Stories from Tuesday, August 2, 2011

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County's emergency management director is doing her best to improve the county's readiness even if it is her last month on the job. Amber Scudder, emergency management director, presented an updated Scott County Disaster Resource Book to commissioners during their regular meeting Tuesday...

VANDUSER -- Vanduser voters have approved becoming a part of the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District. All 29 ballots cast in the election were in favor of the measure, according to Scott County Clerk Rita Milam. "I thought it would pass, but getting a vote of 29 to 0, that's amazing. Usually someone will vote no just to vote no," said Harold Graviett, Vanduser's mayor...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Bernadine Peters, formerly of Portageville, died Aug. 1, 2011, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete.

COMMERCE -- Michael Van Urhahn, 38, died July 31, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

DELTA -- Willard Lee Thiele, 63, died July 31, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

FARMINGTON -- Mickey Warren McReynolds, 58, formerly of Sedalia, died July 30, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Orvid "Wayne" Myracle, 82, and Clara Elizabeth "Libby" Myracle, 83, died July 30, 2011, at their home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

ESSEX -- Earl Ray Halterman, 81, died July 31, 2011, at John J. Pershing V.A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Jude Thomas Williams, 64, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Sikeston, died July 31, 2011, at the 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...

ST. CHARLES -- Kelly High School golfer Derrick Garner finished second within his division at the Accelerated Golf Tour at Whitmoor Country Club in St. Charles. Garner, who will be a sophomore at Kelly next year, finished with a total of 173 after two rounds of 18-hole golf. He finished second to Trevor Cronin of Weldon Spring, who shot a 169...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Unable to overcome an early six-run deficit on Monday, the Sikeston All-Stars fell 8-5 to Emporia, Kansas in pool play at the Cal Ripken 11U Midwest Plains Regional Tournament at the Sikeston Sports Complex. "We had too many errors early and waited too late to come back," Sikeston coach Stacy Pratt said. "We battled back and came close. We gave it a shot."...

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DEXTER -- A Dexter teenager faces 10 charges after a high-speed chase through the city Monday. Police said Zachary Truett, 17, was driving recklessly just before 1 a.m. Monday as he was southbound on One Mile Road. When local police tried to stop Truett's pickup truck, he sped away, clocked traveling as fast as 85 mph...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Extra seating was brought in to Council Chambers at City Hall to accommodate citizens attending the public hearing for a proposed theater project. It remains to be seen if Sikeston will ever see more theater seats brought in...