Stories from Wednesday, August 26, 2015

SIKESTON -- A Cape Girardeau man faces charges after he and two teens were arrested for firing shots last week in Sikeston. Ralph Holmes, 19, of Cape Girardeau is charged with attempting to assault a law enforcement officer (B felony), armed criminal action and resisting arrest by fleeing (D felony)...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Sikeston City Council members are hoping for a better looking representation of a cotton boll but have given their OK on the basic look and colors for new city signs. Linda Lowes, director of governmental services, presented the Council with "the basic sign design" for new wayfinding signs and monument signs to be placed around the city beginning this fiscal year...

SIKESTON - Two Michigan men wanted on federal indictments for distributing heroin were arrested by Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers. Justin Jenkins, 27, and Henry Hall, 23, of Benton Harbor, Mich., were arrested for their federal indictments out of the western district of Benton Harbor. Both were indicted for possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute heroin...

After hosting their first volleyball jamboree last Monday, the Portageville volleyball team played their first regular season game on the road. Portageville defeated Holcomb last Friday afternoon. The Varsity team won in three sets of 29-27, 23-25, and 25-20. ...

UPDATED!! The house of Roger Johnson on 26 St. Hwy. T, just south of Portageville was destroyed by fire last Tuesday afternoon. The fire call to the Portageville Fire Department came about 3:15. As of press time Tuesday, the results of how the fire began is not known. Two other fire departments, Wardell and Gideon, were also called to the scene. They did not get back to the fire shed until 1:30 Wednesday morning...

sports@standard-democrat.com Anna Hughes picked up the win as the Kelly softball team won its season opener against Chaffee Tuesday 3-2. Kelly (1-0) scored two in the third and one more in the fifth. Chaffee scored one run in the sixth and seventh. Hughes struck out three, walked four and allowed five hits through six innings. Freshman Alyssa Tidwell earned the save walking one, giving up two hits and striking out one...

Sikeston lost to visiting Bernie in two sets, 25-12 and 25-18, Tuesday at the Sikeston Field House.

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ASIAN STOCKS MEANDER AFTER CHINA RATE CUT The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index falls late in the day after spending most of the afternoon in positive territory...

(SMNS) -- On Tuesday morning at 8:26 a.m. CDST a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck West Tennessee, briefly alarming residents in the immediate area. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the epicenter was just west of Henning, Tenn. on the north side of the Hatchie River. The quake originated 7.5 miles beneath the surface and was felt by staff and students at the DSCC Jimmy Naifeh Center in Covington, Tenn...

SALEM (SMNS) -- The brother of U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, has been reported missing, according to the Dent County Sheriff's Office. A missing-person report was filed Monday for Billy G. Smith Jr. The sheriff's office describes Billy Smith, 41, of Salem, Missouri, as a 5 foot, 10 inches tall, weighing 315 pounds with blue eyes, very short hair and a goatee...

news@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- The Scott County Highway 266 project is well past the halfway mark. Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner, said during the Commission's regular meeting Tuesday that the Highway 266 project was divided into four phases, three of which are now finished...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Peggy Marlene McGill, 60, died Aug. 23, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Mary Mitchell, 89, died Aug. 25, 2015, at the Clearview Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Jesma Jean Brown, 84, formerly of Dexter, Mo., died Aug. 22, 2015, at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Rapids. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Brynleigh Botkin, 6 months, died Aug. 22, 2015, at St. Louis Children's Hospital. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BLOOMFIELD -- Bonnie Jo Noles, 85, died Aug. 22, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHAFFEE -- The Rev. Donald Reed Osborne, 68, died Aug. 24, 2015, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Alvin Davis, 60, died Aug. 15, 2015, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MOREHOUSE -- Pallbearers for services held Aug. 25 at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for Esther Annie Hann, 100, who died August 21, 2015, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center were: Stephen Hann, Shannon Hann, Brian Knuckles, Corey Hann, Gregg Smith and Joey Hann...

ESSEX -- Randy Lee Hale, 52, formerly of Sikeston, died Aug. 18, 2015, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PERKINS -- James Truman "Jim" Senciboy Sr., 66, died Aug. 23, 2015. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ANNISTON -- Rita Louise Bentley, 61, died Aug. 23, 2015, at SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Marjorie B. Lewis, 85, died Aug. 23, 2015, at the Golden Living Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

scottw@standard-democrat.com MINER -- One fewer hotel in town has resulted in a slightly leaner budget for the city of Miner in its fiscal year beginning Sept. 1. The Miner Board of Alderman approved the city's operating budget for Fiscal Year 2016 during a special meeting Tuesday...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston R-6 Board of Education set its tax levy during a special session Tuesday at the district's Central Office. "The purpose of this special board meeting is to conduct a public hearing in which citizens may be heard on the property tax rate proposed and set by the Sikeston R-6 School District and for the board to consider the tax levy for the 2015-2016 school year," Superintendent Tom Williams said at the beginning of the meeting...

CHARLESTON -- A Charleston man is in custody after his weekend arrest on felony kidnapping, sodomy and domestic assault charges. Timothy Easton, 47, will be arraigned at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday before Mississippi County Associate Judge S. Rob Barker on a felony charges of kidnapping, first degree sodomy or attempted sodomy and second degree domestic assault...

With Hillary Clinton in free fall and Joe Biden poised to gum up the works in the Democratic primary for president, you would think the GOP would be awash in glee over the prospects. Unfortunately for the Republicans - and I count myself in the conservative wing of the GOP - it's all Trump, all the time...

I was wondering if there was a TOPS Club in Sikeston, and if there is, would they please leave their number. I think the Sikeston City Council really should consider making all businesses smokeless or at least put it to the vote of the people. I'm tired of smelling your smoke and listening to you cough and hacking up a lung. ...

The Sikeston High School volleyball teams recent conducted a 50/50 drawing to help raise money for the team to attend Licking Camp in Rolla. Head Coach Steve Beydler and Assistant Coach Katie Niemczyk drew the name of Terri Taylor, who is from Benton. Taylor then donated the money back to the team...

Two sixth grade students from the Sikeston Fifth and Sixth Grade Center qualified for Jr. Beta Nationals in Nashville, Tenn. in June. They placed third nationally in convention intervention. Pictured with their award is Heather Barnes, sponsor; Makenzie Pullen; Hunter Kennedy; and Toni Howe, sponsor...

NEW MADRID - The New Madrid County R-1 School District's tax rate is not expected to change. At the District's tax rate meeting, which is set for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Board office on the New Madrid County Central High School campus, school officials will propose the same rate as last of $3.69 per $100 valuation...

New Madrid County Central Middle School's cheerleaders recently attended camp where they learned teamwork, dance routines, cheers and chants, basic cheer terminology, stunts, and tumbling. The 2015-16 cheerleaders are front row: Hayley Ash, Caroline Johnson, Alli Crider, Laniya Rucker, Lily Johnson and Maggie Sutton; and back row: Brooklyn Dryden, Zamori Jackson, Destiny Brant,Caroline Hampton, Camille Ash, Chasity McKinney, Chandler Stromire and Alexia Creasy...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Are you willing to go the extra mile to arrive safely? A public hearing will be held later this fall by the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southeast District to gather comment on two J-turn projects listed in MoDOT's Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan...