Stories from Friday, June 5, 2015

For the past two years, New Madrid County produced regional winners in the annual Missouri Outstanding Older Worker of the Year Contest, which recognizes the vale older workers bring to today's workplace. Will New Madrid County "three-peat" in 2015?...

If you are looking for a great way to get the kids' summer started, look no further. Local volunteers along with support from businesses, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Missouri Department of Conservation will be holding the Stoddard County JAKES Event on Saturday, June 13. ...

Lakes Clearwater Lake Water Surface Temp: 72º
Water Level (Range): normal
Water Type: clear
Fish Reported: 
Crappie: Slow 
Largemouth Bass: Slow 
Catfish: Fair 
Bluegill: Fair 
White Bass: Slow 
bluegill fair on crickets and live worms; catfish fair on trotlines with live baits after dark, and pole and line with stinkbaits; all other species slow.
(Reported on: 5/27/15)...

There was a recent study that was released by the Pew Research Center titled "America's Changing Religious Landscape." The study revealed something that Jesus followers already knew: that there are fewer Christians in America. According to Pew Research, between 2008 and 2014 the Christian share of the population dropped from 78% to 70%. At the same time the Unaffiliated grew from 16% to 22% and non-Christian faith grew from 4% to 5%...

COLUMBIA, Mo. --Rain over Memorial Day weekend likely means that Missouri farmers will shed planting equipment again for the third weekend in a row. Delays in corn planting have pushed soybean planting progress well below the five-year average. Soybean planting generally does not begin until corn planting is complete...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Junior Legion picked up their second two-game sweep in as many days Thursday with wins over visiting Perryville Junior Legion. A complete game effort from starting pitcher Brandon Hurt highlighted a 5-2 win to open the night. Hurt allowed only one earned run on eight hits and two walks while striking out 11...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appointed Julia Crader Dolan, of Sikeston, as the new Scott County public administrator on Thursday. The position became vacant upon the retirement of former administrator Pam Dirnberger. Dolan, a Democrat, has operated a law practice in southeast Missouri for more than 30 years, and her areas of practice include guardianships and probate law. ...

FOOTBALL 7th Grade Arturo Biles Terridean Bogan Antonio Chappell Latraeveon Chappell James Durden Suave Fitzpatrick Shannon Henderson Dalton McClendon Lane Moody Deshain Rodgers Landyn Scott Jaquayvious Wiley Marcus Woodworth 8th Grade Q'Nairies Anderson...

Here are results from the Sikeston Sharks' home swim meet from May 30 at the YMCA in Sikeston as submitted to the Standard Democrat.

Here are scores from the Sikeston Area Youth Baseball and Softball leagues as submitted to the Standard Democrat

SIKESTON -- Three more individuals arrested in connection with Wednesday's warrant roundup conducted by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety were released on Thursday. Jimmie Johnson Jr. was charged with the Class C felony of possession of methamphetamine and the Class D felony of possession of drug paraphernalia. He is currently jailed with a bond of $10,000 cash or surety...

SIKESTON - "I caught a fish! I caught a fish," shouted Kelsie Anderson. "It's beautiful!" Kelsie was one of several dozen Lincoln University Cooperative Extension's summer campers gathered along the banks of the lake at the Sikeston Sports Complex on Thursday. Some were old hands at casting their line into the water. However, most were like Kelsie and trying fishing for the very first time...

SIKESTON -- The 33rd Circuit Court's Juvenile Division has settled into a new facility with new leadership and is ready to face whatever comes next. At the end of the 2014, the Division's office was moved from 205 North New Madrid in downtown Sikeston to 805 North Main, roughly across the street from Food Giant...

Hundreds of onlookers took pictures of Optimus Prime, the Western Star-based character from the movie "Transformers: Age of Extinction" at the TAG Truck Center open house held Thursday in Sikeston. The event featured games and door prizes as well as trucks from Freightliner on display, including fire trucks, dump trucks, bucket trucks and salt spreaders as well as the new 5700XE from Western Star which goes into production this month. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- James Lee Warren, 59, died June 3, 2015. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Esther J. Burns, 84, died June 2, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

What is destroying America? It is not climate change, but illegal immigration, political correctness and losing our Christian fortitude. We must first seal our borders and let the border patrol do its job unhindered. Four million illegal immigrants now being processed for citizenship (with no background check?) are overwhelming the system, putting legal applicants at the end of the line later. ...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Remember to nominate your favorite older worker for recognition before Independence Day. The deadline for MERS/Goodwill 25th Outstanding Older Workers of the Year Contest nominations is July 4. "This contest is to help open the public's eyes: just because a person is over 60, doesn't mean he or she can't still be productive," said Bob Mott of Experience Works in Hayti. "In the state of Missouri, 15.5 percent of our workforce is over the age of 60."...