Stories from Sunday, December 11, 2011

SIKESTON -- Harold Evans, 55, died Dec. 10, 2011, at the Bertrand Nursing Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Darrell A. Husk, 56, died at 10:56 p.m. Dec. 9, 2011, at the Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Larry Morgan, 72, died Dec. 10, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

CHARLESTON -- Dolph Webb, 83, died Dec. 10, 2011, at Heartland Medical Center in Marion, Ill. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Like so many other things in our world, the once-essential United States Postal Service may someday go the way of the buffalo. The Internet and massive labor costs are forcing the Postal Service to consider drastically reducing services or face bankruptcy...

ESSEX -- Moving past the .500 mark on the season on Friday, the Bloomfield Wildcats took a 21-point lead into the half against the Richland Rebels before holding on for a 74-41 win. "The second half I kind of thought we went through the motions a little bit at times," Bloomfield head coach Jason Karnes said. "But overall I think after the game we had Tuesday against Twin Rivers and tonight we're heading in the right direction...

TWIN RIVERS -- The seedings have been set for the 15th Annual Lady Royals Classic which begins Saturday at Twin Rivers High School. Several local teams will be taking part in the event with Dexter earning the top seed. The Lady Bearcats, who have a record of 4-2 with losses to Miller Career Academy and Jackson, will open with 16th seeded Malden at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Dexter, who has won four tournament titles with the last being in 2009, has finished third the last two years...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Sikeston running back James Watson continues to pile up postseason accolades as the senior was named a second team, all-state running back in Class 4. The 6-0, 170 pound Watson led the Bulldogs with 1,605 rushing yards which put him fourth all-time in Sikeston history. He finished the season with 18 rushing touchdowns...

SIKESTON -- During their last two games, the New Madrid County Central Eagles have immensely improved. They took care of the Poplar Bluff Mules in the consolation semifinals by taming what has killed them all season long -- turnovers. However on Friday, NMCC contained their achilles heel for three quarters but couldn't keep their turnover habits from rearing its ugly head as they fell 67-63 in overtime to the Jackson Indians during the SEMO Conference tournament consolation championship game at the Sikeston Field House.. ...

SIKESTON -- For the first time since 2007, the SEMO Conference Tournament trophy will have a new home. The No. 2 seed Charleston Bluejays will be holding the traveling trophy after stunning the top-seeded and three-time defending tournament champion Sikeston on their home floor, 75-71 in front of a capacity crowd at the Field House...

SIKESTON -- A new method for calculating high school graduation rates may allow states to be uniformly compared, but some local educators caution that the numbers are slightly misleading. Andy Comstock, assistant superintendent of secondary education and professional development for Sikeston R-6 School District, said graduation rates are important, but it's also important to remember these new rates reflect only students who graduate high school within four years...

SIKESTON -- 'Tis the season for giving blood. That's what the American Red Cross is hoping through its "Perfect Gift" campaign. "There is always a need and it does become a little more pronounced during the winter months," said Dan Fox, media representative for the Red Cross. "We've got the holidays this month, and because of the holidays, all of the schools are out of session, and families are making holiday plans and taking trips across the nation."...

SIKESTON -- Twenty years ago this month, Sikeston's municipal judge sat behind the bench for the first time. Frank Marshall was hired to serve as the city's judge in November 1991 after the municipal judge at that time, Fielding Potashnick, retired from the job...