Stories from Thursday, May 15, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) -- An Iowa woman jokingly calls it "Satan's handiwork." A California mom says she's broken down in tears. A Pennsylvania parent says it "makes my blood boil." What could be so horrible? Grade-school math. As schools around the U.S. implement national Common Core learning standards, parents trying to help their kids with math homework say that adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing has become as complicated as calculus...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Though both juniors, Sikeston's Gabe Wheeler and Blake Below will enter the upcoming Class 3 state golf tournament with vastly different amounts of experience. For Wheeler, this marks his third time in as many years making the trip while Below competes on high school's biggest stage for the first time in his career...

SIKESTON -- A group of local children are making a difference in the lives of pediatric patients in Sikeston. After reading an article about the Mama Cooper's Closet project in the Standard Democrat, Cassandra Limbaugh, youth development director of child care at the YMCA of Southeast Missouri, knew the children enrolled in the Y's after school care program would be able to offer their assistance...

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites, located at 115 Hospitality Drive in Sikeston, is now officially open for business. The hotel features 73 guest rooms, 18 of which are suites, in addition to amenities including an indoor pool, fitness room, meeting area and complimentary breakfast. ...

I'd like to know what people have against Common Core? Forty some states are using it. All I can see wrong with it is people don't want to use paper and pencil again like they used to. They use these smart boards, computers and all that stuff. When the kids get ready to take a test, they don't even know what they are doing. ...

SIKESTON -- Irvin LaVern Williams, 89, died May 13, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHAFFEE -- Gilbert Woodrow Mabrey, 92, formerly of Allenville, died May 13, 2014, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Arthur "Jimmy" Sparks, 71, formerly of Wyatt, died May 14, 2014, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Donald Lee Woods, 75, formerly of Farmington, died May 13, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BERNIE -- Ola Sifford, 103, died May 14, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Laura Campbell, 78, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died May 14, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Nola Curtis, 86, died May 14, 2014, at the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHARLESTON - It's a bad idea to mail marijuana to the county jail but the deputies appreciate it when you provide the evidence needed to lead to an arrest. Lenard La'troy Duncan, 30, of Mound City, Ill., is charged with distribution of a controlled substance, after deputies say he mailed marijuana to the Mississippi County Detention Center...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man is in custody after his arrest on robbery and armed criminal action charges. According to Missouri Case.net, Eric W. Graham, 36, was arrested by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety on a first degree felony charge of robbery and a felony charge of armed criminal action...