Stories from Wednesday, September 17, 2014

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A Charleston man will spend 15 years in federal prison for robbing a bank. Deidrick Reed, 26, was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 96 months on one felony count of making a false bomb threat and one felony count of armed bank robbery. Reed also received a consecutive sentence of 84 months for using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He appeared Monday before United States District Judge John A. Ross...

SIKESTON -- Helping the Southeast Missouri Food Bank today can bring a tax break in the future. The Missouri Department of Economic Development approved the local food bank and four others for tax credits under the Neighborhood Assistance Program. NAP helps not-for-profit organizations raise private-sector funds by providing partial state tax credits to businesses that make contributions to approved community improvement projects...

National Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 21-27.

Southeast Missouri legislators and consumer advocates throughout the state are voicing growing support for the Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation's filing of a motion with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). The Friday motion asks the commission to reconsider its August 20 order, denying Noranda's request for a lower Ameren Missouri power rate at the company's aluminum smelter plant in New Madrid, Mo. ...

Those inside Kennett's high school gymnasium Thursday night were treated to a high level of volleyball competition as the Indians hosted Portageville. It took three sets to decide both junior varsity and varsity matches. Kennett's junior varsity eked out a 25-20, 20-25, 25-22 victory, but Portageville's varsity squad won an absolute thriller, 19-25, 25-18, 26-24, improving to 7-0...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Sikeston lost all three of its tie breakers which wound up deciding their 5-4 loss to visiting Caruthersville Tuesday. "It was tough for us to lose them all especially the last singles match because that would determine the winner of the dual contest," Sikeston head coach Russ Dial said. "Still, we're keeping our heads up because we did play well."...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs volleyball team has fallen into an unwanted pattern of late. They take on their opponent as well as themselves. Sikeston's play fluctuated for most of the night which led to a straight-set loss to visiting Jackson 26-24 and 25-12 Tuesday at the Sikeston Field House...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- In their last meeting during the Notre Dame Soccerfest's opening round, Sikeston and Notre Dame battled through regulation and two overtimes without neither team scoring a single goal. It was a game that was finally decided on penalty kicks with Notre Dame coming out on top...

By Staff report news@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- When a Dexter man finally gets out of the hospital, he is likely to face yet another problem: drug charges. It was about 8:30 p.m. when the Sikeston Department of Public Safety was advised of a call reporting what a witness thought must be the result a traffic accident: a man on fire out in front of Walmart...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. WHAT U.S. LAWMAKERS ARE READY TO OK The House is set to approve Obama's plan to order training and arms for moderate Syrian rebels in a bid to combat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- It is time to think about beefing up county security, according to the Scott County Commission. "We are looking at the security of the county complex which includes all five buildings," Presiding County Commissioner Jamie Burger said during the Commission's regular meeting Tuesday...

NEW MADRID -- Politicians, organizations and the local union have added their support to Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation's request to reconsider its request for lower power rates. The company has filed a motion with the Missouri Public Service Commission requesting that the PSC reconsider its Aug. 20 order denying Noranda's request for a lower power rate at the company's aluminum smelter here...

SIKESTON -- A Canalou woman has received so many inquiries about her frugal living, she's been asked to conduct a workshop to teach others how to save money in today's economy. Michelle Russom of Canalou will present information on how to save money during her "Consumer Cents 101" seminar at 7 p.m. Friday in the multi-purpose building at First Assembly of God Church in Sikeston. The workshop is a fundraiser for the Church's Women's Ministries...

I noticed in the paper the other night that Noranda and Ameren UE had agreed to a 14 percent pay cut. But some of our government idiots from Jefferson City decided we didn't need this. What are they trying to do run Noranda out so they can get it in their town? What we need to do is get all the people in Jefferson City that make stupid decisions like this and get the rest of them out of Washington, D.C., and elect us a bunch of brand new idiots. ...

"The end of civilization as we know it." Those are powerful words. Frightening words. Doomsday words. Yet those were the words used by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week to describe the results of a Republican victory in the United States Senate this November...

SIKESTON - Andria Claire Rapert, 50, formerly of Charleston, died Sept. 12, 2014, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Debra Kay Arms, 60, died Sept. 14, 2014, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


ANNISTON -- LaVonda Kaye Evans, 66, died Sept. 13, 2014, at her home in Anniston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


COMMERCE - Joy Jean Simmons, 87, died Sept. 16, 2014, at her home in Commerce. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


NEW MADRID -- Preston Clark passed away peacefully Sept. 14, 2014, at his home in New Madrid at the age of 90 years. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


POPLAR BLUFF -- Mildred Margaret Donica, 91, formerly of Qulin, died Sept 13, 2014, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


CHARLESTON - Bernice Brooks-Jones, 67, died Sept. 14, 2014, at the Charleston Manor. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.

NEW MADRID - Laura Louise Nelson, 80, died Sept. 15, 2014, at her home in New Madrid. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER -- Jo Alyce "Jody" Mason, 89, died Sept. 13, 2014, at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


CHARLESTON - The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting from 4-6 p.m. Thursday to discuss improvements to Route C in Mississippi County. The meeting will be held at the Delta Growers Association in Charleston, located at 313 South Route 105...

Mack and Marcella Cross, lifelong residents of the Portageville area, will be honored on their 75th wedding anniversary Saturday, September 20 with a drop-in reception from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Family and friends are invited to attend this special event...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, who has been president of Southeast Missouri State University since 1999, announced his retirement effective June 30 during his State of the University address Monday at Academic Hall. Dobbins plans to do some higher education consulting for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' Penson Center for Professional Development. ...

JEFFERSON CITY- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will hold a public auction of various used vehicles, and equipment on Saturday, Oct. 18, starting at 10 a.m. at its Salem Maintenance Center, 1715 Hwy 32 West. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. The auction will include dozens of vehicles, along with ATVs, trailers, boats, outboard motors, mowers, generators, blowers, pumps and other equipment...