Stories from Sunday, January 16, 2011

QULIN -- Stanley Ervin Shumpert, 64, formerly of Chaffee, 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.

EAST PRAIRIE - Virginia Sue Howard, 69, died at 4:10 a.m. Jan. 15, 2011, in the East Prairie Nursing Center. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- William Edward O'Neal Jr., 67, died Jan. 14, 2011, 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...

BLOOMFIELD - Eva Wilson,96, died Jan. 14, 2011, at her home in Bloomfield. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

BERNIE -- Following up one of the greatest seasons in the history of the school in which they made it all the way to the Class 2 state championship game, this year's Bernie Mules have been a team searching for that one statement victory that assures them that they are once again a contender...

CHAFFEE -- After having scored just four points in the first three quarters of Kelly's game against Chaffee Friday night, Hawks senior Trey Drury couldn't have picked a better moment to get hot. With his team down by nine and only 6:04 to play in the fourth, Drury scored the first two of his 15 points in the frame to lead Kelly (2-8) back from the brink and on to a 68-64 win...

SIKESTON -- The focus when playing the Scott County Central Braves is limiting Otto Porter. As great as a challenge that is, senior Stewart Johnson is always ready and willing to take some of the pressure off of his 6-8 teammate whether he needs it or not...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Recycling is good, but making a mess near the recycling trailer can result in the end of a good thing. Mississippi County Commissioner Steve Jones is looking for a convenient location in East Prairie for the Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop's recycling bin -- again...

Rep. Ellen Brandom of Sikeston has introduced a bill in the Missouri Legislature that would require drug testing for some welfare recipients. The bill will be debated this week and, were I a betting man, I'd says odds are good that the measure will be approved...

SIKESTON -- Stock up on tissues, over-the-counter pain relievers and cold medicines because the flu season is here. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity is increasing in the United States but has likely not yet peaked for season. For the week ending Jan. 8 -- the most recent data available -- the CDC reported Missouri had regional geographic flu activity...

SIKESTON -- Since the donation of land to be transformed into a Three Rivers Community College campus in Sikeston was announced last May, the bulk of the work has been done behind-the-scenes. But those in the Sikeston area will see a lot more action in the coming weeks...

SIKESTON -- The Standard Democrat will not publish a paper Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the offices will be closed. Regular publication will resume Tuesday with normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.