Stories from Tuesday, September 23, 2014

KANSAS CITY, MO- It appears the winds of change are blowing in Missouri, as more people speak out in favor of a plan to build a high-voltage wind energy transmission line through the state. 
Jim Turner, executive committee chair of the Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club, says the line, which would transfer 3,500 megawatts of power from wind farms in Kansas, would help the state move away from its reliance on coal, as required by a ballot initiative. ...

WYATT -- Robert Mathews Nolen, 61, died Sept. 21, 2014, at his home in Wyatt. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until time for the memorial services at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. His daughter, Bobbi Sue Holtmeyer, will deliver the eulogy...

SIKESTON -- William C. "Bill" Willoughby III, 64, died Sept. 21, 2014, at his home in Sikeston. Visitation is from from 5:30 p.m. until service time at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Temple of Faith Baptist Church in Sikeston with the Rev. Allen Rhyne, pastor, officiating...

Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 49. Sunny on Wednesday with a high near 78 then becoming mostly clear Wednesday night with a low around 53. Thursday will be sunny, with a high near 82 while Thursday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 56. ...

CHARLESTON - The Charleston Department of Public Safety will team up with the Drug Enforcement administration to collect unwanted prescription drugs. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, the public can bring unwanted medications for disposal to the lobby of the Charleston DPS. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. No syringes or inhalers please...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The legal battle over the Poplar Bluff City Council's challenge of former city manager Doug Bagby's contract continues to be fought with a variety of court filings. No date has been set for a hearing on motions pending in Butler County Circuit Court...

This beautiful red sunset was submitted by Timothy Butrum.

VAN BUREN -- A night of gigging with family turned tragic Saturday for a Van Buren family when its boat capsized on Current River, leaving one family member dead. At about 10:30 p.m., Darrel R. Culpepper, 57, of Van Buren was operating a johnboat in the area of the Pinoak Campground, north of Van Buren, when his boat capsized after floating backwards into a log, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. FIRST AIRSTRIKES AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE GROUP BEGIN IN SYRIA The Pentagon says the U.S. and its Arab partners used fighter jets, bombers, and cruise missiles to hit militants' command and control centers...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Two down, one in progress and one to go, maybe, is the score on Scott County Courthouse roof rebuilds. Associate County Commissioners Donnie Kiefer and Dennis Ziegenhorn made their way to to the courthouse's top floor, out a window to the roof over the north wing and up a ladder to view progress on the roof over the central, main section of the courthouse during Tuesday's County Commission meeting...