Stories from Thursday, April 3, 2014

BENTON -- Due to severe weather expected in the area, the Kelly High School Drama Club has canceled today's 7 p.m. performance of "The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes." Performances are now scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday in the high school gymnasium...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public's assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male suspected of sexually exploiting a child. Photographs and informational posters depicting the unknown individual, known only as John Doe 28, are being disseminated to the public and can be found online at the FBI website at http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to severe weather expected in the area, the Kelly High School Drama Club has canceled today's 7 p.m. performance of "The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes." Performances are now scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday in the high school gymnasium...

Most people have in their homes a TV remote control. When I pick up my remote almost every night of my life there is an unusual feeling of power. I start click, click, click! A remote control is an unusual object. By means of a TV remote control you can go places where you have never been before. You can bring things many miles away right into your home. It has that ability to compress distance...

I went to visit a friend the other day who is in the hospital. There was a man in the hospital bed next to him -- covered with bandages from head to toe. I said to him, "What do you do for a living?" He said, "I'm a former window washer." I asked, "When did you give it up?" He replied, "Halfway down."...

There are two races that have developed in New Madrid County for the August Primary Election One primary race is for the Associate Circuit Judge. Susan R. Warren of Portageville is racing against Josh Underwood of New Madrid. Underwood, the incumbent, was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to fill the unexpired term of Charles Spitler...

sports@standard-democrat.com JACKSON -- The Sikeston ninth grade baseball team split a doubleheader on the road against Jackson Wednesday. Sikeston lost the first game 8-2 but rebounded for a 7-2 win in the finale. The Bulldogs (5-1) out-hit Jackson 7-5 in the first game but fell behind 6-0 after the first two innings...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs boys and girls track teams hosted the Cape Central Tigers Wednesday to an open meet. The Sikeston boys defeated Cape Central 106-26 while the Sikeston girls won 80-53. Boys 1. Sikeston 106; 2. Cape Central 26...

sports@standard-democrat.com BERNIE -- Locked in a pitcher's duel with Bernie junior Devin Trammell, Chaffee senior Cody Payne got the late run support needed to keep his Red Devils' undefeated streak alive. Chaffee scored three runs on only one hit in the final three innings to hand the Mules their first loss of the season, 3-1...

The Lady Tribe committed five errors, leading to five unearned runs in a 6-0 loss to the Portageville Lady Bulldogs Monday at Indian Park in a non-conference game for both teams. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of third inning in a scoreless game, Tiffany's grounder was misplayed, allowing Ellis to score and opening the floodgates for the Lady Bulldogs. The next five batters all reached as the Lady 'Dogs ended the third with a 5-0 lead...

Don Day and Willard Adams of the Bootheel Solid Waste District is pleased to announce that the City of Portageville has been awarded a recycling grant in the amount of $7,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2014. The grant was prepared by the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission, and Paula Ezell, Portageville City Clerk...

BENTON -- Voters in Scott County will select who represents them in municipal government and on school boards in Tuesday's election. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. While the biggest decision voters in Sikeston are facing Tuesday is whether to approve or not a $32.3 million bond for school improvements to be paid with a 20-percent increase in property tax, voters in Sikeston's Ward 2 will also fill a one year unexpired term on the Sikeston City Council created by the death of Tom Hedrick with either John Graham or Gerald Settles.. ...

Workers make improvements to the jet at Veterans Park on Wednesday afternoon. (David Jenkins photo)

EAST PRAIRIE -- Dennis Ray Loomis, 62, died at 7:19 p.m. April 1, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

JEFFERSON CITY -- Clarence Dean Murphy, 70, died April 1, 2014, at Landmark Hospital in Columbia. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

LILBOURN -- Barry F. Martin, 53, died March 27, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

Dexter High School girls may have been defeated on the floor by Incarnate Word Academy, but they won my heart for their patriotism as the National Flag and Honor Guard stood at attention during the National Anthem at the beginning of the game! Every member of the Dexter High School girls' basketball team and coaching staff honored the flag with the appropriate hand on the heart salute. ...

SIKESTON -- For the past two and a half years, the rooms of Marilyn Hull's home have looked more like the aisles of a grocery store with shelves lined with shampoo, body wash, toothpaste and hundreds of other personal hygiene and household cleaning items...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Whatever reason, political or other, Gov. Jay Nixon has for delaying appointments in the state legislature, Mississippi County officials don't understand why he won't appoint a new public administrator for the county...