Stories from Monday, January 25, 2016

For the third time this season, county rivals the New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles and the Portageville Lady Bulldogs have met, and each time, Portageville pulls off with a win. Last Thursday at Portageville's home court, the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Eagles, 58-52...

STEELE, Mo. -- South Pemiscot used a 27-4 run in the first half to roll over visiting Portageville 66-35 Friday night. Steven Wilbourn led South Pemiscot (12-3) with 13 points while Dominique Hardimon added 12. Kevin Burton and Jabari Herron both chipped in 11 points. Herron also finished with 13 rebounds...

The North Pemiscot Mustangs had a two point deficit at halftime last Friday agains the Southland Rebels. The Mustangs picked up some momentum in the second and third periods, but fell short in the fourth for a 50-62 homecoming loss. The Mustangs played Clarkton at home Tuesday night and will travel to Cooter on Friday. Above is senior Austin Treat going up for a two point lay-up...

MDC invites duck hunters to workshops on season dates and zones

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt waterfowl. MDC invites duck hunters to workshops on season dates and zones between Feb. 1 and March 9, 2016.

Nearly 70 folks from the Portageville and surrounding area came to a Rosery service last Thursday night in Portageville. The service was held at the St. Eustachius Catholic Church with Mass afterwords. There were Catholics and non-Catholics in attendance. The special prayer service was to pray for those affected from the lay-offs at Noranda Aluminum in New Madrid, and Tenaris in Blytheville, as well as for those in positions of power in the companies. - submitted photo...

New Madrid County teachers' salaries are slightly below the state average, according to a report by the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA). The 2015-2016 Salary Schedule and Benefits Report was released last week and shows that a beginning teacher with a bachelor's degree in the four county districts makes $31,000 on average. ...

NEW MADRID - New Madrid County's taxing entities are taking a big hit after the county's largest employer failed to pay its 2015 tax assessment. According to Dewayne Nowlin, New Madrid County collector, the county did not receive a check for the 2015 taxes from Noranda Aluminum. Noranda's 2015 tax bill totals more than $3.6 million...

MARSTON, Mo. -- Following the first wave of layoffs of local employees by Noranda Aluminum, local legislators said they are exploring every avenue in an attempt to save jobs or find other viable job possibilities that will support the livelihood of so many families in the Southeast Missouri area...

Out of the six homecoming queen candidates, Hannah Crawford was crowned as the 2016 North Pemiscot Homecoming Queen last Friday. Her escort was Ethan Elsworth. The ceremony took place in the Ross gymnasium in between the junior varsity and varsity basketball games. The Master of Ceremony was Dr. Jason Ward...

Tenaris confirmed Friday that it has permanently laid off approximately 100 employees at the Hickman facility. Tenaris Media Relations Specialist Carolina Mendoza said, "Tenaris values their people and their contributions. This was certainly a very difficult decision...[but] it was due to the prolonged economic downturn."...

Cam Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others, and Carolina's big-play defense stifled Arizona's top-ranked offense. The 49 points were the most for an NFC title game winner.

sports@standard-democrat.com METROPOLIS, Ill. -- The Charleston boys basketball team took third place during this year's Superman Classic in Metropolis, Ill., Saturday at Massac County High School. Charleston (11-7) defeated Massac Co., 81-63 during the third-place game. They lost to Paducah Tilghman 72-61 earlier the same day moving them into the third place game...

PORTAGEVILLE -- The Portageville School District is marking its 30th year since reorganizing in 1986. For nearly half that time, Mark Moody has served on the School Board. First elected to the board in 2002, the school board members selected Moody in 2004 to serve as the group's president, a post he has held for more than a decade...

Mon-Clair League President Don Barton has announced the addition of the Charleston Riverdogs to their 2016 league lineup. The Riverdogs will join the St. Louis Spikes, St. Louis Printers, Edwardsville Mavericks and Fairview Heights Redbirds in the St. Clair Division. The Monroe Division consists of the Waterloo Millers, Valmeyer Lakers, Belleville Rockies, Columbia Saints and the Millstadt Green Machine...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ICY ROADS, SPOTTY TRANSIT SERVICE FOLLOW EAST COAST BLIZZARD At least 30 deaths are blamed on the weather, with shoveling snow and breathing carbon monoxide together claiming almost as many lives as car crashes...

BENTON, Mo. -- Associate Circuit Court Judge William Hense Winchester sent a letter to Gov. Jay Nixon on Jan. 6, announcing his retirement effective Oct. 26. Winchester said he feels he is fit to continue as the probate judge for the 33rd District, but it is a constitutionally mandated rule he must leave the bench when he reaches age 70...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- After four days of testimony, a jury convicted a former Stoddard County, Missouri, pastor of attempted murder, arson, armed criminal action and financial exploitation of the elderly. Donald Lafferty was accused of hiring Brandi and Christopher Hicks to burn his home and kill his wife near Bloomfield in January 2013. In exchange, the Hickses would have been paid $15,000, with another $5,000 if Mildred Lafferty died in the fire...

During the recent flood, acres of area farmland wound up underwater. Waters have receded, but it's not clear what will become of the crops in those fields, or those that will be planted in the spring. At the height of the flood, area wheat fields were flooded...

