Stories from Wednesday, January 14, 2015

SIKESTON - The murder of a Sikeston man apparently followed nearly a two-month feud. The Sikeston Department of Public Safety reported the arrest of two individuals while they continue their search for William Henry Applewhite III, 27, and Gailon Lamarous Applewhite, 29, who are charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the Sunday evening shooting death of Christopher Qurvon West of Sikeston. ...

SIKESTON -- The victim of the Sunday evening murder in Sikeston has been identified. Christopher West, 31, of Sikeston was found shot to death Sunday evening inside a vehicle facing northbound in the middle of the road on U.S. Highway 61 North near College Street in Sikeston, according to Capt. James McMillen, public information officer for Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

BENTON -- A two-hour standoff with law enforcement ended with the arrest of a Chaffee man late Tuesday in Scott County. Kenneth Eugene Cummins Sr., 53, of rural Chaffee is charged with the felony of first degree domestic assault, the felony of armed criminal action and the misdemeanor of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Since the start of the new year the Scott County Central Braves have been on a tear, beating its three opponents by a combined 188 points and scoring no fewer than 82 points in any contest. Their latest rout came Tuesday when junior Jeffery Porter's 27 points helped the Braves to a 94-41 win over visiting East Prairie...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- There are no breathers on the Sikeston Bulldogs' schedule, and that includes the Carbondale Terriers which may just be the most talented team the Bulldogs have played in quite some time. Carbondale, which is ranked third in Illinois Class 3A, blitzed the Bulldogs on Tuesday at the Field House 71-51...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- New Madrid County Central's Willie Jimerson enjoys the challenge and discussion that surrounds the duel between him and Charleston counterpart Delfincko Bogan. They each lead their teams in scoring, they're both seniors that hover around the 5-foot-10 mark and they play similar positions...

Staff Reports sports@standard-democrat.com RISCO -- Still searching for that elusive first win, the Risco Tigers lost a close battle with visiting Clarkton on Tuesday, 51-45. Only trailing by a point, 17-16, after the first quarter, the Tigers (0-10) were outscored 14-4 in the second quarter to fall back by 11 points at halftime. Risco out-paced the Reindeer 16-6 in the third quarter to close back within a point entering the fourth, but were outscored 14-9 in the final frame...

MINER - A Charleston man is in custody after a high speed chase by police through Miner and Sikeston. Jeremy Warren, 29, is charged with driving while revoked, resisting arrest, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and several traffic violations. According to Miner Police Chief Chris Griggs, a Miner Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Warren on Matthews Lane in Miner...

SIKESTON -- A grant update for the current school year was provided during Tuesday's regular meeting of the Sikeston R-6 School Board. Chad King, director of Sikeston Career and Technology Center, along with Lynn Crader, assistant superintendent for elementary/special services, provided information on this school year's grants...

news@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A home was heavily damaged in a fire early Monday morning. At about 1:50 a.m. Monday, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety Fire Division responded to a report at a fire at home on the 400 block of Broadway...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. WHO IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARIS ATTACK Yemen's top al-Qaida leader says his organization masterminded the newsroom killings at Charlie Hebdo...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Regional emergency dispatching centers make sense, according to the Scott County Commission, and they hope to move in that direction. "We are in discussion with the city of Sikeston to merge 911," Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said during the County Commission's regular Tuesday meeting...

Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner has reported the arrest of a female subject involved in illegal drug activity. Deputies arrested Amber M. Medlin, 29, of Dexter on the class B felony charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man recently pleaded guilty as charged to multiple felonies, including statutory sodomy, in Jefferson County. Samuel Anquiano Gonzales, 49, of the 900 block of Hickory Street pleaded guilty Tuesday to the unclassified felony of first-degree statutory sodomy, the Class B felony of abuse of a child and the Class A felony of sexual exploitation of a minor before Judge Robert Wilkins, according to entries in Casenet, Missouri's online court reporting system...

Employees with the Sikeston Parks Division load Christmas trees left by residents for recycling onto a PTI truck on Tuesday at the Sikeston Sports Complex. The trees will be transported to Lake Wappapello where they will be used by the Corps of Engineers to create fish shelters in the lakes...

NEW MADRID -- Heading into a new year, the New Madrid County R-1 School Board is already looking at the next school year. During the Board's January meeting, approval was given for the 2015-16 school calendar. The CTA calendar committee assisted in the development of the calendar, according to Dr. ...

SIKESTON -- Matthews Elementary School in Sikeston has announced the second quarter honor roll students for the 2014-2015 school year. They are: Delayna Basinger, Kaelyn Britton, Karie Burton, Jackson Couch, Brayden Darnall, Allaina Darnall, Synai Edwards, Dalton Estrada, Mia Flores, Kameron Gates, Jakeelan Harris, Gorvarious Hines, Tyren Jackson, Isiah Mays, Rylan Mays, Gavin Mercer, Jerren Nichols, Ava Pate-Bautista, Garrett, Pipes, Honesty Price-Coleman, Zander Propst, Lindsey Rapert, Emma Sadler, Zomarionna Spence, Malaika Spencer, Kassydi Starnes, Jabreia Stevens, Shauntrez Taylor,. ...

Jamie Barber's fifth grade class at Warren E. Hearnes Elementary in Charleston was the Box Top Winner for November and received a "computer party" for gathering the most tops for the month.

