Stories from Wednesday, November 27, 2013

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Ten years ago if the Sikeston Bulldogs boys basketball team went 27-3 and finished third in the state playoffs, it would have been considered the best season in school history. But times have changed. Expectations are different...

Staff Reports sports@standard-democrat.com DELTA -- Kicking off their season on Tuesday the East Prairie Eagles routed the Delta Bobcats 68-23. East Prairie used a strong 18-5 start to distance themselves from the Bobcats before going into the half up 30-17. By outscoring Delta 38-6 in the second half the Eagles locked up the win...

sports@standard-democrat.com ESSEX -- If the Richland Rebels want to improve on last season's 6-17 mark they'll have to replace one of the most physically imposing players in southeast Missouri. Lost to graduation after a 87-47 loss to Leopold in the Class 1, District 2 semifinals was the 6-11 Richard Forshee, who averaged 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks per game his senior season...

sports@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Coming off a 5-15 season, the Kelly Hawks are hoping to keep moving forward in head coach Josh Eftink's fourth season with the team. "My team is a very hard-working team," Eftink told the Southeast Missourian. "They've got some younger kids, but they are an athletic group, and they're working hard right now."...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- After nearly knocking off final four bound Oran in last year's Class 2, District 3 semifinals the Chaffee Red Devils return one of the more veteran groups the school's seen in recent memory. With all five starters as well as most of the bench back in the fold the Red Devils are ready to make a run at that elusive district title and the playoff run that would go with it...

sports@standard-democrat.com EAST PRAIRIE -- East Prairie head coach Casey Knight is hoping the inexperience they suffered through last season turns his Eagles into a veteran team. Last season East Prairie started four sophomores during their 3-18 campaign while seven total sophomores so significant playing time. Damion Tipler was the only upper classman as he leads this year's bunch into another year...

sports@standard-democrat.com PORTAGEVILLE -- The Portageville Bulldogs basketball team said goodbye to most of their production a season ago due to graduation. They'll have to rely on up-and-coming AV Banks, a few returners and a wealth of junior varsity players from a year ago to help them this season...

sports@standard-democrat.com DEXTER -- For a team that had already lost its top scorer to graduation, everything that could have went wrong did last season for the Dexter Bearcats. Before the year could even get underway, the Bearcats lost their most steady hand, Chase Young, to an ACL tear that was only the start of an injury plagued campaign...

sports@standard-democrat.com ORAN -- Although they return most everyone from their first state trip in 44 years, the road back to Columbia won't be an easy one for the Oran Eagles. Oran, who finished fourth in Class 2 last season, will be without their top two scorers and leading rebounder as they try to continue their run of three-consecutive district titles -- a feat that is the first in school history...

sports@standard-democrat.com NEW MADRID -- Last season the New Madrid County Central Eagles served notice that they were a team to be reckoned with. The emergence of Willie Jimerson had plenty to do with that, but it was when others behind him began to play their roles that NMCC took off...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- As the adage goes, the Charleston Bluejays never seem to rebuild, they just reload. This perception is backed up by the fact that despite losing a slew of seniors the Bluejays entered the 2013-14 season ranked fifth in the MBCA/MOsports.com preseason poll...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A huge question mark hung over the Scott County Central basketball program when news spread about their leading scorer possibly not being able to play his senior year. No need to worry, head coach Frank Staple said. Larandis Banks will be on the floor. But not right away, however...

sports@standard-democrat.com RISCO -- It's been five years since the Risco Tigers basketball team lost a district championship. Although they lose half of the core behind most of those titles, their hoping what's left is enough to bring them No. 5. "We've been on a great run," Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship said. "I feel like we still have part of that core remaining."...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. STORMS THREATEN HOLIDAY TRAVEL As millions of Americans take to the roads, bad weather across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic could disrupt their plans...

SIKESTON - Patsy "Pat" Donze, 77, died Nov. 25, 2013, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEMOTTE, Ind. - Howard D. Sarver, 71, died Nov. 25, 2013, at the University of Chicago Hospital in Chicago. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Barbara "Nikki" Lovins, 62, died Nov. 25, 2013, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Murlean Eckles, 77, died Nov. 19, 2013, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


NEW MADRID -- Goldena McGee Brockman, 98, died at 12 p.m. Nov. 20, 2013, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


EAST PRAIRIE - Bobby Joe Counts, 25, died at 3:37 p.m. Nov. 23, 2013, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Jatavian "Tay" Martin, 6 months, died Nov. 22, 2013, in Sikeston. Born May 2, 2013, he was the son of Quashonna East and Jerome Martin. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.
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COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. - Herschel Dale Stokes, 65, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died at noon Nov. 26, 2013, at his home in Collierville. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


This is to the man who is looking for a slim single. I hope someday he finds what he's looking for. Beauty is on the inside, not on the outside. Some people judge a book by it's cover and when they get what they got, it's not what they thought they had. So good luck to him finding a slim, petite woman. In other words, I hope he never does...

In a somewhat bizarre effort to promote the troubled Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration has a handy and helpful video with suggestions on how to start a health care conversation during the Thanksgiving dinner. I could not make this up, believe me...

The city's Leaf Collection program is in its second week with the homes in the Northeast and Southeast sections of Sikeston having their leaves collected. Darren Lowe is pictured driving the tractor as Dale Graham works the section tube assisted by a community service worker on Tuesday. The city crews will return Monday through Dec. 6 to pick up leaves in the Northwest and Southwest sections while a second pick-up is planned Dec. 9-13 in the Northeast and Southeast sections...

Jerry Thomas sings a solo during the Community Thanksgiving Service sponsored by the Sikeston Area Ministerial Alliance Tuesday evening at Trinity Gospel Church. Thomas is a member of the Praise Team of Travelers Rest Baptist Church.

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County's health insurance agent has come up with a plan the County Commission thinks they can live with for the next year. "We believe we have arrived at a solution for everyone," said Carlin Bennett, presiding commissioner, during the regular County Commission meeting held Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday...