Stories from Friday, February 15, 2013

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- If New Madrid County Central was looking for momentum heading into the playoffs, they couldn't have asked for better results in their final few weeks of the regular season Just two days after knocking off the No. 1 team in Class 4, Sikeston, the Eagles closed out their campaign with a 77-47 win over Scott County Central on Thursday to push their winning streak to three games...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Kenneth Lee Dement, 80, formerly of Sikeston died Feb. 15, 2013, at the Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

DEXTER -- Martha Ann Landers, 75, died Feb. 11, 2013, at her home. Born April 18, 1937, in Dexter, daughter of the late Walter and Thelma Bishop Landers, she had lived almost all of her life in Dexter where she was a member of the First Baptist Church. For the last several years, she has resided at the Stoddard ARC Group Home...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Johnny "J.J." Gray, 39, died Feb. 14, 2013, at New Madrid. He was born Oct. 21, 1973, to Mae Gray of Portageville and the late Johnny Frank Gray Sr. In addition to his mother, he is survived by three uncles, Roger Johnson and Jimmy Gray of Portageville and Doyle Gray of Risco; and five aunts, Lillie Belle Darding of Chicago, Mary Francis Fox of London, Ky., and JoAnn Jewell Drum, Margie Ezell and Marilyn Fowler of Wynne, Ark...

WAPPAPELLO - Otis E. Swinger, 86, formerly of Dexter, died Feb. 13, 2013, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Born April 27, 1926, near Dexter, son of the late Hershal and Gladys Snider Swinger, he had lived in Dexter most of his life until moving to Wappapello eight years ago. A self-employed auto mechanic, he was a member of the Church of Christ in Essex. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps under Gen. George S. Patton during World War II throughout Europe...

BENTON -- Genevieve E. Menz, 90, died Feb. 13, 2013. Born Feb. 13, 1923, in Oran, to the late Marion Sylvester and Edith Winchester Stuckey, she was the owner/operator of Menz Grocery Store and a member of Unity Baptist Church in Benton. On Sept. 7, 1940, in Benton, she married Paul Phillip Menz Sr. who preceded her in death Dec. 1, 1988...

CHAFFEE -- Arzie E. Cook, 79, died Feb. 14, 2013, at his home. Born Dec. 31, 1933, near Painton, he was the son of the late Luster Elbert and Lillie Catherine Jenkins Cook. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft electrician tech sergeant retiring in 1973. He was a member of the Church of God in Chaffee...

SIKESTON -- Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Burns, 92, died Feb. 13, 2013, at her granddaughter's home in Dexter. Born Dec. 22, 1920, in Scott County, to the late Clarence F. And Sallie Franklin Johnson, she was a housewife and of the Baptist belief. On June 12, 1937, in Charleston, she married Thurman "Syl" Burns Sr., who preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 1988...

DEXTER -- Retha Marie Sissum, 85, died Feb. 13, 2013, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Home in Dexter. Born Sept. 25, 1927, in Russellville, Ark., to the late Charles and Abbie Simms Rackley, she had lived in Puxico most of her life where she attended the Puxico General Baptist Church...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Charleston sophomore Sierra Frazier drained a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to give the Lady Bluejays a 62-61 win against Kennett Thursday during Charleston's senior night. Frazier led Charleston with 18 points. Juwanna Walker and Dazique Gillespie each added 11 points...

sports@standard-democrat.com COLUMBIA -- All four Sikeston Bulldog wrestlers began their day at the Class 3 state wrestling meet at Mizzou Arena in Columbia with a loss. One, however, bounced back in the second round. Senior Jacob Stinnett kept the Bulldogs' medal hopes alive with a win in the first round of the consolation bracket by pinning Ft. Zumwalt East's Shane Barrett at the 2:54 mark...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- If ever there was a need for emergency bridge funding, it's now. During their regular meeting Thursday, Mississippi County commissioners opened bids for the next county bridge replacement project and discussed a way to get other bridges replaced...

BENTON -- The judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the jury trial against a Sikeston man accused of armed criminal action and forcible rape and sodomy charges. Associate Circuit Court Division 5 Judge Scott Horman ruled a mistrial at the request of the defense attorney who claimed a statement made Thursday by a witness on the stand might prejudice the jury...