Stories from Sunday, July 25, 2010

The political discussion -- and there's lots of it these days -- is focused on the upcoming November elections and the potential change that could be in store. With Democrats now enjoying a solid majority in both the House and Senate, a change in voter attitudes could completely change the dynamics and direction in Washington...

ST LOUIS -- Katie Green, 81, formerly of Diehlstadt, died at 11:15 p.m. July 23, 2010, at St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Patsy Gammons Hailey, 72, died July 23, 2010, at Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are incomplete with DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.

SIKESTON -- Dorothy H. Payne, 89, died July 23, 2010, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Marquita Williams, 19, died July 22, 2010 at her home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Sweeping all three games of their pool play Friday in the Midwest Plains Regional Babe Ruth Tournament, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs 14-and-under squad secured the second-seed in this weekend's double-elimination bracket play. "First of all, our defense was outstanding," Sikeston coach Rick Tidwell said after his team's second win of the day. "Paige Sailors is our pitcher and she's been a workhorse since last night and she just pitched a great game."...

SIKESTON -- After coming out of the first inning with a 1-1 tie against the Mineral Area Fusion Friday afternoon in the Midwest Plains Babe Ruth Regional Tournament, the Heartland Nationals 10-and-under team saw the game quickly slip away as they fell to the Fusion 14-1 to end pool play...

SIKESTON -- After storming back to make it a 7-5 game, the 10 and under Sikeston Lady Dogs finished off a nail-biter in seven innings to defeat the Monett All-Stars 9-8 in the 2010 Babe Ruth Softball Midwest Plains Regional at the Sikeston Sports Complex...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man was arrested Thursday when detectives with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety located more than 6 grams of crack cocaine during a traffic stop. Around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, DPS received information of suspicious activity near the Ann and Cole street area, according to a news release from Sgt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for DPS. "The caller believed a subject was selling narcotics out of a vehicle," he said...

MATTHEWS - A fuel tax, which could fuel improvements to the community, will go before Matthews residents on Aug. 3. Matthews city officials will conduct two meetings - at 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the Community Building - to discuss their decision to put the 1 cent per gallon fuel tax on the ballot. The revenue from the tax will be restricted for use of construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, policing, signage, lighting and the cleaning of roads and streets...

SIKESTON -- Winning his first Emmy award last month was a major career highlight for broadcast journalist and Sikeston native Cody Alcorn. But the 27-year-old news anchor and reporter for the FOX affiliate, WHNS FOX Carolina, in Greenville, S.C., said he has more to prove -- to the industry and to himself...

SIKESTON -- Thanks to a grant, as well as a donation from one of its partners, the Community Sheltered Workshop is now offering a new service, which also helps the environment. For the past few weeks, the Sheltered Workshop has been using a recently purchased machine to grind large pieces of scrap wood into mulch and then dye it...