Stories from Friday, May 29, 2020

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —Phase one of Missouri’s “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan has been extended from Sunday through June 15.  “We are very pleased with how well phase one has gone so far,”Gov. Mike Parson said during Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing. “Businesses, communities, and Missourians across the state have done a great job of implementing health and safety measures, and we continue to be encouraged by data across the state.” ...

I would to thank all the businesses who are following social distancing and guidelines for getting back in business. To those who are not following the rules, shame on you, and I will take you off of my list of places to go. Thank you.

BENTON, Mo. — Three Scott County residents face felony and misdemeanor charges for their alleged involvement in a burglary at the former Diebold Orchards site in Benton. Allie Halfacre, 26, of Miner and Delbert R. Sumpter Jr., 38, and Michael B. Gunter, 28, of Sikeston are each charged with one Class D felony count of second-degree burglary, one Class E felony count of first-degree property damage, one Class D misdemeanor count of stealing and one Class D misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia, according to a news release from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Voters in Mississippi County will decide a couple school board and city council races when they step up to the polls for Tuesday’s municipal election. Voters in the Charleston R-1 School District will choose three of the following candidates to fill the three-year terms: Matthew Clay Morrow, Angela Renee Duenne, Ervin Rashad Williams, Preston Lydell Moore Sr. and Alana Coon Mills. Running unopposed in his bid for a two-year unexpired term is Evin James Burke...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - After a delay of almost two months, voters in New Madrid County will have the opportunity to choose who will represent them in their communities and on their school boards when they go to the polls June 2. Also several issues are up for voters’ decisions...

Brian Self and Mallory Whiffen are both candidates for a city council at-large position in Sikeston in the June 2 election. The following is a Q&A with each candidate. Describe your background: Self: I am a Sikeston native and a 1986 graduate of SHS. ...

Rory Jaynes is the Standard Democrat’s Calendar Girl for May. Rory, the daughter of Christy Jaynes and the late Tim Jaynes, plans to attend the University of Missouri and major in biology (pre-med).

NEW MADRID, Mo. - There will still be fireworks, but New Madrid’s annual Fourth of July celebration will be a bit more subdued. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the city of New Madrid will not host its annual Independence Day Celebration or the Backyard BBQ Contest this year, according to Christina McWaters, executive director of the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce...

The number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to increase locally as another area death has been reported as well. The Scott County Health Department reported Friday afternoon that another Scott County resident died resulting from COVID-19, giving the County 10 deaths to date. No further information on the death was released...

SIKESTON — Gerald "Jerry" Plunk, 80, died April 11, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 15, 1939, in Lilbourn, Missouri, son of the late Claude and Alpha Burney Plunk, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Vietnam War, and was employed as a mechanical maintenance technician at the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities Power Plant. He attended the Church of the Nazarene in Matthews, Missouri...