SIKESTON -- Saint Francis Xavier School has announced the honor roll students for the second quarter of the 2014-2015 school year. They are: Libby Alcorn, Hiatt Ault, Hunter Collins, Jack Cozean, Cole Fitzgerald, Meredith Grojean, Jacob Haley, Sophie Hunter, Savannah Hux, Laura Martinez, Katie Rose Ressel, Will Henry Steward, Barrett Stokes, Laurel Towery, Ella Vinson, Kylin Woodruff...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Alternative Center has announced the students who achieved status on the honor roll for the second quarter of the 2014-2015 school year. They are: Jordan Barton, Brittiny Brown, Zameka Flye, Preston Gilmore, Heather Hargrove, Justin Kiser, Tyler McClinton, Sean Sauceda, Mikal Sherrod, Naeisha Stanback, Joshua Watts, Adira White, Sarah Williams and Schyler Williams...

The Preschool Pups of the month for December at the Sikeston Kindergarten and Early Childhood Center were recently announced. Pictured from left are: Mikevus Jackson, Lauren Winders, Keriya Harris, Sydney Hoang, Sophie Grace Carbaugh with Principals Jenny Hobeck and Sarah Carbaugh...

The Scott County Central Winter Homecoming is Jan. 16, as the SCC Braves take on the Charleston Blue Jays. Queen candidates are from left; Thoma McCoy, senior class candidate; McKayla Dumey, junior class candidate; Maddison Avance, sophomore class candidate; and Paige Bilderback, freshman class candidate. The crowning of the Homecoming queen will occur between the junior varsity and varsity contests...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for funeral services conducted Tuesday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel for Della Faye "Nanny" Brewer, 93, who died Jan. 10, 2015, were: John Slayton, Lonnie Slayton, Aaron Norrick, Jeremy Garrison, Kenny Brewer, Paul Brewer and Greg Perry...

ESSEX -- Bonnie Lou Brewer, 76, died Jan. 8, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Beverly Ann Rice, 60, died Jan. 9, 2015, at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. - David Michael Livingston, 61, died Jan. 10, 2015, in Batesville, Ark. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Beth Huber, 99, died Jan. 6, 2015, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHARLESTON -- Katherine Murray McCauley, 70, died Jan. 8, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for funeral services held Monday at the Ponder Funeral Home for Clara Maxine Talley, 84, who died on Jan. 7, 2015 were: Waylin Martin, Charles Mitchell, Richard Walters Brice Davis, Julia Moreland and Chris Moreland. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Genevieve Arnold, 83, died Jan. 10, 2015, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

FAYETTE -- Elizabeth Baker "Liz" Brown, 88, formerly of Sikeston, died Dec. 23, 2014. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

GREENVILLE, Ill. -- Verl Leonard McNece, 77, formerly of Bernie, Mo., died Jan. 9, 2015, at Greenville Regional Hospital. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Lanell F. Thompson, 80, died Jan. 12, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Deloris Cook, 90, died Jan. 11, 2015, at Miner Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.


BENTON -- An investigation into a stolen computer led to the arrest of a Sikeston man. Dustin Allen Oakes, 18, is charged with felony stealing following an investigation which began Saturday after Scott County Deputy Danny Finley spoke with a Morley resident who reported her Hewlett-Packard 310 Touchsmart laptop computer was stolen...

CHAFFEE - Traffic was diverted from Highway 77 after law enforcement received reports of shots fired from a residence. Reportedly what began as a domestic disturbance Tuesday escalated when law enforcement officials received report a man had fired several shots into the air and was barricaded himself in a residence with several weapons...

CHARLESTON -- An East Prairie woman faces forgery charges following an investigation by the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department. Leslie Elaine Moreland, 34, of East Prairie is charged with three counts of forgery, a class C felony punishable upon conviction by up to seven years imprisonment...

I just want to say, I guess it's time for the little old gals having babies to apply for their tax refunds. They jump ahead of everybody and they get more than anybody else. They get everything free through the year and old people have to fight for everything they get. ...

"I don't need to see a doctor. I'm not sick." (Cough, cough, up comes a lung) As cold and flu season hits full throttle, you will hear more than one man say this. I'm one of those men. There are many reasons why men won't go to the doctor. Some think doctors are just frauds in white coats. ...

The tragic terrorist attack in Paris last week is yet another sad and stark reminder of the dangerous world in which we find ourselves. We must come to the obvious conclusion that the western world - and especially our freedom loving nation - is at war with Islamic terrorists...

SIKESTON -- Effective Thursday and Friday, the alley behind the Sikeston Public Library at Kingshighway Street will be closed from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. due to construction. All motorists and residents in the area are encouraged to use caution when in the construction areas. Any questions should be directed to Brian Dial, street superintendent at (573) 471-2512 or by visiting www.sikeston.org...

Joseph L. Simmons was born October 12, 1933 in Hayward, MO to Alfred A. Simmons and Nevel "Polly" Viola DeTie. He died Friday, January 9, 2015 at Cape Girardeau, MO at the age of 81 years, 2 months and 28 days. He was united in marriage to Donna Nolen on March 28, 1956 in Hayward. She survives of the home. Preceding him in death were his parents, Alfred and Nevel, his step-mother, Mae Simmons, one brother, Alfred "Cotton" Simmons, Jr., and one sister, Lillian Powell...