Stories from Wednesday, August 27, 2014

NEW MADRID -- For those living along the New Madrid Fault Line, earthquakes are nearly a daily occurrence -- whether they know it or not. Last Tuesday a 2.0 quake rattled northeastern Arkansas. There were three quakes recorded on Aug. 4 and another three on Aug. 6, all ranging in strength of 1.5 to 2.1, with three of those six centered within 10 miles of New Madrid...

The Portageville Park Board is beginning a youth soccer program this fall. This new program will initially be offered for current kindergarten and first-grade students, with a view to expand the program next year. Both boys and girls are invited to participate...

JEFFERSON CITY-With the 2014 dove hunting season opening on a national holiday, the Missouri Department of Conservation urges hunters to pay special attention to safety. Dove-hunting season opens on Sept. 1 each year. This year, that date happens to coincide with Labor Day. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces a Discover Nature Youth Dove Wingshooting Clinic and Hunt in Cape Girardeau county Aug. 30 and Sept. 1. On Saturday, Aug. 30, MDC will lead a wing shooting clinic at Apple Creek Conservation Area Shooting Range to prepare youth for a hunt at Maintz Wildlife Preserve on the opening morning of dove season, Monday, Sept. 1...

Missouri law enforcement reminds motorists to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Missouri economic leaders today announced new efforts to reimagine workforce development initiatives across the region, calling it a necessity to "overhaul how we train our workers and connect our people to the jobs of the future." Delta Regional Authority Alternate Federal Co-Chairman Mike Marshall was joined by Bill Ransdall of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and Ted Abernathy of Economic Leadership LLC as well as leaders from business, industry and education.. ...

JONESBORO -- A federally-funded research project that will lead to a new system for analyzing factors that inhibit plant growth is getting underway at Arkansas State University. Dr. Argelia Lorence, associate professor of chemistry and physics, is co-principal investigator for the research, which is part of the ASSET Initiative project of the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority (ASTA)...

sports@standard-democrat.com ESSEX -- The Richland volleyball team won it's first game of the season Tuesday downing visiting Twin Rivers in straight sets. Richland (1-0) won the first game 25-9 and held off Twin Rivers 25-23 in the second set. The Lady Rebels will host Bell City at 6 p.m. on Thursday...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston girls tennis team's season opener didn't go as planned. Visiting Jackson nearly swept both doubles and singles matches giving Sikeston a 8-1 loss to start their 2014 campaign. "Today's match was a tough one for us," Sikeston head coach Russ Dial said. ...

BERNIE -- The Bernie Mules varsity volleyball program survived a slow start and put together an electric finish in a 25-23, 25-14 victory against Sikeston Tuesday night. The Mules trailed 9-3 and 18-13 in the opening set before rallying to tie things up at 20-20. ...

SIKESTON -- Adults who want to help others and earn extra funds may want to consider becoming AmeriCorps-CLAIM certified. AmeriCorps, Aging Matters and CLAIM, or Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri, are looking for volunteers to serve the Medicare population in Southeast Missouri for one year -- starting Monday through Aug. 31, 2015...

I spent far too much of my weekend catching up on the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. It literally took an earthquake to shake the national media away from Ferguson for just a brief moment. And just as quickly, the media swarmed again on the St. Louis suburb for Monday's funeral...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. TOUGH ISSUES REMAIN FOLLOWING GAZA TRUCE DEAL Israel and Hamas agree to an open-ended cease-fire after seven weeks of fighting, but barriers to lasting peace persist -- such as Palestinian appeals for the end of a Gaza blockade...

SIKESTON -- Mildred Hill, 62, died Aug. 21, 2014, at her daughter's home in Pontiac, Mich. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SEARCY, Ark. -- Patsy Sue Kinsey, 82, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Aug. 19, 2014, at Searcy Healthcare. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Hazel Bell Mathenia, 87, died Aug. 24, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Edward Francis Corbett, 82, died Aug. 25, 2014, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Leroy Nunn, 86, died Aug. 25, 2014, at Golden Living Center in New Madrid. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

GERMANTOWN, Tenn. -- Ronald Clyde Hurley, 67, died Aug. 25, 2014. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BENTON -- Jim Harold Hamby, 88, died Aug. 26, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ALEXANDRIA, La. -- Marsha Lynne Lacefield Willimas, 57, died at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON - A Sikeston man is facing kidnapping and assault charges after police say he took his estranged wife against her will. According to reports, Harold Duff told his estranged wife to call a man and break up with him on Aug. 14. The woman instead called a friend and asked her to call police...

Over 90 percent of the killings in the U.S. are blacks killing blacks. The media did not publicize the blacks in Ferguson that went to the shops to help clean up and said they were sorry for what happened. We each could not sleep well if we thought our police were not on the job night and day to protect us, whether we are black or white. The police are working for our safety, not the agitating Black Panthers that are stirring up the crowds. We must keep law and order in perspective...

Hazel Bell Mathenia of Portageville passed away Sunday, August 24, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. She was 87 years old. Hazel was born January 26, 1927 in Sharon, TN to Vada Doster Brooks and Curt Higgs. She was united in marriage October 18, 1941 to James Manuel Mathenia who preceded her in death in June 1989...

Scharlotta and Jonathan Dowler, of Portageville, would like to announce the birth of their first child, a son, Collin Alexander James Dowler. Collin was born at 5:37 p.m. on July 1, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces and was 14 and 1/2 inches long...

Mr. and Mrs. Danny and Treena Brown of Hayti are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Danna NaLynn Brown, to Nathaniel Blaine Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Barry and Kriste Martin, and Mr. and Mrs. Greg and Cindy Gream of Portageville...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sixth Annual Cotton Ramble Bicycle Ride will feature a new short route this year. The new route is all about keeping everybody together for as long as possible before splitting off onto the different courses, explained Jackie Cowan, who with her husband Ed Cowan founded the annual event...