Stories from Tuesday, August 24, 2010

STEELE -- Kenneth V. "Porky" McCoy, 53, passed away Aug. 22, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Lula Gaines, 90, died Aug. 23, 2010 in the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete.

SIKESTON -- Thurman R. Willis, 82, died at 2 a.m. Aug. 24, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete.

BLOOMFIELD -- Alleen Green, 86, died Aug. 23, 2010, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Daniel S. Norton, 76, died Aug. 23, 2010, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete.

ROCKVIEW -- William Leonard Tucker, 79, died Aug. 22, 2010, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Sandra Sue "Sandy" Lutes, 70, died Aug. 23, 2010, at Missouri Delta Center in Sikeston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

sd_sports@yahoo.com NEELYVILLE -- The Chaffee Lady Devils got their 2010 softball season started just the way they wanted with a 9-8 win over the Neelyville Lady Tigers on Monday afternoon. After Chaffee established a comfortable 9-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, Nellyville stormed back with five runs of their own. The Lady Devils, however, were able to hold them one run shy of a tie and eventually hold on for the win...

sd_sports@yahoo.com SIKESTON -- After jumping on top early, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs were able to hold the visiting Farmington Knightettes scoreless all seven innings of play, winning 4-0 to open their season. "The girls came out really focused," Lady Bulldog's coach Tiffany Morgan said. "I have a bunch of seniors that are chomping at the bit to get that district championship and they came out focused and ready."...

sd_sports@yahoo.com CHARLESTON -- With the Charleston football team coming off two straight 1-9 seasons, new coach Brett Blackman is hoping this will be the year the Bluejays finally start turning things in the right direction. "We know we're in a rebuilding year.," he said. "We talked about that with the kids. There are going to be times that we take our licks this year...

michellef@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- In an effort to increase its efficiency, SEMO Electric Company has installed new smart meters for some 16,000 customers in the six counties it serves. "These are just a great tool," said Brad Milam, systems engineer...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Repeating the success Sikeston had with The Moving Wall Vietnam veterans memorial 19 years ago is a task requiring months of planning and hard work -- and plenty of volunteers. "We're in excellent shape as far as being prepared," said Tom Austin, chairman of Firebase Sikeston, the group responsible for bring the Wall here in both 1991 and 2010. "Now we need to get the word out that it's going to be here and we're needing some help."...

sd_sports@yahoo.com EAST PRAIRIE -- East Prairie senior Conner Scott wasn't sure if his Eagles belonged in the state playoffs last year. It was the first time in 15 years that any Eagles team had made it there as nerves and inexperience in the post season engulfed each player in their first round loss to Crystal City which ended their season...