Stories from Thursday, January 9, 2014

PORTAGEVILLE -- Two children received minor injuries after a vehicle struck their daycare building Thursday afternoon in Portageville. The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. after a vehicle crashed into a daycare on Main Street, according to the Portageville Police Department...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Despite dealing with injuries and illness, the Sikeston Bulldogs managed to end their first home meet of the season on a high note. In a tri-meet with Marion, Ill., and Poplar Bluff, the Bulldogs suffered a 45-25 loss to the Wildcats before closing out the night with a 40-27 come from behind win against the Mules...

BENTON -- A rural Benton couple are in custody following an undercover narcotics operation, which led to their arrest Wednesday. Jennifer Carpenter, 19, and Steven Patrick, 24, have been charged with the class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance on a Grand Jury indictment, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter...

BENTON -- A Scott City man is in custody due to a Grand Jury indictment following an undercover narcotics operation. Jimmy Simms, 49, has been charged with the class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter. Simms was arrested late Tuesday by Scott City Police Department and transferred to Scott County Jail on Wednesday...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Sikeston 8th grade boys basketball team improved to 8-0 on the season with a 65-34 road win over Poplar Bluff on Wednesday. Sikeston led 29-10 after one quarter of play and were never challenged. The Bulldogs led 42-21 at the half and 54-29 entering the fourth quarter...

JEFFERSON CITY- It isn't among the list of typical New Year's resolutions, like quitting smoking or losing weight.
But one expert says a goal for 2014 of parenting through discipline instead of punishment can have life-long positive effects. 
Ingrid Bauer is a mother of four and an expert on communication within families. ...

DELTA -- Not many teams are successful when trying to run with the Oran girls basketball team. Puxico learned that lesson the hard way Wednesday night, falling to the Eagles 70-34 in the first round of the Delta New Years Tournament. Oran saw a 24-7 lead trimmed to 24-16 with just under two minutes gone in the second quarter. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- A former New Madrid County prosecutor will serve on a state commission to assist the public defender system. Gov. Jay Nixon announced the appointment of H. Riley Bock of New Madrid to the Public Defender Commission. The commission is responsible for the hiring of the state public defender director and makes any rules needed for the administration of the state public defender system...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The lowest temps in 20 years resulted in a high number of people temporarily without water in the Sikeston area. "I've been plumbing around this area for about 25 years and it hasn't been this bad that I've remembered," said Elmer Underwood, owner of Elmer's Plumbing in Sikeston. "This is the worst freeze we've had I'd say since before the '90s."...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Once the county knows who to send the bill to, Mississippi County will tackle the task of cleaning up the burned-out remains of the old Dogwood School. The remains of the brick school building built in 1938 located on Highway B south of Bertrand in the Dogwood community were again a major topic of discussion during the regular weekly Mississippi County Commission meeting Thursday...

ST. CHARLES -- Beatrice Willadean Cummings, 94, died Jan. 5, 2014. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Dale Grissom, 86, died Jan. 7, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- C.A. Baugus, 84, died Jan. 6, 2014, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Joyce Martin, 70, died Jan. 8, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ADVANCE -- Irma Janett Coots, 72, died Jan. 6, 2014, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

AMORY, Miss. -- Jerry L. "Goose" Guess, 78, died Jan. 7, 2014, at North Medical Center Hospice. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

I agree with the lady that said no opinions anymore. If you don't want an answer to a question, then don't ask it. If you do ask it, accept what the Bible says and don't back down for answering it that way. I agree with that woman and pray for the ones that don't accept the word of God...

SIKESTON -- January has just begun, but local school districts have already been forced to deal with more inclement weather than usual. Since December Sikeston R-6 School District has closed three days due to winter weather. Other school districts in the area, such as New Madrid County R-1 and Scott County R-4 "Kelly," have each closed eight days due to snowy, icy and cold conditions...

The driver of the SUV that struck the Sugar and Spice Daycare last Thursday is thought to have suffered from some type of medical attack, according to Police Chief Ronnie Adams. Early Thursday afternoon, a male driving a GMC Yukon crashed into the front of the Sugar and Spice daycare in Portageville. ...

NEW MADRID- Della Ramsey, 90, died January 1, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid.

Jerry Lee Tubbs of Portageville died Wednesday, January 1, 2014 in his home at the age of 55.