Stories from Sunday, November 28, 2010

SCOTT CITY -- Carolyn Kay Keesee, 63, died Nov. 25, 2010, at her home in Scott City. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

PARMA -- Georgia Mae Parker, 84, died Nov. 25, 2010, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition....

PORTAGEVILLE -- Donnie Wayne Buck, 62, died Nov. 26, 2010, at Portageville. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Bertha Hazel Robinson, 90, died Nov. 24, 2010, at the Gideon Care Center in Gideon. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Martha L. Brown, 65, died at 7:52 p.m. Nov. 27, 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...

QULIN -- Stanley Ervin Shumpert, 64, died Nov. 21, 2010, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Jerry Mofield, 75, died Nov. 26, 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.

Once upon a time, I considered myself a fairly good trivia expert. For some odd reason, I have decent recall of trivial bits of flotsam and jetsam from music, sports, entertainment, history, etc. I clearly don't fall in the "expert" category but on occasion, I even amaze myself with recall of factoids that have no significance whatsoever. In short, it's a fairly useless "talent" for lack of a better word...

Kevin Harbison, far right, sings to Madelyn Dambach "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing," featured in the upcoming production of "White Christmas." The students at New Madrid County Central are rehearsing the Irving Berlin musical which will be performed at the school Dec. ...

SIKESTON -- For those who lost out on a specific item or who simply opted out of Black Friday, they may find just what they're looking for if they choose to shop online during Cyber Monday. As many as 79 million people shopped on Black Friday last holiday season, but that doesn't touch the 96.5 million who shopped online for Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation...

SIKESTON -- The Missouri Department of Transportation's annual chili dinner does more than provide a warm meal -- it warms the lives of many children. The "Christmas Angels" program, which grants Christmas wishes for less fortunate families, is now in its 24th year. And members of the public can participate by placing an order for Thursday's lunch...

PORTAGEVILLE - The Missouri National Guard has reversed its decision on closing the Portageville Armory. In a statement, the Missouri National Guard said has now completed its comprehensive review of the inventory of National Guard armories throughout the state...

SIKESTON -- Some rural nonprofit organizations are benefitting from local farmers' crop production and from a bit of their luck, too. In January, Monsanto created America's Farmers Grow Communities Project, which allows farmers to register to win $2,500 for their favorite community charity. The initial program made awards through a random selection in Arkansas, Iowa and Missouri -- including farmers in Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi and Stoddard counties...

SIKESTON -- With returners such as two time all-stater Blake Angle, this year looks to be another strong season for the Bulldogs on the mat. "(Fellow coaches) Charles Michael and Kit Eifert have done a great job so far this season with instilling the mental toughness that it takes to be good in this sport," head coach Seth Harrell said. "We have some guys that have a lot of experience and that are looking to build off of successful seasons last year."...

NEW MADRID -- The Charleston Bluejays began their season on a positive note by downing 6-5 senior Ky Madden and the East Poinsett County Warriors, 69-62 on Friday during the first day of the New Madrid County Central Riverbend Classic. "It's a great win for us," Charleston head coach Danny Farmer said. "Considering the team, their resume, their biography, it's a great win for us."...

NEW MADRID -- Finding themselves down by 24 at the half, the New Madrid County Central Eagles were unable to keep up with a high scoring West Memphis Blue Devil's offense that kept pumping out points in the second half. With 11 players on West Memphis' roster contributing at least a basket, the Blue Devils rolled to a 58-23 win...

NEW MADRID -- Despite 27 first half points for Scott Central's Otto Porter, the Scott County Central Braves lost their season opener to the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats on the first day of the New Madrid County Central Riverbend Classic on Friday, 68-60...