Stories from Wednesday, March 4, 2015

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is cautioning motorists about today's impending winter weather. So far the area has received some moderate rain on ground saturated from the last snow event. Rain continues to fall at a steady pace and is predicted to transition to sleet sometime between 10 a.m. ...

sports@standard-democrat.com BLOOMFIELD -- For most of the first half it looked like Oran was going to threaten Class 1 power-house Naylor's five-year winning streak in the local sectional. A strong finish to the second quarter, followed by a dominant second half however saw Naylor book their sixth-straight trip to the quarterfinals with a 59-31 final Tuesday at Bloomfield High School...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Dexter is back in very familiar territory. For the eighth-straight year the Bearcats will play for a district championship after cruising past Cape Central 66-30 Tuesday night at the Sikeston Field House during the Class 4, District 1 tournament semifinals...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Notre Dame was on the cusp of giving Sikeston yet another district tournament send-off. Allie Ziegler was willing her team with all she could muster by giving underdog Notre Dame a two-point lead with three minutes remaining...

In a rivalry as old as Charleston and New Madrid County Central's, there are not a lot of firsts still to be had. Yet after all the years of battling each other for district titles the two teams will meet for the first time ever during for a sectional game.

BLOOMFIELD -- It took one shot for the Advance boys basketball team to seal the deal against Gideon on Tuesday. Trailing by one point with less than a minute remaining in the game, the Hornets took their time to find that shot. After moving the ball around the perimeter, Preston Wuebker found some separation and pulled up from the top left of the key...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING TRIAL BEGINS Lawyers of accused suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will seek to portray him as the impressionable younger brother of the attack's mastermind, Tamerlan, while prosecutors will say he was an active and willing participant...

BENTON - The County Commission has closed the Scott County Courthouse today due to the inclement weather forecast for today.

Like many of you, I am sorely disappointed with the leadership in Washington, D.C., that has plunged this great nation into a fiscal and international mess of historic proportions. But the lack of leadership that disappoints me the most is the miserable failure and continued incompetence of the Republican leadership - and I use that term loosely...

NASHVILLE -- Luther Franklin "Sonny" Kesler Jr., 84, died Feb. 28, 2015, at The Lodge at Natchez Trace in Nashville. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DELTA -- Terri Renee Collins, 48, died March 1, 2015, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Betty Stasiowski, 73, died Feb. 28, 2015, at Heritage Gardens of Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


JACKSON -- Betty S. Rampley, 76, of Jackson, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Monticello House in Jackson. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER -- Earl Joseph Hubenthal, 98, died Feb. 24, 2015, at his home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


PORTAGEVILLE -- Isaac Combs, 54, died March 2, 2015, in Springfield. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


Norma Matthews KERRVILLE, Texas -- Norma Jean Woods Matthews passed away at her home in Kerrville, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. She was 88 years old. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.
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SIKESTON -- Willie Mae Grubbs, 83, died March 2, 2015, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


Vincent Dirnberger NEW HAMBURG -- Due to pending inclement weather, the funeral Mass for Vincent Dirnberger, 88, who died Feb. 28, 2015, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton in charge of arrangements...

SIKESTON - Lola McCoy, 77, died March 3, 2015, at her residence in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic editio

CHARLESTON - Law enforcement officials are warning the public of scams targeting area residents. Recently multiple residents have reported to Sikeston Department of Public Safety of a phone scam by a caller claiming to be with the U.S. Department of Treasury and stating that the person on the other line has received a tax-free grant. The caller shows up as "unknown" on caller ID. Residents are encouraged to not accept the call or give any information to the caller...

ORAN - At a regular meeting of the Oran R-III School District Board of Education on Feb. 18, a refunding bond resolution was approved. The resolution authorized the sale of $1,275,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds at an average interest rate of about 1.63 percent, compared to the Series 2011 Refunded Bonds which carry an average interest rate of about 3.52 percent. ...

NEW MADRID - Students at New Madrid Elementary school were recognized for having perfect attendance during the second quarter. Honorees included: Carlie Cook, Casey Hornburg, Mylee Cook, Ethan Duckworth, Zakarah Green, Ahmeny Jackson, Jordan Maltbia, Jared Shackleford, Ashton Snipes, Kaylee Babb, Luke Chisenall, Kamryn Cook, Alvion Cooper, Jordan Creasy,...

New Madrid Elementary held a drawing for the students who had perfect attendance for the second quarter. The winners of a $25 Walmart Gift Card were, from left: Karissa Robinson, Ethan Duckworth, Zakarah Green, and Peyton Jarmon.

SIKESTON -- Kye Lawrence will serve as Sikeston's new city prosecutor. "Kye's qualifications include prosecution, criminal defense and civil law experience. We are pleased to have him representing the city of Sikeston as prosecuting attorney," said Sikeston City Manager Jonathan "J.D." Douglass in announcing the appointment...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today announced the appointment of Dr. Carlos Vargas-Aburto, acting president at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, as the 18th president of Southeast Missouri State University. He will assume the presidency on July 1, 2015...

A bill before Congress regarding our national security should exclude the Obama Administration plans to give 5-10 million illegals green cards to work. We already have 92.5 million unemployed. We can't afford to give them voting rights, drivers licenses, college education and health care that we can't afford ourselves. ...