Stories from Saturday, April 7, 2012

BLOOMFIELD -- A toddler was struck and killed Friday afternoon. The Missouri Highway Patrol reported Jason R. Fields, 20, of Bloomfield was backing out of a driveway onto Route E, one mile east of Bloomfield, at 4:30 p.m. Friday when his vehicle struck Hali M. Rice, 2, of Bloomfield...

davidj@standard-democrat.com LYNCHBURG, Va. -- It didn't take long for East Prairie graduate Jennifer Nicholson to make a name for herself in the college ranks. The Liberty University freshman recently recorded the longest discus throw at the school since 1992 with a throw of 146-0 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, good enough for second place...

davidj@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Several local athletes have been making an impact on college baseball and softball diamonds this spring. At Southeast Missouri State, Oran's Kody Campbell is a senior first baseman and through 29 games had a .278 average with two doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI. Also playing for SEMO is Scott City's Shae Simmons. The junior pitcher has thrown in seven games with a 1-4 record and 4.15 ERA. In 34 2/3 innings Simmons has walked 22 and struck out 42...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- One thing anyone can tell from watching a Sikeston Lady Bulldogs softball game is how much time and effort goes into putting a competitive squad on the field. What may not be so evident, however, is the same time and effort that the girls put into their work in the classroom...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- After completing one of the most successful careers in the history of the Sikeston Bulldog wrestling program, senior Blake Angle has decided his time on the mat is not quite finished. In front of family and coaches this past Monday, Angle signed his letter of intent to wrestle at Lindenwood-Belleville University in Belleville, Ill...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- This school year 11 sets of twins in first through fourth grades at Lee Hunter Elementary in Sikeston have teachers and students frequently seeing double. Sharon Turner, secretary for Lee Hunter, said she noticed the large number of twins recently when she was working on enrollment...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- The famous foliage was early but that's OK: this year it's all about Charleston's roots. The 44th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival is April 19-22. "Mother Nature has decided it should be warmer this spring than usual and the dogwoods and azaleas will be past their prime but the Festival is still a magical time to be in Charleston," said Karen Teeters, executive director of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce. ...

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BENTON -- A Sikeston man is being held on charges of raping and sexually assaulting a child over several years. Antonio Rodriguez, 63, is charged with five counts of forcible rape, 15 counts of statutory rape, 10 counts of statutory sodomy, five counts of child molestation and two counts of sexual assault, according to Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd...