Stories from Wednesday, July 30, 2014

For the second straight year, Charleston's long trip back from the Midwest Plains Regional tournament was made a little more tolerable by the hardware they had in tow.

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Sikeston residents and businesses should go ahead and begin planning now for their electric bills to go up. "I wish I could say I'm excited to be here," said Ed Throop, executive director of the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities, during the Sikeston City Council's special meeting Monday...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The first step toward a new eight-screen Malco cinema in Sikeston has been approved by the Sikeston City Council. Council members approved beginning the process of establishing a Tax Increment Financing district during their special meeting Monday...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ISRAELI TANK SHELLS SLAM INTO UN SCHOOL IN GAZA, KILLING 15 The strike that hit the crowded compound sheltering the war displaced comes amid Israel's heaviest air and artillery assault in more than three weeks of conflict with Hamas...

Gunner Hopkins and Nakiya Thatch, who will enter kindergarten this year, practice their cutting skills. While Gunner and Nakiya are already enrolled for classes at the Sikeston Kindergarten Center, those students who have not yet enrolled may do so between 8 a.m. ...

BENTON -- Knowing which fire district your home is in -- or if it is in any fire district at all -- is something worth knowing, according to Scott County commissioners. Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner for Scott County, said during the Commission's regular meeting Tuesday that he visited with the county resident that lost a home located near Chaffee and Scott City in an unincorporated area of Scott County to a fire July 23...

A Portageville woman has driven into the front wall at Katie's Diner in Portageville. According to witnesses on the scene, Rose Mary Fullerton was driving a white Cadillac DeVille into the Katie's Diner parking lot toward a front handicapped parking space when her foot got caught in the pedals and couldn't push the brake. The vehicle ran over the parking block, knocking down the handicapped parking sign before driving through the landscaping and into the building...

SIKESTON -- Motorists may no longer park on North Ingram. Council members approved a bill amending city traffic code to establish no parking zones on both sides of North Ingram from Kennedy Drive to Smith Avenue during a special Sikeston City Council meeting Monday...

SAN DIEGO -- Mae Swindell, 85, formerly of Dexter, Mo., died July 21, 2014, at Elmcroft of Point Loma in San Diego. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Harry H. Swinger, 92, died July 27, 2014, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Poplar Bluff. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

HAYTI -- Richard Gayle Shires, 80, died July 27, 2014, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ORAN -- Chester Raymond Carr, 96, died July 28, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Charla Rene Mitchell, 43, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died July 24, 2014, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

FESTUS -- Charles Dale "Chuck" Hampton Jr., age 49, of Festus, passed away Sunday July 27, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Tyren Miguel Miller, 3, died July 25, 2014, in Cape Girardeau from injuries sustained in an accident. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

If Bill Clinton was the first black president then Barack Obama is the first Hispanic president. From all indications, President Obama is on the verge of issuing some extended form of amnesty for unknown numbers of illegal immigrants who have flooded across our southern border...

Which code enforcer would drive by Glenn Street every morning on his way to work and his way home, and not notice a couch that has been sitting by the driveway for two weeks now and not have somebody remove it? I never heard of such a stupid thing as using iPads in school, the teachers and the students. ...

ST. LOUIS -- The former CEO of SEMO Health Network will serve almost three years in prison for submitting false documentation to federal agencies. Cheryl Ann White, 56, of New Madrid was sentenced Wednesday to 33 months in prison for conspiring to create and submit numerous false documents related to Southeast Missouri Health Network Inc. to federal agencies from 2004 to 2013...

news@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County voters will pick one of five ballots to vote in Tuesday's primary election. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. till 7 p.m. Identification is required to vote Tuesday, according to County Clerk Rita Milam. Forms of ID that will be accepted at the polls include: a voter ID card, driver's license, Missouri student ID, utility bill, bank statement or a paycheck that has the name and address of the voter on it...

Jessica Louise Mitchem and Charles Richard Meeker of Sikeston would like to announce the birth of their son, Charles Richard Meeker II. Charles II was born May 2, 2014 at 2:36 in the afternoon at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces and was 15 and 1/4 inches long...

Lawrence Eugene Hollingshead, Sr. was born March 31, 1935 in Sidon, AR. He passed away July 10, 2014 in the Portageville Nursing Home at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 27 days. Lawrence was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Robinson on December 5, 1970 in Livermore, CA. He lived in Portageville with his wife, who survives of the home, and worked in the molding department at Plastene Supply Company...

The following cases were heard July 1, 2014 in Marston Municipal Court by Municipal Judge Christopher J. Stinnett. Fines imposed do reflect court costs: Kacey Montgomery -- Seatbelt Violation, $10.00. Tammy Bell -- Defective Equipment, $280.00. Charles P. Taylor -- No Insurance, $250.00, Operate Vehicle without a Valid Operator's License, $200.00...

The following cases were heard June 12, 2014 in Portageville Municipal Court by Municipal Judge Christopher J. Stinnett. Fines imposed do reflect court costs: Antonya Lidell Hickenbottom -- Failure to Register Vehicle, $80.00, and Seatbelt Violation, $10.00...

SIKESTON -- Shoppers to Wal-Mart in Sikeston this Saturday can help local students receive school supplies this year. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston retailer, residents can drop off school supplies for Scott County Central, East Prairie and Charleston school districts. The districts will each have a bus parked in the retailer's lot to accept supplies for their students...