Stories from Saturday, March 5, 2016

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- For more than a half century, Erma Brooks was as much a part of the New Madrid County Library as the books that line the shelves. Now Brooks, who died last May, will continue to be a part of the library she loved. Earlier this month, the annex to the Portageville Library was named in her honor...

(COLUMBIA, MO) -- The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing $2.4 million for a Missouri Department of Agriculture project to expand the use of cover crops and no-till planting in Missouri. The funding is made available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)...

Falls Church, Va. -- The Public Notice Resource Center (PNRC) today filed comments urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to deprive the public of newspaper notices relating to the approval of permits under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is considering notifying the public about CAA permits only on a government website...

Dexter's sixth district title in a row and second over the Bulldogs was an utter heartbreaker for Sikeston, who watched as their best chance to win their first district title in school history slipped away.

In a thrilling Class 4, District 1 championship game, Sikeston defeated Cape Central 59-55 in front of a standing room-only crowd of nearly 3,000 fans that packed into the Sikeston Field House.

Leah Lambert, a fifth grader from Kelly Elementary School, participated in the Children's Art Festival. Her painting, "Water Lilies," is currently on display in the office of State Rep. Holly Rehder. "It is lovely," said Rehder. "I very much enjoyed meeting Leah and showing her a few things around the Capitol."...

SIKESTON -- Several Sikeston students placed in a recent math competition and will compete in regionals next month. Sikeston Fifth and Sixth Grade students along with students form the district's three elementary schools attended the qualifying math competition round Feb. 20 at Southeast Missouri State University. Fifteen Sikeston fifth and sixth graders participated, and 14 will advance to regionals April 2 on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau...

The Lady Bulldogs Senior Night on Monday against Festus, Coach Schonhoff, I was disappointed that you didn't let two of your senior girls play until the last 2 minutes. Sikeston has a 30-point lead. Their parents were there to watch them play, also. Maybe they're not as good as the other girls, but it was Senior Night, a night for them to play maybe their last game or just have memories they could look back on. I could see if the game was close. Reverse it and see how you would feel...

It seems that government at all levels is prone to find a solution in search of a problem. The old axiom of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" clearly does not apply to some within government. There is no better example than the bone-headed move in the Missouri Legislature to expand the number of members on the Missouri Conservation Commission...

SIKESTON -- Clara Neoma (Tarpley) Knuckles, 83, died March 4, 2016, at her home in rural Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER, Mo. -- Marion "Bud" Myers, 78, died March 3, 2016, at his home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Paul James Stafford, 74, died March 4, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. - Phyllis Lemons, 74, died March 4, 2016, at her residence in East Prairie. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Juanita Ramsey, 94, died March 3, 2016, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Teresa Essary West, 55, died March 4, 2016, 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.


PARMA, Mo. - A narcotics investigation uncovered a large amount of methamphetamine and marijuana. On Wednesday during an ongoing narcotic investigation, officers from the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department, Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and Missouri State Highway Patrol served a search warrant at 209 North Caney St. in Parma...

BENTON, MO - A Bell City man was arrested after he was found with drugs and a syringe. Stephen M. Kindle, 45, is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance which field tested positive to be methamphetamine and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia...

SIKESTON -- Nearly 100 people attended the Minority and Limited Resources Farmers Conference Friday at the Clinton Building in Sikeston. Sponsored by Lincoln University of Missouri, the free conference was geared to Southeast Missouri farmers, producers and those interested in sustainable agriculture...

SIKESTON -- A Charleston man faces multiple felony charges after fleeing law enforcement in Sikeston. Jamarius Z. Fisher, 17, of Charleston is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of weapon and resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing and creating a substantial risk of serious injury to any person, all felonies; and the misdemeanors of possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana and second-degree property damage, according to Missouri Case.net...

SIKESTON -- It may be one of the biggest elections ever in the minds of some voters but for Missouri election officials there is nothing super about Tuesday's presidential primary. "It's just another election," said Scott County Clerk Rita Milam, chief election officer for the county...

SIKESTON -- The city's Department of Public Works, area E-911 centers and mail carriers would all be able to handle a renamed Main Street but everyone with a Main address will have some things to do. A proposal presented to the Sikeston City Council Monday to rename Main Street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King would take some action by public services as well as requiring some time from business owners and residents to update their address...

A man watches as the fire division of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety responds to a fire at 835 Tanner St just after noon Friday. According to officers at the scene, the fire began in the laundry room of the home. An occupant in the home had started doing laundry then laid down and was later awakened when the smoke alarm sounded. The resident was able to escape the fire without injury, the officer said.