Stories from Tuesday, January 19, 2016

SIKESTON -- The homicide-suicide of a Sikeston couple at their home is under investigation. At 4:43 a.m. Tuesday Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a request to check the well being of a couple at 1206B Lawrence Drive, according to a news release from Capt. Mike Williams of Sikeston DPS. The request was from a friend who said they had been unable to contact the couple since Saturday...

news@standard-democrat.com MINER -- The Miner Board of Aldermen's regular monthly meeting Tuesday was cancelled due to a lack of a quorum. Mayor Darren Chapman said he was at the Board's meeting room Tuesday to let those who did show up know there wouldn't be a meeting but had been advised Betty Barnes, Deloris Smith and Janet Williams, board members, would not attend due to the possibility of bad winter weather...

sports@standard-democrat.com METROPOLIS, Ill. -- The Charleston boys basketball team pulled off a lopsided victory over Century during its first game of pool play Monday at the Superman Classic at Massac County High School in Metropolis, Ill. Charleston led 17-12 after the first quarter. They went on to score 60 points the next two quarters to lead 77-31 going into the fourth...

SIKESTON -- When it comes to addressing winter weather, school officials all agree on one thing: the safety of students is their main priority. The first winter storm of the year moved into the region late Tuesday, but local school superintendents and other personnel began tracking the event early in the day...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. - The Dorena-Hickman Ferry plans to reopen today, after being closed for several weeks due to floodwaters covering the ferry landing on the Kentucky shore. Captain Jeremy Newsom said the river has dropped steadily. The ferry is prepared to resume service on the normal winter schedule starting at 7 a.m. today...

LESTERVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- A woman found dead last week near the Black River in southeast Missouri had been missing since November. KFVS-TV (bit.ly/1P0WkbI) reports that the victim has been identified as 63-year-old Sharon Nelson, of Hillsboro. The Reynolds County Sheriff's Department is investigating her death as a homicide...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis football fans don't have the 49ers or Seahawks to hate anymore. They have a new nemesis: Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the NFL executives who helped take away the team. It wasn't exactly moving trucks sneaking the Colts out of Baltimore or moving the Browns from Cleveland, but Tuesday's decision to relocate the Rams to Los Angeles left Missouri's biggest city with bruised feelings, millions of dollars of unpaid debt from the current stadium and the distinction of losing two NFL teams in three decades.. ...

Today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 28 and an east wind 5 to 8 mph while tonight will have a 90 percent chance for snow beginning with a slight chance of snow before 9 p.m., then snow, possibly mixed with sleet with a low around 26. There is a new snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible. ...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. CHINA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH WANES TO 25-YEAR LOW IN 2015 The world's second-largest economy grew 6.9 percent in 2015, the government says, down from 7.3 percent in the previous year...

SIKESTON, Mo. - Mary Patricia Gardner, 64, died Jan. 17, 2016, at her home. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. No public services are scheduled. For this obituary and more, see the Wednesday edition of the Standard Democrat.

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- A county budget officer always likes to see higher fund balances but Scott County is doing OK financially and getting things accomplished, according to County Clerk Rita Milam. The Scott County Commission approved the county's annual operating budget for 2016 during their regular meeting Tuesday...

Leo Eugene Farmer, of Portageville, passed away Sunday, January 17, 2016 in his home at the age of 86. Leo was born November 24, 1929 in St. Louis to Retha Viola Farmer and Leo Farmer. He was united in marriage to Euladean M. (Dacus) Farmer on June 18, 1950 in Piggott, AR. She survives of the home...