Stories from Wednesday, August 13, 2014

CHARLESTON -- Two people are in critical condition after being shot in Charleston Tuesday night. According to a news release from Charleston Department of Public Safety Director Robert Hearnes, the incident took place at 208 Morgan St. at about 11 p.m. Inside the residence, responding officers found two gunshot victims identified as Shanika Ingram, 38, and De'erick Ingram, 23, both of Charleston...

sports@standard-democrat.com DES MOINES, Iowa -- The YMCA Southeast Missouri swim team captured sixth place during the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games earlier this month in Des Moines, Iowa. Eight out of 10 members finished in the top eight in at least one event to bring home medals. The team, who were named Southeast Missouri Swim Conference at the Junior Olympics, won a total of 39 medals just two weeks after winning their small team conference championship at a meet in Cape Girardeau...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- After taking over for former head coach Doyle Noe in the final weeks last season, long-time assistant Gabe Dement enters his first full season at the helm of the Sikeston Bulldogs' boys soccer team this fall...

SIKESTON -- After a winter that dumped an abundance of snow and ice along with freezing temperatures that forced multiple, consecutive-day school closings, the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education approved new transportation snow routes during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday...

CHARLESTON - The Charleston Department of Public Safety reported a shooting early today. According to a report from the Department the shooting occurred in the 200 block of Morgan Street. According to local media reports, a man and woman are in serious condition...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. PALESTINIANS MULLING EGYPTIAN TRUCE PLAN Cairo's proposal calls on Israel to ease its siege of the Gaza Strip but stops short of including Hamas' demand for a full lifting of the blockade...

CHARLESTON -- Puppies for Parole has its youngest batch of puppies yet ready for adoption. The Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston has offered dogs rescued from shelters trained by inmates at the prison since 2010 when it became the ninth prison in the state to implement the Puppies for Parole program...

SIKESTON --The Sikeston R-6 School District's retention and drop out rates were released Tuesday during the Board of Education's regular meeting. Lynn Crader, assistant superintendent for elementary/special services, provided the district's retention rate report...

SIKESTON -- As the new school year begins Thursday, Sikeston R-6 Board of Education member Jim Gleason asked to make a comment prior to the close of Tuesday's regular monthly school board meeting. "As we embark on a new school year, it's always exciting around our house," said Gleason, who has two daughters who attend Sikeston High School. ...

SIKESTON -- Andy McGill, R-6 athletic director, briefed the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education on the 2013-2014 Bulldog athletics season during Tuesday's regular meeting. He said 221 boys lettered in a varsity or junior varsity sport and 142 girls lettered in a varsity or junior varsity sport, which is a bit higher than the 10-year averages of 210 for boys and 137 for girls...

LILBOURN -- Harold Lawson, 77, died Aug. 10, 2014, in Lilbourn. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Carolyn Seabaugh Eldridge, 64, died Aug. 9, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

LILBOURN - Annie Cathey, 75, died Aug. 12, 2014. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Gary Lee Hartlein, 68, died Aug. 12, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- James R. Vaughn, 67, died Aug. 12, 2014, at SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Maxine Laverne Riley, 96, formerly of Miner, died Aug. 8, 2014, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Louise Dorris French, 91, died Aug. 8, 2014, at the West Ridge Place. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ESSEX -- Wilbert "Fib" Gisi, 90, died Aug. 10, 2014, at Southeast Health of Stoddard County. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

jillb@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A billion years ago, nature was ripping the North American continent apart. Then it stopped. What remained is what geologists call the Mid-continent Rift System. Today, scientists are using the latest in technology to look deep into the Earth. They are peering some 10 or more miles below the surface to gain a better understanding of the rift and the geology of the continent...

With the countdown ticking toward the all-important November midterm elections, the Republicans can't seem to adopt a strategy that will guarantee election success. Judging from the level of discontent and frustration in this country, you would think their strategy would be simple...

I am sick and tired of going into places to do business and seeing people with their heads down looking at their cellphones. They barely will even look up to see that you are there. How can businesses expect to get customers when they let their employees put their texting and web surfing first and the customer second? Everyone is talking about how bad the economy is but if they showed you a little respect instead of acting like you are bothering them, it might make a difference. ...

I just returned from my first trip to see the Gulf of Mexico and I can tell you one thing about the Gulf waters -- they're dangerous. I have visited the Atlantic Ocean on many occasions, splashing around in the salty water without a care in the world. Outside of being chased by a super-aggressive crab with a Napoleon complex, I've never had a problem. But that was the ocean. The Gulf is a different story...

SIKESTON - Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers will be out in full force Thursday, the first day of school for children in the Sikeston R-6 School District. According to Capt. Jim McMillen with Sikeston DPS, officers will closely monitori school zones and enforce speed laws. The speed limit in school zones and when school is in session is 20 miles per hour, he pointed out...

NEW MADRID - Law enforcement officers are trying to locate a man wanted in connection with an investigation into a theft from a New Madrid County business. A warrant was issued for Curtis Jerome "CJ" Burleson Jr. on felony charges of receiving stolen property and resisting arrest/ detention or stop by fleeing...

Mark Gibbins of Portageville and Susan Riggs of Hayti are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Summer Gibbins, to Landon Alexander. Summer graduated from Caruthersville High School in 2008. She currently resides in Hayti and works as a Registered Nurse...

Felicity Caneice Brady and Charles "Brandon" Ray, along with their families, would like to announce their upcoming wedding on September 6, 2014. Felicity is the 37 year old daughter of Kirk and Donna Brady of Currentview. She graduated from Doniphan Senior High School in 1994 and continued her education at Arkansas State University, receiving her degree in 1999. ...

July 2014 Monthly Report Fire Department City incidents- 3 07-17-14: Firemen responding- 9; Location- Hwy. 61 N.; Gas Leak. 07-29-14: Firemen responding- 4; Location- 605 E. 5th St.; Grass and Wooden Fence. 07-30-14: Firemen responding- 12; Location- 904 King Ave.; Gas Leak...

G. Robert Williams of Portageville passed away Saturday, August 2, 2014 at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, MO. He was 85 years and 30 days old. G. Robert was born in Nashville, TN on July 3, 1929 to Laura B. Reed and Thomas O. Williams, Sr. He was united in marriage to Annette Phillips on August 18, 1954...

"I'm Dick Clay, and that's sports!" was the iconic signoff he used for 30 years as Sports Director and Anchor for KAIT Television. For a generation, he was the face of local sports in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. Dickie passed away Wednesday, August 6th at the UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock at 78 years old...

Dewain Fullerton was born January 1, 1931 in Tennessee to Ira Ann Inman and Clarence Elmer Fullerton. He died Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston at 83 years old. Dewain married Rose Mary Johnston on May 26, 1951 in Mesilla Park, NM. He was a United States Army Veteran and served in the Korean War...

First State Community Bank honored their Junior Savers Club with a pool party at the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center in Kennett. Junior Savers members and FSCB employees who were in attendance include Dante Willer, Jana Morris, Connie Frakes, Tiffany Allen, Tyler Hill, Judy Payne, Emma Payne, Sylar Matthews, Piper Young, Charlie Gray, Blake Weddington, Parker Hall, Kellsie Jones, Devin Shannon, Katie Smothers, David Oliver, Samantha Rhoades and Briley Weddington. ...

Area law enforcement officials are searching for a person of interest in a recent reported theft at the MFA Oil Company in New Madrid County. New Madrid County Sheriff's Deputy Terry Stevens says this is in connection with a traffic stop attempt that occurred on Sunday, at approximately 3:30 a.m. ...