Stories from Monday, October 26, 2015

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. STRONG AFGHAN EARTHQUAKE FELT ACROSS SOUTH ASIA Vineet Gahlot, the director of seismology at the Indian Meteorological Department, says the quake had a magnitude of 7.7 and an epicenter deep in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan...

The founders were informed and inspired by God's word and precepts as noted in the famous John Adams' quote, "Our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." I just saw this old gal on the news. ...

SIKESTON - The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning to improve safety and traffic flow at two New Madrid County intersections. A public meeting will be held from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 10 to discuss the upcoming project. The meeting will be at MoDOT's Southeast District Office, located at 2675 North Main Street in Sikeston...

SIKESTON - For JoAnna Eastep's 40th birthday, she got exactly what she wanted - nothing. This year, Eastep was giving instead of receiving. The Sikeston resident explained as her Oct. 14 birthday neared, her mother, Betty Eastep, asked her what she wanted. Eastep thought about it and soon decided what would be the perfect gift...

Many farmers spend the last week picking cotton from their fields. The USDA reports cotton farmers would harvest 13.3 million bales, down less than 1 percent from September but 18 percent lower than in 2014. (Standard Democrat photo)

SIKESTON -- Clayton Aaron Wilson, 40, died Oct. 24, 2015, near Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


MINER - Patricia Gail Brown passed away Oct. 23, 2015, in Miner, Mo., at the age of 67 years. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Eunice Campbell, 90, died Oct. 25, 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.

CHARLESTON -- Harold Richard Cox, 86, died Oct. 25, 2015, at the Charleston Manor. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Brenda Matthews, 72, died Oct. 26, 2015, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


CHARLESTON - An IRS phone scam is apparently targeting Bootheel residents. According to Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore, the impostors call from a 347-area code claiming the call recipient owes a tax debt or legal expenses from a "class action lawsuit." The callers then threaten to arrest or to take legal action unless the call recipient agrees to wire money or make a credit card payment over the phone...

By the time Mary Wickersham received her son's letter from the war front in France he had been killed on the battlefield. It was 1918. He lies buried with another 4,152 U. S. servicemen in the beautiful and peaceful American Cemetery at St. Mihiel in the Loraine region of France...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702 is now the collective bargaining agent for skilled workers in the Sikeston Department of Public Works. Council members approved recognition of the Union as the collective bargaining agent for the 11 skilled workers in the Streets and Parks Divisions during the Council's regular monthly briefing session Monday morning. ...