Stories from Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The political season is in full swing as the Republicans one by one start to plunge their names into the Presidential campaign. The early runners must now make way for the more prominent names and there remains a host of lesser-known hopefuls who are starting to make waves...

SPRINGFIELD -- Already defying the expectations of everyone but the most diehard Bluejay fans, Charleston enters the start of today's Class 2 Show Me Showdown just two wins from the first state baseball championship in school history. "We're on borrowed time," Bluejays' head coach Michael Minner said. ...

SIKESTON -- Many area all-district and all-conference baseball teams have now been released with several local athletes garnering postseason honors. Sikeston was well-represented on the Class 4, District 1 baseball team with sophomores Tyler Anderson and Drew Harper as well as junior Luke Keefer earning first team honors. Senior Ross Bohannon, junior Evan Underwood and sophomore Trey Tigart were named as honorable mentions...

SIKESTON -- Local libraries plan to take young readers on a trip around the world this summer through their various reading programs. "One World, Many Stories" is this year's theme at libraries in Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties. "They can go on vacations in their own little world and drop into someone else's world," said Ann Thompson, children's librarian at Sikeston Public Library...

Area libraries are conducting summer reading programs with a theme of "One World, Many Stories." The following is a breakdown of times, locations and activities planned at various libraries. Mississippi County Public Library's program is open to children from age 5 to 13, with programs, prize drawing, story hours, a reading club and more. ...

BENTON -- Scott County has its disaster declaration. Now officials want to get the county's paperwork in -- quickly and correctly. County officials received notification the county was approved for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Grant Program Friday evening, Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday...

Sarah Hopson, daughter of Jon and Jill Hopson, is the Standard Democrat's Calendar Girl for the month of June. Hopson, fifth runner-up in the 2010 Miss Sikeston Contest, plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia in the fall and major in art education...

MALDEN -- Wilda Wright, 90, died May 31, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Malden. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

NEOSHO -- John Henry "Jay" Petty Jr., 37, died May 22, 2011, at Jasper Products in Joplin. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

IMPERIAL -- Jimmie Dale Brown, 59, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2011, near DeSoto, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Orville Yates, 88, died May 31, 2011, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.