie, died Dec. 25, 2009, in the Golden Living Center in Dexter. Arrangements are with 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...

SIKESTON -- Parents who are looking for ways to keep the kids entertained over their holiday break from school have more opportunities than they may think. Sikeston Public Library children's librarian Ann Thompson said visiting the library is one great activity for children, but parents can also get many ideas while in the library...

SIKESTON -- A man is in custody following an armed robbery of a Sikeston business on Christmas Eve. The Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a call around 9:22 p.m. Thursday in regards to an armed robbery at Fas Gas, 600 N. Main. A male suspect later identified as Mareno Jones, 22, reportedly walked into the business brandishing a weapon and demanded all the cash. He then ran out the door with an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene...

Shoppers hit Sikeston retail stores in full force on Saturday morning to catch post-Christmas sales. Above, some search for deals in the holiday section. Holiday shoppers spent a little more this season, according to data released Monday, giving merchants some reason for cheer. ...

DUDLEY -- At least five people -- including a Sikeston man -- died of injuries sustained in auto accidents over the weekend. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 11:10 p.m., Richard L. Hale, 45, of Sikeston was driving northbound on Route WW, five miles north of Dudley, when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a culvert and went airborne before striking a sign and overturning...

Maurine Brunkhorst CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Maurine Brunkhorst, 86, passed away Dec. 24, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn 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...

BLOOMFIELD -- The top seeds had very little trouble advancing in the first round of the 53rd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament on Saturday. Every game was won by more than a 20-point margin, except for the Richland/Malden game which saw the Rebels pull away in the fourth quarter for a 64-56 win...