Stories from Tuesday, June 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY- As the state's population continues to age, a growing number of Missourians are realizing there's much life to be lived after navigating adulthood and the traditional career path.
Consumer health expert Janet Taylor cited a steady shift over the years, as more people are determined to seek out meaningful life changes in their older years, from career to health to relationships.
"In fact," she said, "the sentiment is that, at 50-plus, 60-plus, 70-plus, we're not done yet in terms of realizing our passion and our purpose, and how to incorporate more of that into our daily lives."
To help those seeking changes spark some ideas about what they want to accomplish and how to do it, Taylor will join Dr. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU- With the unofficial start of summer just days away and the end of the school year in sight, more learning might not be the top priority for many Missouri children, but education experts say it is critical to find ways to keep low-income children engaged over the summer.
Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, says what's often referred to as an achievement gap for low-income children is in large part an opportunity gap, particularly in the summer.
"Middle-income kids can do vacations, go to camps, have experiences that continue to help them develop, whereas low-income kids, they are not exposed to any of those things," she points out.
Jernigan says many community groups and nonprofit organizations have stepped up to help fill the summer learning gap with inexpensive or even free summer learning programs and camps. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Terry Wayne Clark, 65 years, died at 3 a.m. May 31, 2014, at his home. Friends may call after 5 pm Wednesday at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. with Jon Archie officiating. Burial will follow in the Dogwood Cemetery...

PLATTE CITY -- Mary Ruthie Richardson, 71, died May 30, 2014, at her home in Platte City. Following cremation, a visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until service time at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Rollins Funeral Home in Platte City. For the complete obituary, see the Wednesday edition of the Standard Democrat...

DEXTER -- Dennis Lynn Mothersbaugh, 62, died May 30, 2014, at his home. A memorial service was conducted Tuesday at the Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter with Justin Sponaugle, pastor, officiating. Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter was in charge of arrangements...

PADUCAH, Ky. - The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the region. Scattered thunderstorms are possible today, generally north of a line from Marble Hill, Mo., to Greenville, Ky. No widespread severe weather is expected...

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Partly sunny on Wednesday with a high near 88 then becoming mostly cloudy Wednesday night with a 40 percent chance for showers after 8 p.m. and a low around 68. There will be a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph on Wednesday increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon with gusts as high as 24 mph while the wind will diminish to 9 to 15 mph Wednesday night with gusts as high as 20 mph. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU (SMNS) -- Three suspects in a May 20 bank robbery in Morley, Missouri, pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court. Pamela M. Lathon, 44, Tyrice G. Royston, 26, and Alexander T. Trotter, 31, all of St. Louis, were arraigned in Cape Girardeau in connection with the robbery at First Commercial Bank...

KENNETT -- An investigation launched May 21 after the arrest of a Kennett woman in Pemiscot County has led to the recovery of a large amount of personal items taken during storage shed burglaries stretching from Jonesboro to Risco. The arrest of Lisa Williams for burglary started the investigation...

BLOOMFIELD -- A Dexter man accused of a violent attack on his girlfriend will soon have a preliminary hearing to determine whether his case will continue to move forward. Herbert Alan Saffell, 39, of Dexter, was arrested in early March for allegedly attacking his live-in girlfriend. He was charged with the Class A felony of domestic assault in the first degree...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Audra Foster, 97, died June 2, 2014, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete with DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville.

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday: 1. HOW BERGDAHL WENT MISSING IN AFGHANISTAN The Pentagon determined in 2010 that the Army sergeant had walked away from his unit, but continued to search for him in the years afterward, U.S. officials tell the AP...

LILBOURN -- Geneva Hunt, 76, passed away May 30, 2014, at Jefferson Regional Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Ark. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until time of service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in New Madrid...

CEDAR HILL, Texas -- Shirley Jo Smith, 77, formerly of Morley, Mo., died May 31, 2014, in Charleston Methodist Hospital in Dallas. Burial will be held at a later date at Hickory Grove Cemetery near Morley. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel of Chaffee is in charge of arrangements...

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. -- Brenda Kaye Guthrie, 53, died June 1, 2014. Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m Thursday at New Beginnings Fellowship, 720 David Lane in Miner, Mo., with the Rev. Thomas Smotherman officiating. Obituary courtesy of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County commissioners may have a new option when they next shop for health insurance at the end of the year. Luke Phelps, vice president of market and business development for Employers Committed to Controlling Health Insurance Costs, presented information to the Scott County Commission during their regular meeting Tuesday about how his company is able to save the county money on health insurance...

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Residents of a half-dozen states in the nation's midsection remain on alert as weather experts forecast a rash of severe storms that could spawn strong tornados Tuesday and Wednesday. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma says that areas of eastern Nebraska and central Iowa are at the greatest risk of high winds, hail and other severe weather, along with parts of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota...