Stories from Thursday, March 12, 2015

CHARLESTON -- Police are investigating a shooting that injured three females Wednesday night in Charleston. About 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, officers with the Charleston Department of Public Safety investigated a report of gunshots and a disturbance near the intersection of Vine and Sy Williams (Elm Street) in Charleston, according to Charleston DPS Director Robert Hearnes...

That's right, I'm still giving fishing reports from 300 miles away, I'd give a local report but my momma always said that if I didn't have anything nice to say I should say nothing at all! Actually, that's not entirely true, we have a bit of good news in that our lakes are no longer froze solid! Furthermore, I saw a few pictures of anglers holding some big crappie from Wappapello Lake, so there is hope...

Conservation Department asks snaggers to report tagged fish and get rewards.

While Thursday afternoon finally brought sunshine to the Bootheel, below-freezing temperatures prevented much of the overnight snow from melting, and a hard freeze Thursday night into Friday refroze slushy side streets that had yet to be cleared. Black ice was also reported. Winter Storm Thor broke the all-time, two-day snow record in parts of Kentucky, with up to 20 inches...

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has announced the award of an Early Head Start grant to Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation. This grant improves access to high quality early learning opportunities for infants and toddlers in low-income families...

The New Madrid County VFW POST #7183 Auxiliary donated $2500 to "THE TRAVELING WALL" that will be in New Madrid, on May 7-10, 2015 and is being sponsored by the VFW POST #7183 located in Lilbourn. For more information on THE TRAVELING WALL, please contact Wiley Allred (573-233-5104) Mike Seyer (573-521-8786) or Gary Riley (573-471-2601)...

The Bible says in Roman 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Every person is a sinner and separated from God and is lost and on their way to an eternal hell. That is the default position of every man, woman, boy, and girl born into this world. ...

The Scott County Central Braves advanced to the Class 2 state championship game after defeating Crane 60-49 Thursday during the semifinals at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

It's one thing to lose.It's another to lose in the heart-breaking fashion that New Madrid County Central did on Thursday afternoon in a Class 3 state semifinal.

NEW MADRID -- Homer Lee Parker Sr., 72, died March 6, 2015, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Vaudine Jackson, 83, died March 10, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PARMA -- Jesse Frank Bartlett, 86, died March 8, 2015, at Southeast Healthcare of Stoddard County in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Billie Burton, 76, died March 11, 2015, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Bonnie Carlyle McLain, 82, died at 2:20 a.m. March 12, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CANALOU -- Roy Gail Keys Sr., 59, died March 10, 2015, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

POTOSI -- Lowan Edward Griffin, 82, died March 8, 2015, at the Washington County Hospital in Potosi. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. -- Easter Lillie LaRue, 89, formerly of Dexter, Mo., died March 10, 2015, at the Gassville Therapy and Living Center in Gassville. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services conducted Wednesday for Martha Kurtz, 96, who died March 8, 2015, were: Dylan Sullivan, Garrett Sullivan, Eric Kurtz, Jamie Hawkes, Michael Schaffer and Ashton Schaffer. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition...

MOREHOUSE -- Doyle Clitus Nelson, 94, died March 9, 2015, at the VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Alice Nadine Jeffries Hammon, 83, died March 9, 2015. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Like any good military leader, Rick Justice of Sikeston, commanding officer of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry, has been carefully considering the conditions. But strategies by Justice this year are focused on not tearing up the ground rather than taking it to the enemy...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety will lose one of its leaders soon but he isn't going far. DPS Capt. Ken Dicus confirmed Tuesday he will retire from DPS in the near future to become the South Scott County Ambulance District's next director...

NEW MADRID -- The Mississippi River Commission will stop in Southeast Missouri during the Memphis District portion of its annual high-water inspection trip on the Mississippi River. A public meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 23 at the Mississippi riverfront in New Madrid aboard the Motor Vessel Mississippi so commission members have the opportunity to meet with local partners, stakeholders and residents and hear their concerns, ideas and issues...

I moved to a very large city in Michigan from Sikeston several years ago. I, along with my husband and then teenage son, wondered about the city keeping the snow plowed in our subdivision. Sikeston had such a hard time keeping up with the snow there, I just knew it would be impossible for them to keep up with it here in Michigan. ...