Stories from Thursday, February 20, 2014

NEW MADRID -- In Class 1, the New Madrid County Central Eagles are sending three to the state tournament. Sophomore Rhiley Smith, junior Garrett Manley and senior Bryce Smith will begin their trek at state today also. Rhiley Smith (126) and Manley (132) are both seeded 11th in their respective weight classes. Rhiley Smith finished the season with a 20-6 record while Manley went 16-10...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs wrestling team wanted to enter the district tournament with their best wrestling still at hand. Following the 15-team event, they may be putting their best foot forward by qualifying five wrestlers for the Class 3 state meet which begins today at Mizzou Arena in Columbia...

sports@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- It may not have been the most dominant of efforts, but with a strong second half the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs found a way to keep their strong second half of the season going Wednesday against host Cape Central...

sports@standard-democrat.com ORAN -- Taylor Nenninger scored 21 points and the Oran Lady Eagles took down visiting Charleston 74-54 Wednesday. Oran had four others score in double figures led by Chrissy Sauceda's 15 points behind four 3-pointers. Addie Kielhofner added 13 while Ashlyn McIntosh and Allie Cummins each scored 11...

Barry and Michelle Aycock have donated $50,000 to the Three Rivers Endowment Trust for Three Rivers College's Eastern Campus, currently under construction in Sikeston. The Aycocks are residents of Parma, where they own and operate AgXplore. "Our families have deep roots here in Southeast Missouri," said Barry Aycock of the donation. "We are happy to be a part of Three Rivers College's expansion here in New Madrid County."...

Jesse Odell Ward, 82, of Memphis, TN passed away on February 11, 2014. He was a Marine Corps Veteran and was retired from International Harvester. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Amelia Boon Ward, his sisters, Corine Ward Estes and husband, Braz, and Florine Ward Nolan and husband, Gene, all of Portageville...

Don and Gayla Massey of Benton, AR announce the engagement of their daughter, Autumn Paige Massey to Daniel Elliot Pride. Autumn is the granddaughter of Juanita Henderson and the late Bill Henderson of Portageville, and J.W. and Barbara Massey of Jonesboro, AR...

NEW MADRID -- An Indiana man is in custody on drug charges after his arrest Thursday in New Madrid County. According to the probable cause statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Robert S. Hormel, 38, of Richmond, Ind., was stopped for speeding on Interstate 55 by the Patrol. While the Patrol officer was talking to Hormel, the officer stated he noticed Hormel was trembling, and several of his travel plans seemed made up...

Community College Week, the nation's leading periodical for community, technical, and junior colleges, has declared Three Rivers College one of the fastest growing community colleges in America for the second year in a row. The periodical ranked Three Rivers as the number one fastest growing institution among colleges with 2,500-4,999 students during the period from Fall 2011 to Fall 2012. ...

If you have a child or know a child that will be age 4 or 5 by July 31, 2014, they are eligible for preschool (age 4) or kindergarten (age 5). Screening will be at the elementary school on Friday, March 21, 2014. You MUST have an appointment to be screened. To schedule an appointment, call the elementary office at 573-379-5706. Kids will get a prize for coming!...

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age five and Ryan, three. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson so she said; "Now boys, if Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus."...

BENTON -- A group of Scott County churches have united to offer a community food pantry to Benton-area residents. The first food distribution of Jesus in Disguise Food Pantry will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton...

SIKESTON -- While the ad hoc committee is now informally known as the Fair Board, nothing has been decided yet in regards to the city land purchased from the Bootheel Golf Club. A recent caller to the Standard Democrat's Speakout section asked if, since the city owns it, citizens are allowed to use the golf course as a "walking venue."...

"Pitchers and Catchers report!" It's as sure a sign of the coming spring as erupting dandelions and fledgling fruit blooms. And as inhumane as this winter has been -- as brutal as it remains in many locales -- spring could not get here quickly enough, groundhog shadows and eminent March snowstorms be damned...

"Pitchers and Catchers report!" It's as sure a sign of the coming spring as erupting dandelions and fledgling fruit blooms. And as inhumane as this winter has been -- as brutal as it remains in many locales -- spring could not get here quickly enough, groundhog shadows and eminent March snowstorms be damned...

WAPPAPELLO -- Lurlyne Myers, 72, formerly of Dexter, died Feb. 17, 2014, in West Plains. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHARLESTON -- David Benjamin Brewer, 75, died Feb. 17, 2014, at the Charleston Manor. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

RISCO -- Walter "JR" Landers Jr., 87, died Feb. 17, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

FOREST, Miss. -- Linda Jeannet Beebe, 67, a resident of Forest, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MALDEN -- Ricky Darrell Reeves, son of the late Jesse D. and Ella Mae Fletcher For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

I know Obama wants to use the executive decree for all the things he thinks the United States needs. But if he does it, then we need to declare him the king and then we need to get rid of him. Barack Obama blows my mind. He is constantly flying around the country and talking about mean old Republicans and how everybody is against him. ...

Wednesday's sunny skies and warm temperatures provided the opportunity for some work to clear away a vacant structure at the corner of Kathleen Street and South New Madrid Street. The lot is owned by SEMO Title and the Blanton Law Firm.

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- It's been a hard winter on Mississippi County's roads. Carlin Bennett, presiding commissioner, said during the regular County Commission meeting Thursday that he was contacted by an East Prairie school official about poor road conditions identified by bus drivers on their routes...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County officials hope lessons were learned from the spring 2011 flooding but can't help but feel a bit uneasy. "We are very concerned right now," Carlin Bennett, presiding commissioner, said during the regular Mississippi County Commission meeting Thursday...