YMCA of Southeast Missouri's Little League Basketball play is underway each Saturday at the YMCA and the Tanner Street Church gymnasium. On Saturday, Bryce Ferry grabs the rebound as team mate DeMarcus Brown reaches in to help him out during the third and fourth graders' game at Tanner Street. Little League games will continue through February.

Here's a question for you and our illustrious town council. Why would we spend $25,000 to get a Kansas City firm to erect visitors' signs in Sikeston? All of Sikeston's visitors or from local towns and a few local counties. Who are these visitor signs aimed at? Everyone who visits Sikeston knows where everything is, so in my mind, that's a waste of $25,000. ...

SIKESTON - Mary Rose Paylor, 90, died Jan. 23, 2016, 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, Mo. - Carl Hester, 90, died Jan. 22, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BENTON, Mo. - Betty Williams, 66, died Jan. 23, 2016, at her home, in Benton. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. - Herman Ray, 72, died Jan. 24, 2016, at his residence. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


LELAND, Miss. -- William D. Bruner, 78, died Jan. 23, 2016. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - James "J.D." Metcalf, 83, died Jan. 23, 2016, at his home near Bloomfield. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON - Sarah Ruth "Ruthie" Culbertson, 70, died Jan. 24, 2016, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BENSENVILLE, Ill. - Jim F. York Jr., 85, died Jan. 22, 2016, at Bridgeway Senior Living in Bensenville. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON - LaDonna Small, 45, died Jan. 25, 2016, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services conducted Sunday at Ponder Funeral Home for Willard Floyd, 86, who died Jan. 20, 2016, were: Mike Adams, Joey Adams, Austyn Adams, Landon Adams, Logan Adams, Chris Parr and Keith Reser.

MARSTON -- A vehicle was totaled after being struck by a train Friday in New Madrid County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 7 p.m., Eugenia N. Kershaw, 31, of Portageville was traveling east on Route EE in Marston when her vehicle became stuck in the snow on the train tracks. Kershaw got out, and her unoccupied vehicle was struck by the northbound Burlington-Northern train driven by Seven M. Jones, 59, of Chaffee...

NEW MADRID, Mo - A grant will fund radio equipment designed to keep school resources officers in touch with local and regional law enforcement. During the January New Madrid County R-1 School Board of Education meeting, the board approved a $10,000 grant from the Missouri Center for Education Safety. The funds were used to purchase new digital radios similar to those used by county and state law enforcement...

Lee Hunter Elementary announced their PBIS "Top Dawg" students for the month of January. Pictured, front row are first grade students: Kyleigh Smith and Will Sitzes and second grade students: Jillian Asher and Colby Ault. Pictured, back row are third grade students: Daquan Lee and Jo-Anna Abernathy and fourth grade students: Ben Gilmore and Zoe Evans. ...

The New Madrid County Central Middle School announced its perfect attendance award winners recently. Pictured from left are: Shia Fountain, sixth grade; Alexis Yarbro, seventh grade; and Kaitlynn Masterson, eighth grade.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- New Madrid County Central Middle School has announced the outstanding students, honor roll students and the students who achieved perfect attendance for the second quarter of the 2015-2016 school year. Breanna Bailey, Leann Birdwell, Jaden Branum, Delaney Cooksey, Terrance Cranford, Hailey Elder, Shia Fountain, Avery Fowler, Christopher Gaskins, Kyla Henry, Tyler Humphrey, Alexis Hunt, Joycelynne Jackson, Gabrielle Johnson, Kassie Kemp, Kenyon King, Blaire Lawfield, Mollie Lawfield, Konner Masterson, Troquan Mays, Angel Mendez, Avery Mitzlaff, Jau'marion Moore, Maria Murphy, Olivia Nelson, Jordan Ozbun, Amos Richardson, James Rudd, Daesean Sanders, Lyric Shannon, Kaitlin Sletten, Kieshaun Thatch, Omarion Thatch, Craig Turley, Kristopher Weaver, Jakob Wilcox, Shamar Williamson.. ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- East Prairie Junior High School has announced its second quarter honor roll students. They are: Peyton Adams, Slade Archie, Mark Bixler, Erica Blasingain, Damon Bone, Emmahrie Bratton, Elisha Bright, Cole Brown, Brittany Bryars, Alessandra Carden, Blakelee Childers, Brynn Childers, Dathan Coffer, Brianna Davila, Morgan Dixon, Jason Douglas, Allie Eaves, Edward Eschenweck, Hannah Farquhar, Cameron Gifford, John Graham, Kaleigh Green, Leo Hale, Cadence Hercik, Evan Howell, Jayden Huus, Dax Jackson, Kaylee Jolley,. ...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- New Madrid County Central High School has announced the students who achieved status on the honor roll for the first semester of the 2015-2016 school year. They are: Sara Broyles, Macey Burton, Anna Carlson, Ethan Clark, Emma Cooksey, Gabriel Copanas, Lyndsey Deen, Darren Duckworth, Jarred Dunn, Alyssa Gilmore, Emma Graham, Jordan Harris, Matthew Hornburg, Issiah Hunter, Daphny Jones, Madezin Jones, Alexis Kolwyck, Josie Mainord, Ke'Andre Marsh, Caylin McClellan, Nolan McElroy, Olivia McSpadden, Emma Mitchem, Demetrius Moore, Raven Murphy, Sierra Nash, Alexis Phillips,. ...