Stories from Wednesday, November 23, 2011

SIKESTON -- The Standard Democrat will not publish a paper Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving, and the offices will be closed. Regular publication will resume Friday with offices opening at 7:30 a.m. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday...

It would be appropriate for this column at this time of year to give thanks for the countless blessings that surround each of us. When you sit down to calculate a list of those items on which to give thanks, I hope and pray that your list is long and growing. But the reality is that life's many issues sometimes stand in the way of the bigger picture...

SIKESTON -- Calvin True, 56, died Nov. 22, 2011, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

DEXTER -- Edgar Solen Kinser, 85, died Nov. 22, 2011, at his home in Dexter. Born May 9, 1926, son of the late Charles Jefferson Kinser and Dovie May Forkum Kinser, he attended the Lighthouse Christian Center at Dexter, was the owner of Kinser Jewelry in Bloomfield for 50 years and a veteran of the United States Army serving in World War II...

BENTON -- Walter S. Anielak, 95, died Nov. 21, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center. Born March 1, 1916, in St. Louis, to the late Frank and Anna Mlynarczyk Anielak, he grew up in Washington County, Ill., and attended St. Michael Catholic Church and school in Radom, Ill. He was a member of Local 36, Sheet Metal Workers International Association for 63 years...

BERNIE -- Glenn Allen Hancock, 56, formerly of East Prairie, died at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 22, 2011, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

CANALOU -- Larry J. Layne, 68, died Nov. 17, 2011. Born Oct. 2, 1943, in Charleston, he married Patricia Pfifer who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Patricia Layne. Survivors include: four sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy and Betty Lou Layne, James Edward and Alice Jean Layne and Larry D. ...

SIKESTON -- Maxwell "Rusty" Miller, 45, died Nov. 20, 2011, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 1, 1966, in Chicago, to Albert Lambert Miller of Sikeston and the late George L. Miller, he attended Manley High School in Chicago. He was employed by Hart & Marx Clothier in Chicago for many years and was of the Baptist belief...

ST. LOUIS -- Kim L. Warfield, 54, died Nov. 21, 2011, at St. Louis University Hospital. Born July 25, 1957, in Chicago, daughter of Sammie Yarber-Warfield Underwood of St. Louis and the late James Warfield, she was a licensed beautician and was later employed by Delmar Gardens North as a certified nurse's assistant. She was a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in St. Louis...

PORTAGEVILLE -- With a deep bench and older players to fill it, the Portageville Bulldogs are hoping experience plays a big role in the upcoming season. The Bulldogs will dress five seniors and nine juniors after last season ended with a 16-8 record and a district championship loss to eventual Class 2 state runner-up Bernie...

EAST PRAIRIE -- The East Prairie Eagles are looking to rebound from last season's four win campaign with a team full of seniors, including five of which saw varsity playing time. East Prairie returns three starters and have seven seniors on the roster, which coach Casey Knight hopes will benefit the Eagles...

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee Red Devils are coming off of their best season in recent memory that ended with a 15-13 record before losing to Advance in the district semifinals. Gone from last year's squad is Michael Rutherford and Jason Cicardi but plenty of experience returns for the Red Devils, leaving expectations high...

ORAN -- The Oran Eagles will have to replace a majority of last season's team that finished 19-9 and won the school's first district title since 1999 before falling in sectionals. Gone from last year's team is Nathan Michelsen, Preston Scherer, Nolan Urhahn, Tyler Heuring, Dillon Kimball, Zac Chasteen, Reece Mangels and Jon Morrow...

DEXTER -- Coming off a 15-12 season that came to a close in the Class 4, District 1 Tournament semifinals, the Dexter Bearcats will enter the upcoming season with without the services of last year's leading scorer. After a stellar career, Alan Flannigan leaves the Bearcats having 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in his senior season. Other contributors from last year lost to graduation include Jake Cox and Bryn Hester...

NEW MADRID -- Although they return four players with varsity experience, the New Madrid County Central Eagles will need time for others to catch up. "We've got a bunch of juniors, but a lot of them don't have the varsity time yet," said NMCC coach Travis Day. "We're going to be behind a little bit to start off."...

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sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Opening their season against the Saxony Lutheran Lady Crusaders on Monday, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs pulled away early before rolling to a 50-22 win. "I thought we played extremely hard," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonhoff said. "We competed for four quarters and got after it pretty well...

RISCO -- There is a buzz around the Risco basketball program this season as the Tigers are coming off one of their best seasons in recent history, finishing 20-8, while winning their second district championship in a row as well as the Tri-County Conference regular season crown...

BENTON -- Following a 5-15 season, the Kelly Hawks will be leaning on a young group this year. After losing Trey Drury, Garrett Alsup, Stosh Lovett, Mike Kuykendall and Sawyer Elfrink to graduation, Kelly will rely heavily on lone senior Ian Householder and juniors Gabe Felter and Aaron Grainger. They will be joined by newcomers Jeff Gates, Brent Forck, Gaven Ray, Austin Wadlington and Dustin Schwartz...

SCOTT CITY -- After falling in the district championship game last season, the Rams will have an experienced line up looking to improve on their 10-16 record. "We will be very versatile with multiple players being able to play multiple positions," said Scott City second-year head coach Mark Dannenmueller. "We have an experienced team and the players understand what is expected out of them with this being my second year with them."...

NEW HAMBURG - Paul J. Kiefer, 88, died Nov. 22, 2011, at Chateau Girardeau Retirement Community in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg where parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg with the Rev. Tom Kiefer as celebrant...

SIKESTON -- No one will be able to replace what the Scott County Central Braves lost in their 6-9 superstar, Otto Porter. One of the most skilled players to ever come from the tiny Class 1 school, or the state of Missouri for that matter, is now a Georgetown Hoya leaving the three-time defending state champions without the player that seemingly did everything...

CHARLESTON -- When asked about his chances of possibly returning to Columbia for another run at a Class 3 state championship back in March, Charleston Bluejay coach Danny Farmer smiled and said, "we think we will be back here next year." With next year less than a week away, the Bluejays will have a chance to prove Farmer right as they appear loaded for another run at a state title...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- It's an extremely rare feat to accomplish what the Sikeston Bulldogs basketball team did a season ago. But that's not going to deter this year's version from attempting to do the same thing. Not only did they bring home Sikeston's first-ever state championship, they did it in a perfect, Hall of Fame, 30-0 fashion...

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SIKESTON -- Filing closed for the area's two charter cities with no competition for open seats this cycle. In Sikeston, only incumbents filed for the three openings on the City Council. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Retailers in Sikeston assure there will be plenty of specials for Black Friday shoppers -- and in some cases, Thursday shoppers, this year. Today's Standard Democrat contains pre-Thanksgiving and Black Friday advertisements by many local retailers offering specials on clothing, toys and big-ticket items...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- In a time when many prices are going up, Scott County will get medical services for jail inmates next year for less than the county paid this year. During the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners awarded the contract for health care services for inmates at the Scott County Jail to Correctional Health Care Companies of Peoria, Ill., formerly Health Professionals Limited, which is the current provider...

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SIKESTON - Eastbound Route 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane while the Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. This section of road is located from Route 51 to County Road 485. Weather permitting, the work will begin at 8 a.m. Monday and will reopen at 3 p.m Nov. 30...