Stories from Wednesday, October 21, 2015

KENNETT - The Missouri State Highway Patrol has determined there was no foul play involved in the death of a man in police custody. Ernest Williams, 43, died early Sunday morning after being taken into custody by Kennett police. The Kennett Police Department requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Crime Control investigate Williams' death. Following an autopsy on Monday, the Division of Crime Control reported Tuesday afternoon Williams' death was by natural causes...

BENTON -- The Scott County Sheriff's Office received several reports Tuesday regarding a person attempting to get money from people over the phone. According to an advisory issued by the sheriff's department, the suspect calls people and tells them there is an active warrant for their arrest...

BOWLING GREEN -- A lot of the time, Taylor Tiffany is Portageville's defense. The senior hurler has given up an average of 2.5 hits per game and has struck out over half the batters she's faced this season, leaving little for the defense behind her to do...

NEW MADRID -- If someone had told Christy M. Jones this time last year she'd have written and published a romance novel, the New Madrid resident said she wouldn't have believed them. But Jones has done just that. Her romance novel, "The Stranger in the Rain," was published Oct. 9 by CreateSpace Publishing...

"It feels freaking awesome. It's been way too long since they walked away with that plaque that says first place."

SIKESTON -- Construction students at Sikeston Career and Technology Center have tapped into their creative sides for a project that will benefit some families in Southeast Missouri. "As it turns out, small environmental cues or changes in one's environment make an impact on food choices and ultimately, health," said Jennifer Wood, chief development officer for Southeast Missouri Food Bank. ...

HILLSBORO -- The Sikeston volleyball team lost in straight sets to fourth-seeded Hillsboro Tuesday night during the first round of the Class 4, District 1 tournament at Hillsboro High School. Sikeston lost 25-16, 25-12 as the fifth seed in the tournament. They end its season with a 13-16 record...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ASSAD MEETS PUTIN IN MOSCOW This is the first known trip abroad for Syria's embattled leader since the civil war erupted in his country in 2011...

BENTON - A Festus man is facing charges after leading sheriff's deputies on a chase through Scott County. Jason M. Hopper, 27, is charged with the felony of resisting arrest by fleeing and the misdemeanors of assault on a law enforcement officer, careless and imprudent driving and property damage...

scottw@standard-democrat.com MINER -- The city of Miner has an emergency management director again. The Miner Board of Aldermen approved the mayor's appointment of James Buckley to the position in a split vote, 3-1, during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday...

SIKESTON -- There was a time Sikeston's streets looked like a million bucks. Among the topics volunteers with Sikeston to the Third Power will be providing information on as they visit with voters is how new revenue from a proposed sales tax would be used to get streets back into shape...

SIKESTON -- A home was damaged following a fire early Monday in Sikeston. Officers with Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Fire Division responded to a fire about 8 a.m. to a residence located at 108 Daniel Street in Sikeston, according to DPS incident reports...

You can count me in as one of the many people who will vote against the tax increase. If the city council knew how to prioritize their spending, we would definitely not need this sales tax vote. If the city council knew how to spend their money, like the airport renovation, how many corporate jets fly in here each year to seek a new business location? Money spent on a golf course - how many people are gonna use that? How many people go downtown where money is being spent? How many buildings have been torn down at taxpayer expense? All these things add up to one fact. ...

When the FBI is investigating you and when you're poised to testify before a Congressional committee on failures during your tenure as secretary of state, the obvious political decision is to play the race card. So presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did just that this weekend as she returned to the tired political theme that Republicans and their draconian voter identification laws are designed to keep minorities from voting...

MARION, Ill. - Kathleen Ferguson Phelps, 84, died Oct. 19, 2015, at her home in Marion. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER -- Betty Jackson, 83, died Oct. 17, 2015, at Mulberry Manor in Dexter. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


EAST PRAIRIE -- Frank Ellis Bourland, 81, died at 5:15 a.m. Oct. 19, 2015, at Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER -- Richard W. Alexander, 67, died Oct. 20, 2015, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Jessica Nicole Harris, 25, formerly of Mount Vernon, Ill., died Oct. 14, 2015, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BLOOMFIELD -- Shirley A. Gwin Ham, 80, died Oct. 18, 2015, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


NEW MADRID -- Robert E. "Bob" Boulton passed away Oct. 15, 2015, at John Cochran's VA Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 76. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SHREVEPORT, La. -- Dr. Albert G. Smith passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct.13, 2015, in Shreveport after a brief illness. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BELLE -- Jack was born Dec. 22, 1931, in Sikeston, to the Ida Lea Edwards and John Owen Edwards. He went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Jerry Wayne Shaw, 69, died Oct. 16, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BENTON -- Maylon Darrell Phelps, 68, died Oct.19, 2015, at his home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- James Earl "Jim" Chappell, 81, died Oct. 20, 2015, at his home in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


PORTAGEVILLE - Aaron Henderson, 81, died Oct. 16, 2015, at Portageville. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.