Stories from Thursday, November 7, 2013

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is investigating a strong-armed robbery at an apartment complex. The female manager of the Virginia Pines Apartments reported to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety at about 8:13 a.m. Wednesday that while she was speaking with a white female, a black male wearing a leather coat and a black hoodie approached them and then forced the manager down to the ground and took an undisclosed amount of cash from her...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston native will serve as the city's next Public Works director. The hiring of Jay Lancaster as Sikeston's director of Public Works director was announced Wednesday by city officials. His first day of work will be Nov. 25. The Department of Public Works includes the Street Division, Vehicle Maintenance Division, Parks Division, Code Enforcement Division and Animal Control Division...

sports@standard-democrat.com MALDEN -- Another upset wasn't in the cards for the Scott City Rams. Coming off last week's surprise takedown of Charleston, the Rams allowed 399 total yards of offense to the Malden Green Wave who rolled to a 62-16 win in the Class 2, District 1 semifinals...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- A collection of Chaffee players made their way into the weight room and simply sat. Some had towels on their head. Others, still in game attire and pads on, kept their helmets on. No one said a word as they kept to themselves thinking about what they could have done differently following their 28-22 loss to Thayer Wednesday...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is stepping up traffic safety around two Sikeston schools from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. during week days. According to a Sikeston DPS release, officers have received several complaints from parents and nearby residents concerning student pick-up at Southeast Elementary and Lee Hunter Elementary. ...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Ethel Haycraft, 95, formerly of New Madrid, Mo., died Nov. 6, 2013, in Paducah. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BLOOMFIELD -- Michael Glenn Harrison, 60, died Nov. 3, 2013, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- L.B. Smith, 75, died Nov. 7, 2013, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Norma Faye Leonard, 67, died Nov. 5, 2013, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. omeinc.com. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE --Charles B. "Sam" Smoot, 79, died at 5:38 p.m. Nov. 5, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

LILBOURN -- Pearline Wilson, 78, died Nov. 5, 2013, at her daughter's home in New Madrid. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SOUTH BOSTON, Va. -- Alberta Jones Davis, 70, died Oct. 27, 2013, in South Boston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

I don't know what's wrong with the St. Louis Cardinals. They've scored runs all season long and if you go back in history, whenever they get to the post season, they just don't bring the bats with them. They cannot hit in the post season. I wonder how many people know that our government gave free cellphones away and I think they got 250 calls a month free. Think about all of our older people that are having to pay for cellphones. We're being put out when we should be taken care of...

SIKESTON -- Nearly 50 Sikeston-area children will bring a giant chocolate factory to life during the Sikeston Little Theatre's children's production of the musical, "Willy Wonka Jr." With performances set for 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Sikeston Little Theatre, the musical is a condensed stage adaptation of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which features songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."...

JACKSON (SMNS) -- Colton Proffer rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns as Jackson plowed past Poplar Bluff 37-6 in the Class 5, District 1 semifinals. Jackson is now vaulted into a rematch with top-seeded Vianney in Monday night's district final...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- The burned-out remains of the old Dogwood School may finally be gone soon. Ken Stevenson, county code enforcement officer, said during the regular weekly Mississippi County Commission meeting Thursday that he has recently contacted the property's owner, Avery Hutcheson Jr., who indicated the property would be cleaned up by the end of the year...