Stories from Thursday, August 18, 2011

PUXICO -- Billy Crank, 79, died Aug. 15, 2011, at his home in Puxico. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

POPLAR BLUFF -- Clara Beatrice Fisher-Hinton, 79, formerly of Portageville, died Aug. 16, 2011, at her home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

KENNETT -- Mary Evelyn Abbott, 70, died Aug. 14, 2011, at the Twin Rivers Medical Center in Kennett. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. -- Bobby Gene Pruett, age 76, of Alexandria, died Aug. 16, 2011, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis following an extended illness. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Royce D. Cummins, 59, died Aug. 16, 2011, at the Saint 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...

WYATT -- David Stephens, 48, died Aug. 18, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

NEW MADRID -- A narcotics investigation by the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department brought about the arrest of a suspect on drug-related charges. Following a traffic stop conducted Wednesday on County Road 314 in Portageville, deputies arrested a man for driving while his license is revoked. During the stop, officers located a large bag of pseudoephedrine pills and a small amount of methamphetamine, according to a news release from New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens...

CHARLESTON -- With a new season comes renewed optimism for the Charleston Bluejays football program. After enduring a winless 2010 campaign to push their current losing streak to 11 games, the Bluejays will enter the upcoming season eager to show fans that things are turning around...

Trotter Street from South Kingshighway to South New Madrid is closed for approximately one week as the new DPS Headquarters construction continues. Penzel Construction is utilizing the street to help erect the building. The public is asked to avoid the area if possible...

PORTAGEVILLE -- The upcoming annual Field Day by the Missouri Delta Research Center will be marked with two milestones this year. Set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 2, the Field Day will mark its 50th at the Center and the the retirement of its long-serving director Jake Fisher...

It's a brand new world when youngsters walk thru the doors at the Sikeston Kindergarten Center. Opening day on Wednesday saw many youngsters wide-eyed and curious, others full of energy ready to tackle a new school year and a few not quite ready to give up the security of mom and dad (and a few moms and dads not quite ready to give up their child). ...