Stories from Wednesday, February 26, 2014

MALDEN -- Defensively the Bluejays were top-notch as they cruised to their sixth-straight district championship game Tuesday at Malden High School following a 76-52 win over Malden. Charleston (20-6) contained Malden's leading scorer, Cortez Dobbins, to 17 points. Dobbins had just six entering the fourth quarter when the Bluejays were ahead 57-34...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- It's no secret. Everybody knows it. To beat Advance you have to stop Lane Below. The Chaffee Red Devils know this as well as anybody, having faced Advance three times in a span of 24 days earlier this season with Below averaging 29 points in those games...

sports@standard-democrat.com MALDEN -- If you were to see New Madrid County Central come within a shot of erasing a double-digit second half deficit, you'd likely expect a lights-out performance from junior standout Willie Jimerson to go with it. Yet with the game on the line Tuesday night against Caruthersville in the Class 3, District 1 semifinals, Jimerson was glued to the bench most of the second half and picked up his fifth and final foul early in the fourth...

sports@standard-democrat.com RISCO -- Senior Jordon Pavy became Risco High School's No. 2 all-time leading scorer during the Tigers' 60-52 win over Delta C7 at the Class 1, District 1 tournament Tuesday at Risco High School. Pavy finished with a game-high 26 points to lead the Tigers, who held a slim 40-38 lead going into the fourth quarter...

The problem with drawing a line in the sand is that sometimes, the other guy ignores your line. So then what do you do? This administration is increasingly tumbling in international standing and has become a toothless tiger with ample roar and limited punch...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Missourians who have been snowed in too often this winter can shrug off winter's icy shackles March 1 at the Show-Me State's four trout parks. Saturday, March 1, marks the opening of catch-and-keep trout fishing at Bennett Spring State Park (SP) near Lebanon, Montauk SP near Licking, Roaring River SP near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Many hunting and fishing permits expire at the end of February, including 2013 permits for small game, fishing, trout fishing and combination hunting and fishing permits. The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds hunters and anglers that now is the time to renew permits for 2014...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the promotion of Matt Bowyer, of Perryville as the new Wildlife Regional Supervisor for the Missouri's southeast region. According to MDC Wildlife Management Chief Joel Porath, the respect Bowyer has earned from his peers and the local community contributed to his selection for the promotion...

Semoball.com announced on recently that former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith will be the keynote speaker for the inaugural Semoball Awards in June. The Semoball Awards will be held June 21 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. ...

SIKESTON -- Unity was the word of the night when renowned surgeon and commentator Dr. Ben Carson spoke to a crowd of more than 1,500 Saturday evening in Sikeston. The Sikeston High School choir and Sikeston native and the 2008 winner of "America's Got Talent" Neal Boyd began the evening by singing a selection of patriotic songs. Boyd said it was "a great day for Sikeston."...

Franklin, Tennessee - Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation (NYSE: NOR) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Noranda Aluminum, Inc. (together referred to as "Noranda" or "the Company") has filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission ("the Commission") a request to change the rate design for Ameren Missouri customers. ...

New Madrid, MO. -- Mike Haynes, Regional Director of External Affairs for AT&T, will now represent AT&T in New Madrid County. He will be the point of contact for AT&T and handle inquiries as well as legislative and community affairs initiatives. Mr. Haynes will also assist with new technology deployment and infrastructure investment by collaborating with community leaders, legislators, local and regional business leaders and customers...

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Area small business owners and employees can learn about new health insurance options and requirements for small businesses at "Informed Businesses: Navigating the Affordable Care Act" seminar, Friday, March 7, at the Baxter County Library in Mountain Home, 424 West 7th Street. The seminar is scheduled for 11 a.m.-1 p.m...

How about some beautiful weather to remind us all that spring is just around the corner! This past Saturday was gorgeous and a ton of fishermen got out and enjoyed it, myself included! I still had more boat maintenance and updating to take care of over the weekend, and with a long drive to southern Mississippi for a tournament next week, everything needed to be in order. ...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. OBAMA ISSUES WARNING TO KARZAI The president threatens to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan if Kabul doesn't sign a security pact giving the military a legal basis for staying in the country...

CHARLESTON -- E. Charles Ivy, 63, died Feb. 22, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Jan Rose Faucett, 56, died Feb. 24, 2014. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Elitha "Kate" Jo Aiello, 62, died Feb. 24, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Mary Linda Howard Berry, 67, died Feb. 22, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

About this school bond proposal, if I understand it correctly, it applies to city and county taxes both real estate and personal property. My question is, how does it affect the citizens of Sikeston that live in New Madrid County? There county taxes all go to New Madrid. Either way, I will vote against this ridiculous outrageous increase...

In the past few years I feel as if I have become a grocery buying professional. That's because I am in a grocery store nearly every day, never getting everything I need in one trip. As I have perfected my craft of purchasing groceries, I have developed a set of rules I use that helps shorten my time in the store while giving me the best possible experience...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The fifth-seeded Portageville Bulldogs beat the No. 4 Holcomb Hornets 62-54 to account for the only quarterfinal upset at the Class 2, District 1 boys basketball tournament Monday. Portageville trailed 45-42 at the start of the fourth quarter. The contest was tied 49-49 with four minutes remaining. The Bulldogs scored the next nine points to move ahead 58-49 with less than two minutes remaining and led by at least four the rest of the way...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - The top-seeded Bernie Mules moved one step closer to repeating as Class 2, District 1, champs with an 84-35 district quarterfinal win against Cooter Monday. The Mules hit five of its eight 3-pointers in the first half. Bernie built a 51-20 lead by halftime and padded its advantage to 74-31 by the start of the fourth quarter...