Stories from Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Bulldogs defeated the Blytheville Chickasaws 68-43 on the road in their season opener.

One in five Americans suffer from mentally illness. Or at least that's the finding from a recently-released report from government researchers. Now over the years, I have grown increasingly wary of "government studies" because I suspect that too often the studies simply reflect the thinking of the researchers. But that's an opinion, not necessarily a fact...

SIKESTON -- Earl Wayne Burks, 66, died Nov. 30, 2010, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

MATTHEWS -- Donald Paul Tidwell, 52, died at 11:10 a.m. Nov. 27, 2010, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Robert Dale "Bob" Fletcher, 65, died at 3:14 p.m. Nov. 29, 2010, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

BERTRAND -- George Fred Tidwell, 83, died Nov. 29, 2010 at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

PUXICO -- William C. "Bill" Stroud, 79, died Nov. 22, 2010, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

PUXICO -- Charles E. Placher, 73, died Nov. 30, 2010, at his home near Puxico. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

BELMONT, Miss. -- Katie Ann Kinder, 66, died Nov. 24, 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 -- Shirley Pace, 75, died Nov. 25, 2010, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Frances Maumee Johnson, 46, died Nov. 30, 2010 at her home near Charleston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

VAN ALSTYNE, Texas -- Howard Lee O'Connor, 65, formerly of Anniston, Mo., died at 8:59 p.m. Nov. 27, 2010, at the Meadowbrook Care Center in Van Alstyne. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Paul E. "Gene" Collins, 85, died Nov. 29, 2010, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

NEW MADRID -- For the past four years, the staff at the New Madrid County Health Department has worked to make the public aware of the problems of physical inactivity and obesity. Now as grant funding for the program is nearing an end, the staff hopes to tap into the community to keep the good work going...

BENTON -- The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence's new facility in Benton will be a welcome addition to Scott County. Tammy Gwaltney, director of the SEMO-NASV, met with Scott County Commissioners during their regular meeting Tuesday to provide an "update on what's happening with our organization, particularly in this county," she said...

Tiffany Johnson is the December Standard Democrat Calendar. A 2010 graduate of Sikeston High School, Johnson is an entertainment management major at Missouri State University in Springfield. She is the daughter of Mary and Jeff Stoner and Chuck and Tara Johnson...

Dexter scored the last six points of regulation to send the game to overtime, but Charleston prevailed 72-70.

Richland advanced to the tournament semifinals while Bell City will play for the consolation title.

Check out the players from the Sikeston Standard Democrat's coverage area that were named to the all-region football team by the media.