Stories from Saturday, January 17, 2015

There's no way I can fit all of this in one article, but after 24 hunts in Kentucky and Missouri without getting a shot, we'd conceded defeat, until I got a call from a buddy in Mississippi. At around 4:30, I saw what looked like a deer way out in the green field. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that hunters harvested 11,025 deer during the Alternative Methods portion of the 2014 deer hunting season, which ran Dec. 20-30. Top harvest counties were Oregon with 269, Franklin with 248, and Howell with 244. The total harvest for last year's Alternative Methods portion was 11,967...

With many things happening in Portageville, SRG Global Portageville has taken some steps to show their support to both the Portageville Bulldogs and the community. During the Fall sports seasons, the plant has displayed a colorful look at the front entrance of their facility, as well as when you exit I-55, you can look to the right across from McDonalds and see more support. ...

JEFFERSON CITY-- Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, announced recently 15 Senate committees that will be tasked with holding public hearings and drafting legislation on issues important to Missourians. The committees will be in place for the First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly that runs through 2016. As Senate Leader, Dempsey names all committees and appoints chairmen and members of the Majority Caucus to those committees...

SIKESTON -- Bootheel Counseling Services has teamed up with local agencies to make mental health services more accessible to even more residents in Southeast Missouri. Through a two-year, $489,000-grant awarded by Missouri Foundation for Health, Bootheel Counseling began last month increasing public access to mental health services by placing master-level therapists in health departments, probation and parole and other social service agencies in Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi and Stoddard counties.. ...

NEW MADRID -- Sometimes success can be measured in tears. Mykesha Jackson, who is in her first year as a member of the Missouri College Advising Corps at New Madrid County Central, said she realized just how much her work is making a difference, when a student recently arrived in her office clutching an envelope...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- He's the scorer, the ball handler or anything Charleston needs him to be. Simply put, Delfincko Bogan is a presence. So when he fouled out with 3:58 left in the fourth quarter leaving the Bluejays with a manageable 58-48 lead, Scott County Central made the most of a Bogan-less Charleston...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs could not have asked for a better start to Friday night's SEMO Conference matchup with Jackson. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-0 lead and were overwhelming the Indians with pressure and relentless defense...

sports@standard-democrat.com BERNIE -- After winning only two of their first 11 games, this past week has been a breath of fresh air for the Dexter Bearcats and their fans. Not only have the Bearcats secured back-to-back wins, but both have came at the expense of Stoddard County Activity Association opponents less than two weeks before the SCAA Conference Tournament...

Staff Reports sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- Still in search of their first win, the Chaffee Red Devils fell 44-30 to Kelly on Friday. After falling behind 9-8 after the first quarter, the Hawks (5-10) outscored Chaffee 11-4 in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead into the break. Kelly out-paced the Red Devils 25-17 in the second half to hold on for the win...

BENTON -- It's often said small things make a difference in a ball game. That might be true, but a small person also can determine an outcome. For proof, look no further than Charleston's Sierra Frazier, a slender 5-foot senior who is routinely dwarfed on the basketball court...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Superior guard play can go a long way for any basketball team, and that's exactly what New Madrid County Central had Friday night. Senior guard Willie Jimerson and sophomore guard Javarcus Word combined for 45 points and led the Eagles to a 68-63 victory over Cape Central in a SEMO Conference boys basketball game at Cape Central High School...

SIKESTON -- Alma Lorene Coffey, age 80, passed away Jan. 15 , 2015, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.

SIKESTON -- Margaret Louise Ward, 64, died Jan. 16, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.

CHAFFEE -- Sharon Sue Gibbons, 72, died Jan. 14, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.

ST. CHARLES -- Earl M. "Butch" McKnight Jr., 50, formerly of Sikeston, died at 3:06 p.m. Jan. 13, 2015. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.

SIKESTON -- Gary L. Fox, 69, died Jan. 16, 2015, at his home in Sikeston. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.

This is to the free government help to the elderly and the handicapped. You need to make a surprise visit to the homes. They are getting the clients to sign the papers and not cleaning the houses or doing what they are supposed to be doing. They need to take a look and find out what is going on...

The tragic and chaotic homicide last week on highly-traveled North Main Street is a stark reminder that violence can erupt at any time and any place here or elsewhere. It should go without saying that our Public Safety personnel deserve ample credit for their swift investigation into the shooting and their ability to pinpoint the suspects and the horrible narrative that led to this tragic event...