Stories from Friday, July 31, 2015

Personally, I've never been able to wrap my head around "recreational fishing". It's a term used for people who go fishing to relax, which is a peculiar concept to me. I relax between 11 pm and 5 am, when God intended me too. When I'm fishing, I'm doing everything in my power, and exerting every effort to catch as many fish as possible, but hey, to each his own I suppose...

Laney Stone and Hunter Warren of the Bootheel Racers swimming program have had quite a summer in the pool. At meets throughout the Midwest and Mid-South these two young athletes have made their presence felt. When asked about the performance of Laney and Hunter in the summer 2015 season Coach Spence Royer offered the following: "Laney and Hunter have completely exceeded my expectations and have firmly demonstrated that they are some of the best young swimming talent in our area. ...

The 2015-2016 officers and directors who were elected on July 16, in Cape Girardeau: are front, from left, Anne Hayes, Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University; Kim Combs, Wayne County Journal-Banner; Secretary-Treasurer, Michelle Friedrich, Daily American Republic, Poplar Bluff; President, Peggy Scott, Festus Jefferson County Leader; back are, 2nd Vice President, Toby Carrig, Ste. ...

Three elderly men are at the doctor's office for a memory test. The doctor asks the first man, "What is three times three?" "274," came the reply. The doctor rolls his eyes and looks up at the ceiling, and says to the second man, "It's your turn. What is three times three?" "Tuesday," replies the second man. ...

SIKESTON -- Some local high school students are seeing firsthand what it's like to work in the medical field through a two-day camp which began Wednesday in Sikeston. "We enjoy teaching, and anytime we can teach kids who are possibly interested in doing what we do some day, we love it," said Tami Kiefer, flight nurse for Air Evac Lifeteam...

CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County's claims against the Corps for tearing up county roads were denied. Commissioners reviewed during their regular weekly meeting Thursday the letter from the U.S. Department of the Army's Tort Claims Division received Wednesday notifying the county of "final administrative action" on the county's claims...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Friday: 1. INVESTIGATORS WORK TO LINK WING PART TO VANISHED MALAYSIA AIRLINES JET The surprise discovery of the debris on a remote island in the Indian Ocean stirs hopes and emotion among families of the missing...

SIKESTON -- Judy Harper 76, died July 30, 2015, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Ressie Cantrell, 91, died July 29, 2015, at the Miner Nursing Center in Miner. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BLOOMFIELD -- A Dexter man will be arraigned Wednesday on child molestation and statutory rape charges. James Mylon Ballard, 41, of Dexter was arrested Thursday on a warrant for two counts of first degree statutory rape, first degree child molestation involving a weapon and tampering with a victim, according to Stoddard County Sheriff's Department...

STEELE -- A Steele resident is in jail on drug-related charges. Marcus Spates is in custody following his arrest on on a felony warrant charging him with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and a Steele municipal warrant charging him with failure to appear in court...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Naylor man was sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison for possessing sexually explicit images of young girls. Billy Joe Wertenberger, 26, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 117 months for felony possession of child pornography, assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester said...


**Wickliffe, Ky., girl who went missing Wednesday was found Thursday morning near home WICKLIFFE, Ky. -- The body of 8-year-old Skyleigh Pool, who had been missing since Wednesday. was recovered from a pond early Thursday near her home. The Ballard County Sheriff's Department confirmed Skyleigh was found about a quarter of a mile from her home Thursday morning...

Could you please print the law about yielding to emergency vehicles and to funeral processions? I think some of our local motorists have seem to forgotten. I witnessed drivers not yielding to emergency vehicles going to the Santie fire. They were not emergency personnel. ...

July 2015 Monthly Report Fire Department City Incidents- 2 7-17-15: Firemen responding- 11; Location- 509 Payne Ave.; Grass and Trash Fire. 7-22-15: Firemen responding- 10; Location- 110 West 6th St.; Tree Burning Rural Incidents- 1 7-31-15: Firemen responding- 7; Location- I-55 at MM 34-38; Grass Fire...