Stories from Friday, August 21, 2015

The Missouri High School Activities Association in conjunction with the National Federation of State High School Associations has released its annual points of emphasis for the 2015 high school football season. The five areas of emphasis for the upcoming season are: risk minimization, defining excessive contact, the free-blocking zone, illegal equipment and sideline interference...

The Portageville Youth Soccer program is back for its second season. This year, we've expanded the program to include current kindergarten-3rd grade students. Both boys and girls are invited to participate. The registration fee is $25 per player. Included in this fee are team shirts and socks. In addition to these items, each player will need to furnish the following:...

The U.S. motto "In God We Trust" is emblazoned on New Madrid Sheriff's Department vehicles, thanks to a donation from a vendor at the Missouri Sheriff's Association Conference last week in Branson, Missouri. According to Sheriff Terry Stevens, "The Missouri Sheriff's Association voted at the conference to approve the decals' placement on all sheriff's department vehicles statewide."...

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -- 2 Corinthians 12:10

SIKESTON -- Students and staff in all grades at The Christian Academy filed in together under one roof for the first time in several years as their new school year began Thursday. The Sikeston Christian-based school relocated to a new location, 103 E. Kathleen St. in Sikeston, which housed Three Rivers College before it moved to its new campus on South Main Street a year ago...

Members of the Sikeston Bulldogs football team go through through their final preparations before their first game of the season tonight at Charleston. The 2015 high school football season will officially get underway as the Bulldogs and Bluejays will meet for the 130th time. Kickoff is at 7 p.m...

EAST PRAIRIE-- A Mississippi County man faces sexual misconduct charges for intentionally exposing himself to his neighbors. According to Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore, the investigation began Wednesday evening when Deputy Marc Tragesser received an indecent exposure complaint from a resident in the Eagles Landing subdivision...

PORTAGEVILLE, MO. -- Staying current with the rapid movement of agriculture can be a chore. The 54th annual Fisher Delta Research Center Field Day, set for Wednesday, Sept. 2, will look to help farmers wade through those changes with discussions on several agricultural topics...

Heeb suffered a shattered left humerus, a dislocated ankle, a cracked hip, nerve damage in his left arm and had some bleeding on his brain after his Aug. 1 crash in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Though losing its third, fourth and fifth-ranked varsity players from last year Sikeston head coach Russ Dial expects some of his junior varsity players to step up to the varsity level and help fill voids.

Returning all but two starters off last year's squad, the Dexter will feature a deep, experienced roster as they prepare to defend its Class 3, District 1 championship.

The Sikeston volleyball team will look to replace a few staples from the past few years as they usher in a new group of younger players.

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. KIM BEATS WAR DRUM AFTER SOUTH KOREAN SHELLING North Korea's leader orders troops to prepare for battle a day after South Korea fires dozens of artillery rounds in response to what the South says were several rounds of North Korean artillery fire...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Chicago-area man pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to kidnapping a woman earlier this year at Cape County Park South. As part of a plea agreement, Jeffery Lazier, 43, pleaded guilty to one felony count of kidnapping before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., court records show. Details of the plea agreement were not available...

FRUITLAND -- Slaughter operations at Fruitland American Meat are on hold temporarily, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. According to the processor's Jack Whisnant, however, the facility still is "operating every day" during its regular business hours. Whisnant added the processor is doing some restructuring...

KELSO --Curtis Holland Jackson, 95, died Aug. 19, 2015, at the Missouri State Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE -- LaWanda H. Douglas, 88, died Aug. 19, 2015, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Shaquille "Kelo" Sherrod, 21, died Aug. 19, 2015, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Wilma Bernice Hyslop, 82, died Aug. 18, 2015, at the Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Mary Jane Woodard, 73, died Aug. 17, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The city of Sikeston will contract a firm to get a more detailed flood plain map for the northern watershed to submit to FEMA. The Sikeston City Council approved entering a contract with Allgeier, Martin and Associates of Rolla not to exceed $95,300 Thursday evening during a "community outreach" joint meeting with the city's Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustments at the Clinton Building...

I just saw on TV where a mother was crying because her last kid was going to school. Well if she would stay home 12 months out of the year, like mothers used to do, and take care of her kid year-round, then she wouldn't be whimpering around like this woman was doing. ...

CHARLESTON - Police are searching for a man who robbed a local business at gunpoint. At 9 p.m. Thursday, the Charleston Department of Public Safety received a report of an armed robbery at the Casey's General Store, 308 East Marshall St. in Charleston...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Raising funds for a secret facility can be challenging. For the safety of children and women taking shelter there from domestic or sexual violence, it is important to keep the location of the House of Refuge a secret...