Stories from Friday, July 18, 2014

The Portageville blue team finished third in the Kennett 7-8 pitching machine tournament. The Portageville grey team also participated. No picture available as of press time Tuesday. The Portageville blue team is coached by Jon Warren and Ronnie Adams and assistant coach Jeff Gates, Steve Rogers, and several dedicated dads. ...

Southeast Clearwater Lake Water Surface Temp: 84º
Water Level (Range): normal
Water Type: clear
Fish Reported: 
Crappie: Slow 
Black Bass: Slow 
Bluegill: Fair 
Channel Catfish: Slow 
bluegill fair on worms and crickets; all other species slow.
(Reported on: 7/8/14)...

Construction work on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway between Lilbourn and Portageville is causing detours and delays throughout the area. BNSF is improving the line by installing new ties in the road bed, and new railroad ballast. The construction has forced the line to temporarily close down many area crossings. ...

NEW MADRID -- Last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took a draft environmental impact statement for the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project to the public and asked for input, and officials say they received no shortage of it...

The four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner. On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The four brothers walked into Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter. ...

Lenexa, Kan. -- EPA Region 7 has reached an administrative consent agreement with a Patton, Mo. property owner to resolve Clean Water Act violations involving un-permitted discharges of pollutants into two tributaries of Baltimore Creek. Brent McMinn agreed to pay a $20,000 civil penalty as part of the settlement filed by EPA Region7 in Lenexa, Kan...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new federal earthquake map dials up the shaking hazard just a bit for about one-third of the United States and lowers it for one-tenth. The U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday updated its national seismic hazard maps for the first time since 2008, taking into account research from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami off the Japanese coast and the surprise 2011 Virginia temblor...

Otto Porter continues to shine during the NBA Summer League. The 6-8 forward scored 14 points and had six rebounds in the Washington Wizards' 78-67 win over the Miami Heat Thursday night in Las Vegas. Porter, the former Scott County Central star and 2013's No. 3 overall NBA draft pick, is averaging 17 points and six rebounds in four games. The Wizards are undefeated so far in Summer League play...

Tina Boatwright, of Wardell, was among 181 graduate students receiving degrees during spring commencement exercises May 17, 2014 at Southeast Missouri State University. Boatwright graduated with Graduate Specialist High Honors with a Specialist in Education with a major in educational administration ...

The 22nd annual children's theatre drama camp will be held August 4-8 at Poplar Bluff High School. Campers will participate in activities focusing on acting, improvisation, theatre games, creative dramatics, musical theatre and readers theatre. They will show off what they have learned at a performance at 11 a.m. Friday, August 8 at Poplar Bluff High School...

The Missouri Peach Fair will host the annual Youth Talent Contest once again this year in Campbell, Mo. The contest will include a Juniors Division, for ages 12 and under, and a Seniors Division, for ages 13 to 21. The contest will be held on Tuesday, August 12, at 7 p.m., at the Campbell Community Center. ...

Caruthersville graduate Darrell Monroe, who signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Southeast Missouri State on February 5, never joined the Redhawks as planned. First-year Southeast football coach Tom Matukewicz said it's been "a process," but the freshman running back was academically an NCAA non-qualifier and will instead play football at the junior college level at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. RECOVERY WORK IS UNDERWAY AT MALAYSIAN PLANE CRASH SITE Emergency teams, policemen and off-duty coal miners are combing a sprawling area in eastern Ukraine where Flight 17 ended up in burning pieces, killing all 298 aboard, as pro-Russian rebels say they have "most" of the airliner's recorders...

Local youths take part in the Sikeston Summer Mowing Program that is responsible for keeping several lots mowed in Sikeston throughout the summer.

SIKESTON -- With sunny skies and highs in the lower 80s forecast, Lynn Lancaster is hoping for a grand turnout at this weekend's annual car show and ice cream social in Historic Downtown Sikeston. "It's a big weekend," said Lancaster, who serves as the director of Historic Downtown Sikeston...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Beatrice Inez Fox, 85, died July 16, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE - Annie B. Bain, 88, died July 17, 2014, in the East Prairie Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CALVERT CITY, Ky. -- The Rev. Roy George Bennett, 88, died July 16, 2014, at Calvert City Convalescent Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHICAGO -- Siphal "C Paul" Chhor I, 54, died at 5:01 a.m. July 17, 2014 , at the Mercy Hospital in Chicago. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

I want to thank the Elm Street Baptist Church for their Fourth of July street party. It truly is the only place where everything is free. If you haven't been to it, you are surely missing out. They said this was their 10th year doing it. This is my fourth year to attend, and I have to say, it only keeps getting better each year. ...

Caruthersville graduate Darrell Monroe, who signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Southeast Missouri State on February 5, never joined the Redhawks as planned. First-year Southeast football coach Tom Matukewicz said it's been "a process," but the freshman running back was academically an NCAA non-qualifier and will instead play football at the junior college level at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- There are still a couple of weeks left to submit your best Sikeston pics. The deadline for the Sikeston Convention and Visitors Bureau Photo Contest is Aug. 1, according to Kathy Medley and Rhonda Council, administrative assistants for the Sikeston CVB...