Stories from Friday, August 7, 2015

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Not too many people get the opportunity Sikeston native Zac Stinnett had Thursday night at the 63rd annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. As one of six contestants in this year's only night of bull fighting, Stinnett had the chance to compete in front of friends and family in the main event of his hometown's biggest event of the year...

Football season will soon be here and the Portageville High School football team have officially started practices honing on their skills. They have been hitting the practice field in the morning hours when it is not so hot. The first home game is August 28 hosting Chaffee...

Back abroad, where I belong, chasing adventure and fish and game across this magnificent country. That's right, I said magnificent. It is very easy to become utterly disgusted and pessimistic about our nation and its direction, especially if you indulge in watching every news broadcast and clicking on every facebook post referencing the next horrible pandemic that's about to show up on our collective doorstep, however, if you'd like to help yourself feel less downtrodden and distraught about whatever it is you deem to be the next unavoidable plague upon society, the solution is simple. ...

Back abroad, where I belong, chasing adventure and fish and game across this magnificent country. That's right, I said magnificent. It is very easy to become utterly disgusted and pessimistic about our nation and its direction, especially if you indulge in watching every news broadcast and clicking on every facebook post referencing the next horrible pandemic that's about to show up on our collective doorstep, however, if you'd like to help yourself feel less downtrodden and distraught about whatever it is you deem to be the next unavoidable plague upon society, the solution is simple. ...

The East Prairie Eagles 9U competed and won first place in their division tournament with only nine players, their motto is #9 strong. The boys knew they had to come strong and ready to play and we could not afford any injuries with no back up. All 9 played like champs. The Eagles 9U are already looking forward to playing together next season. Above is ​Carson Bradley...dominating the plate...

According to Mark Christian, communications director for Noranda, "At approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, there was a molten metal explosion at the cast house in Noranda's plant in New Madrid, Mo." There are no fatalities. Local emergency response units and Noranda's on-site emergency response team responded quickly. ...

Many years ago in St. Louis a Christian was doing some business with a lawyer. And this Christian said to the lawyer: "You know, I have wanted for many years to ask you a question, but I have been afraid to ask." The lawyer was a kind man, and he said, "I can't imagine what question you would be afraid to ask me, but whatever it is, please go ahead and ask it." So the Christian said to the lawyer, "I want to ask you this question, are you saved? Are you a Christian?" And the lawyer said, "I have read something in the Bible that says, "No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God," and you know my problem, you know what a slave I am to drink.". ...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. TRUMP-INSPIRED DEBATE DRAMA UNSETTLES GOP FIELD When the billionaire businessman didn't rule out running as a third-party candidate, if he doesn't win the nomination, it sparked fresh waves of anxiety within the Republican Party...

SIKESTON -- Services for Charles Alfred "Charlie" Miller, 54, who died Aug. 1, 2015, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Terra Nova Church, 1209 East Malone in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Two men are in custody awaiting arraignment on burglary and theft charges after their arrest by the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office. According to Missouri Case.net, Roger Allen Bannister, 45, of Sikeston was arrested on felony charges of second degree burglary, theft/stealing and delivery or possession of a controlled substance at a jail and a misdemeanor charge of theft/stealing. ...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- The Mississippi County Highway Department will need to tally the bill before seeking the last FEMA reimbursement from the 2011 flood disaster. The only disaster recovery project left open in the county is the reconstruction of County Road 310. The last time the county submitted paperwork for a partial Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement payment was Oct. 31, 2014, according to County Clerk Junior DeLay...

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to a fire Thursday afternoon at a home on the 900 block of Plantation Boulevard in Sikeston. Further details were unavailable as of press time.

JEFFERSON CITY  - Sikeston's Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden will serve as a member of Missouri's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission and Missouri Department of Public Safety. Juden and other will update the law-enforcement training standards in Missouri, thanks to a directive from Gov. Jay Nixon...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- It's dangerous, fast and flashy, but trick and roman riding also brings another level of athleticism and fun to the rodeo. Just ask Jessica Blair and Madison MacDonald who are performing each night at this week's Sikeston Jaycees Bootheel Rodeo...

To the person that was asking about hummingbirds, we have plenty of them out here at Pharris Ridge, just about 3 miles west of Sikeston. I think it's a crying shame that some of our military were killed and it took almost a week for the President to lower the flags and people had to start calling towns to get them to lower their flags. ...

"Comfort Food" is the theme for Portageville's 68th Annual National Soybean Festival. The festival will begin with Main Street Madness on Saturday, Sept. 26. The festival will run through Thursday, Oct. 1.