Stories from Thursday, January 5, 2012

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Picking back up after a two week break, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs got the new year off to a strong start on Wednesday with a 72-21 win over the Kelly Lady Hawks. "We needed to play a lot better game than what we showed at the Twin Rivers Christmas Tournament," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonoff said. "For four quarters I think we did that tonight. Our intensity on the defensive end was excellent...

MATTHEWS - Lawson Scott, 62, died Jan. 4, 2012, at his home in Matthews. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.

BENTON -- Estel "Ed" Duty, 85, formerly of East Prairie, died at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 4, 2012, in the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

DEXTER -- Frances Ann Montgomery, 74, died Jan. 3, 2012, at the Gideon Care Center. Born March 12, 1937, in Dexter, to the late John A. and Dorothy Sifford Lemons, she was a homemaker and a member of the Second General Baptist Church in Dexter where she played the organ for a number of years...

DEXTER -- Gilbert M. Faulkner, 79, died Jan. 3, 2012, at his home. Born July 31, 1932, in Bloomfield, to the late Earnest and Minnie Cantrel Faulkner, he retired as a chief petty officer from the U.S. Navy. He serviced planes and he and his brother were co-owners of an aviation service...

sports@standard-democrat.com DELTA (SMNS) -- Meadow Heights and St. Vincent will meet for the title at the Delta New Year's girls basketball tournament. The Panthers took care of Woodland 55-40, while the Indians dispatched the host Bobcats 42-35 in the other semifinal Wednesday...

sports@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The New Madrid County Central wrestling team fell 60-12 to the Notre Dame Bulldogs on Tuesday in a dual meet. NMCC's Bryce Smith and Logan Cagle were the only Eagle wrestlers to post wins for NMCC...

WASHINGTON -- If you believe Georgetown forward Hollis Thompson, he wasn't even aware that the Hoyas climbed to No. 9 in The Associated Press' latest men's basketball poll. He says he doesn't pay attention to the top 25 these days. "Really? What are we?" Thompson asked Tuesday, a day before Georgetown (12-1, 2-0 Big East) hosts No. 20 Marquette (12-2, 1-0). "I don't follow the rankings. Because, you know, two months ago, we weren't ranked at all."...

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scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules and the end of a sweetheart deal on coal could mean Sikeston saying goodbye to some of the lowest electricity rates in the nation. BMU utility rates are currently among the lowest in the state while Missouri is listed among the five states with the lowest retail electricity rates. ...