Stories from Tuesday, March 8, 2011

JEFFERSON CITY--Due to the weather forecast calling for precipitation tomorrow, March 8, the National Weather Service has postponed Tuesday's scheduled annual statewide tornado drill. The new date for the drill will be Thursday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. The weather forecast calls for sunshine on Thursday. The change to Thursday is for the entire state of Missouri...

DEXTER -- Thelma Branum, 83, died March 8, 2011, in the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Vera Silman, 77, died March 7, 2011, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete.

SIKESTON -- Lucille Page, 97, died March 7, 2011, at the Miner Nursing Center. Arrangements are incomplete.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for services for Janie Murphy, 55, who died March 6, 2011, will be: Lloyd Latham, Lloyd Rice, Rodney Frazier, Bill Ross, Bo Hoskins and Brent Horton. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Debbie McDowell, 53, formerly of Wappapello, died March 5, 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...

CHARLESTON -- Mary Frances Tosti, 97, died March 6, 2011, at the Clearview Nursing 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 COLUMBIA -- At this stage, every team is capable and worthy of winning two games and hoisting a trophy. And even though they carry a spotless record and have been ranked the No. 1 team in Class 4 for countless weeks, the Sikeston Bulldogs aren't looking past anyone -- starting with the St. Joseph Lafayette Fighting Irish...

SIKESTON - Threatening the Sikeston Department of Public Safety has landed a St. Louis man in jail. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON - A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Sikeston man for illegal narcotics and possession of a stolen firearm. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

BENTON -- Three Chaffee men are in custody following an investigation into a string of local burglaries. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- The man accused of firing a gun into the air at a Sikeston business on Friday now faces charges. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- This year's city street program came in almost $80,000 below the projected cost. Sikeston City Council members awarded construction contracts as recommended by staff for the 2011 Street and Stormwater Drainage Improvement Program during their regular monthly meeting Monday...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The city of Sikeston may take over dispatching for a local ambulance district. During Monday's regular City Council meeting, Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden presented Council members with information regarding a proposal for DPS to dispatch for the South Scott County Ambulance District...

Scores from the Standard Democrat coverage area on March 8