Stories from Monday, March 3, 2014

Postseason basketball has been pushed back. Again. Tuesday's lineup of basketball playoff games have been rescheduled due to the inclement weather surrounding the area. The Class 4, District 1 boys semifinal games, originally slated for Tuesday have been postponed until Thursday alone with the girls semifinals...

Due to the inclement weather that moved through the area Sunday, the Class 4, District 1 tournament has been postponed. The girls semifinal round that was scheduled for Monday has been moved to Thursday. Top-seeded Dexter will take on Kennett at 6 p.m. on Thursday and No. 3 Sikeston will play No. 2 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is urging everyone to stay home today and has imposed four-wheel drive only order for the city streets. Drivers who do not have a four-wheel drive vehicle will not be allowed to drive on city streets unless it is an extreme emergency, according to a news release from DPS...

sports@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The lead was well in hand but Perryville provided a noticeable scare. Though tired legs that built a once 16-point lead midway through the fourth quarter began to slow, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs withstood a furious Lady Pirate comeback to advance to the Class 4, District 1 semifinals after a 36-24 win on Saturday at Cape Central High School...

CAPE GIRARDEAU (SMNS) -- The Kennett Indians used a strong defensive performance to snap a three-game losing streak and defeat the Dexter Bearcats 66-44 on Saturday in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 4, District 1 Tournament at Central High School...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Department of Public Safety has announced it will tow any abandoned vehicles left on city streets. "Because of the snow, these vehicles were left in the roadways and they are causing traffic problems," said Capt. Jim McMillen, public safety information officer. "First responders have to be able to get to the location of the emergency and are having difficulty because of blocked intersections. Therefore we will be towing these vehicles left abandoned."...

SIKESTON -- As tragic as last week's abduction and murder of a 10-year-old Springfield girl is, local parents are encouraged take a moment to teach their children to use caution with strangers. "It's a bad situation," New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens sighed. "I would tell your children to be alert and aware of your surroundings."...

SIKESTON - Due to the hazardous weather and driving conditions, the Standard Democrat newspaper's delivery will be delayed until Tuesday for in-town subscribers. Should weather conditions allow delivery will be made to rural subscribers on Tuesday or the Monday paper will be combined with the Wednesday edition...

EAST PRAIRIE - The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is closed due to icy conditions on the landing ramps and barge. Captain Ed Floyd said due to freezing rain and sleet moving across the area the ferry will be closed for the remainder of today. He will evaluate conditions on a day-to-day basis to determine when it is safe to resume operations...

JEFFERSON CITY -- With snow and freezing rain covering the most of the state, Missouri travelers are advised to use caution if they must travel this morning. MoDOT crews worked throughout the night to keep roads plowed and treated, said Beth Wright, MoDOT state maintenance engineer...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Department of Public Safety has issued a restrictive driving order. For the public's safety, only those vehicles with four-wheel drive are allowed on the roads during the inclement winter weather.

The ninth annual World View Conference was held on Saturday at the Clinton Building in Sikeston.

SIKESTON -- Over the years Darlene Hatcher has witnessed firsthand the adventures of her cat, and now the Sikeston native is ready to share them with others through a single-frame comic strip. About five years ago, Hatcher, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., developed a 13-episode, 26-minute cartoon series called "The Secret Mysteries of Johnny C."...

NEW MADRID -- A new program seeks to teach even longtime residents something more about their community. The New Madrid Chamber of Commerce is organizing Leadership New Madrid, a leadership development program. According to organizers, the program is designed to enhance personal and professional growth for participants and, in turn, benefit the local community and the region...

MALDEN -- A Parma man was killed after his vehicle struck a ditch Saturday in New Madrid County. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 8:36 p.m. on Route D at County Road 556, three miles east of Malden, as northbound motorist Terry L. Wilcox, 50, failed to negotiate a turn and struck a ditch...

I believe that stand your ground law should be revoked and forgotten about. People are losing their lives. These dumb butts are standing their ground and having to shoot somebody. Like that idiot that shot that teenager for playing loud music. I bet his kids play loud music and he don't pay attention to it and don't shoot them. ...

CHAFFEE - Patricia Lou Hampton, 69, died Feb. 28, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Chaffee with the Rev. Matt Butrum officiating assisted by the Rev. Randy Morse...

CHAFFEE - Ethel Steakley Rowell, 88, died March 2, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Chaffee General Baptist Church...

PLEASANT HILL - Gordon Porter Hill Jr., 87, formerly of Sikeston, died March 1, 2014, at Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab center in Pleasant Hill Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Wednesday until time of services at 1 p.m. at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Geoff Posegate will officiate...

LILBOURN -- Harold L. "Smitty" Smith, 81, died March 2, 2014, at his home in Lilbourn. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. Tuesday at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville. The Rev. Michael Burk will officiate. Burial will follow in Mounds Park Cemetery...

DOGWOOD -- Betty Lou Matthews Bradley, 84, died at 7:40 a.m. March 1, 2014, at her residence in Dogwood. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie, where funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Martin Lucas will officiate...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Jonna "Faye" Nowell, 63, died Feb. 28, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville with Paul Grimes officiating. Burial will follow in the Portageville Cemetery...

CHARLESTON - Henry D. Coffer, 83, died March 2, 2014, at his home in Charleston. Shelby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete

SIKESTON - Ella Mae Orr Bates, daughter of the late Henry Jefferson and Elizabelle Eddie Williams, was born in Morrilton, Ark., on Aug. 28, 1937, and passed away at her home in Sikeston on March 1, 2014, at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 1 day. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Morehouse. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the...

MALDEN - Maxine Steward, 88, died March 1, 2014, at her home in Malden. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter where services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in the Gravel Hill Cemetery near Bloomfield...

SIKESTON -- A funeral Mass for Carl "Eddie" Todt Jr., 55, who died Feb. 27, 2014, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee. Burial will follow at the Guardian Angel Cemetery in Oran. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, where parish prayers will be recited at 5 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus prayer service...

QUILIN - Enoch Taylor, 81, died Feb. 28, 2014, at the Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday. The Rev. Gerald Berger of Qulin will officiate assisted by the Rev. Ernest Puckett of Malden...

SIKESTON - Due to inclement weather, the Sikeston City Council has postponed their regular monthly meeting of Monday, March 3.