Stories from Saturday, March 15, 2014

sports@standard-democrat.com COLUMBIA -- For most teams that win a state championship, when the final buzzer sounds there is an explosion of joy and celebration that culminates with the winning team storming the floor and mobbing each other. But for the Scott County Central Braves, there was a completely different reaction on Saturday afternoon...

SIKESTON -- Before spring officially begins Thursday, Mother Nature has a possible mix of wintry precipitation in store Sunday throughout the region. According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., low pressure over the southern plains will move just south of Southeast Missouri and surrounding states on Sunday. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- An East Prairie man is charged with assault of a law enforcement officer after fleeing the scene and firing a shotgun at a police car. Kenneth Irby, 35, is charged with assault/attempted assault of a law enforcement officer, discharging a firearm at a vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest by fleeing and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident...

SIKESTON -- Open houses to present Sikeston R-6 parents and community members information about the upcoming school bond proposal will be at 6 p.m. March 19 at Matthews Elementary and Southeast Elementary, 6 p.m. March 20 at Sikeston High School and 6 p.m. March 25 at Lee Hunter Elementary...

Sikeston soccer player Torrie Helms attempts to kick a ball past a defender during a drill on Tuesday afternoon at Matthews Elementary School. Practice for spring sports around the area is in full gear as athletes are taking advantage of the warmer weather. The Sikeston soccer team opens the season on March 24 when they host the Jackson Lady Indians with junior varsity beginning at 5 p.m...

sports@standard-democrat.com MARTIN, Tenn. -- Even after missing his senior year of high school to injury, former Dexter standout Chase Young hasn't skipped a beat in his transition to the next level. Not only is Young starting as a freshman at the University of Tennessee-Martin, he's one of the Skyhawks' leading contributors so far this season...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Delbert Ray Faire, 82, died at 12:15 a.m. March 14, 2014, at his home. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

NORMAL, Ill. -- Jack W. Miller, 76, died at 9:54 p.m. March 13, 2014, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

HENDERSON. Ky. -- Sterling G. Justice, 92, died at 5:30 p.m. March 12, 2014, at Methodist Hospital. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

DEXTER -- LaDora Quertermous, 74, formerly of Charleston, died March 15, 2014, at her son's home in Dexter. For the complete obituary, see an upcoming edition of the Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

As someone who reads a lot - and I mean a lot - of news on a daily basis, I find myself alternating between frustration and anger, between bewilderment and depression and finally returning to anger. If I didn't know better I would think much of this daily bewilderment is by design...

This is getting ridiculous. I just found out that school has been cancelled for the third consecutive day because of the snow. I think the people in charge of cancelling school must have Snow-Phobia. They should try living in a place like Montana that REALLY gets snow. ...

CHARLESTON -- An investigation into stolen check led to the arrest of a Wyatt woman on prostitution charges. Teresa Marie Greer, 44, of Wyatt is charged with six counts of prostitution, each of which is a class B misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by up to three years in the county jail and a $3,000 fine...

BLOOMFIELD -- When a Stoddard County family farm wasn't utilized to its full capacity, the owners decided to open the property for use by local disabled veterans. "When I first got the farm, I had four grandsons, and they grew up on it," Tom Love recalled. "They rode their four-wheelers on it, and they're all in college now...

BENTON -- Two years to the day of his unexplained death, Levi Collom's family will break ground on a community project that will forever lead them back to the 3-year-old boy who loved superheroes and the outdoors. A groundbreaking ceremony for Levi's Adventure Trail is planned for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday on the vacant lot behind the Discovery Playhouse in Cape Girardeau, where he frequented with his family...

SIKESTON -- The Murray Lane Railroad Crossing will be completely closed to traffic from 7-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday as Burlington Northern will be performing repairs. A posted detour utilizing Delmar and Frisco streets can be used to circumvent the closure...