Stories from Saturday, February 1, 2014

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Standard Democrat is changing its print schedule from six days per week to five, starting next week, but readers will continue to receive the overall news and sports coverage they have grown accustomed to in print over the years...

sports@standard-democrat.com RISCO -- Celebrating Homecoming on Friday, the Risco Tigers dominated conference rival Southland 94-37. Josh Earnheart led the way with 24 points while Jordon Pavy and Brandon Bixler added 18 and 17 points respectively. Luke Simmons was the fourth Tigers in double-figures with 12 points...

sports@standard-democrat.com NEW MADRID -- After an up and down first half of the season that had their record hovering around .500, the New Madrid County Central Eagles have been on a roll of late. On Friday night the Eagles picked up their fourth straight decision in an 81-51 rout over visiting Portageville...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Friday marked Scott County Central's fourth-straight win. The formula has remained the same during their current winning streak and Chaffee head coach Josh Govreau knew what had to be done if his Red Devils wanted to knock off the Braves...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- For several years, Missouri high school boys basketball fans wanted to see a matchup of two of the state's finest Class 4 programs in Sikeston and Soldan. The two finally met for the first time ever on Friday at the Sikeston Field House, albeit, perhaps a couple years later than most thought as Sikeston rolled to a 72-40 victory over the Tigers...

CHARLESTON -- Had Friday's boys basketball game between the Kennett Indians and the Charleston Bluejays lasted 34 minutes instead of 32, the Tribe might have pulled the upset. Instead, Kennett is left wondering what might have been after a late rally came up just short in a 79-75 loss to the Bluejays in SEMO Conference action at the Charleston High School gymnasium...

WASHINGTON, Mo. --Jack A. Farmer, 82, formerly of Charleston, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, at his residence in Washington. For the complete obituary,see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Garry Wesley Ditto, 53, died at 10:49 p.m. Jan. 30, 2014, at his home. For the complete obituary,see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

I need someone to check on the possibility of price gouging for LP gas. At this price, how can the average person pay for it? This is in regard to the school board proposal for a tax increase that would quadruple our taxes and to talk about the response in Sunday's paper that "large plans produce large results." I think there is a lot of things our school system needs more than an increase in funds. ...

BENTON -- Three area men were sentenced to prison this month for sexual crimes investigated by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. According to a Friday press release from the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Benton, which prosecuted all three cases, Gabriel Mitchell, 23, of Sikeston on Jan. ...

CHARLESTON -- A Mississippi County man faces property damage charges after driving his truck on a recently reconstructed levee. Greg Wayne Bugg Sr. is charged with first-degree property damage, a class D felony punishable by up to four years in the Department of Corrections; and first degree trespassing, a class B misdemeanor...