Stories from Friday, July 31, 2020

I believe we have the most stupid bunch of people living in East Prairie than anywhere. No one wears a mask. Even in the businesses. Are they all as stupid as Trump? I wear one in the business places and everyone looks at me like “why are you wearing that?” I want to tell you why I’m wearing this mask — because I’m a Christian and I don’t want to give the virus to no one. So where is all the Christians? They are supposed to care about their fellow man, like Christ did. Start wearing your mask and quit being like stupid Trump.

Dear Editors: It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. That could possibly be true. Then that child takes a gun and kills a village! I know several friends who have been shot down by guns that don’t kill. I have family in Sikeston. I also knew the young ladies whose blood permeates the ground on Plantation Boulevard. Their young black lives didn’t matter to the young black men whose guns didn’t kill. Of course they are not guilty until guilt is proven in court...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Jimmy Dee Hailey, 86, died July 29, 2020, at the VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff. Born June 15, 1934, in Conran, Missouri, son of the late Mattie Mae McArthur and James William Hailey, he was a veteran of the Vietnam War serving in the United States Marine Corps. He was of the Baptist belief...

BENTON, Mo. — The Scott County E-911 Communications Center has been awarded a $250,000-grant through the Missouri 911 Service Board. The grant, along with other funds, will help Scott County 911 upgrade much needed equipment, software and other assets valuable to citizens of Scott County and agencies that the Center services, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Kyle Matthew Hart, 39, died July 17, 2020, in a Chattanooga healthcare facility. Born Dec. 16, 1980, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, son of Roy Hart of Desoto, Missouri and Velva (Tommy) Butler of Lafayette, Georgia, he was a 1999 graduate of Northwestern High School...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Patricia P. Copeland, 66, died July 28, 2020, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born May 16, 1954, in Portageville, she was the daughter of the late Martha Meinz Cook and Henry Cook. On Feb. 16, 1968, in Portageville, she married Freddie Copeland; he preceded her in death Aug. 17, 2012...

Two deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours locally while local counties are reporting new positive COVID-19 cases. The Scott County Health Department reported 13 new positive coronavirus cases and nine more recoveries late Thursday afternoon...

BENTON, Mo. — The Scott County E-911 Communications Center has been awarded a $250,000-grant through the Missouri 911 Service Board. The grant, along with other funds, will help Scott County 911 upgrade much needed equipment, software and other assets valuable to citizens of Scott County and agencies that the Center services, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office...

In December, a Sikeston family was rocked after 20-year-old Montanah Sullivan was shot and killed in an incident in Oklahoma City. Now the family is left seeking justice. Sullivan was killed on Dec. 27 when she was riding in a vehicle with 21-year-old Grace Huff along with three other passengers in Oklahoma City. Huff is charged with shooting and killing Sullivan, but Sullivan’s father is worried they are not getting the justice his daughter deserves...

Grace Blanton, who is the Standard Democrat’s August Calendar Girl, poses in her grandfather’s backyard in Sikeston, Missouri. She is the daughter of Dr. Kevin and Mrs. Amy Blanton and plans to major in textile and apparel management at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri...

CAIRO, Ill. — Marvin F. Wolford, 81, formerly of the Dorena, Missouri, Community, died July 30, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born March 16, 1939, in Dorena, to the late Aaron and Christine Cole Wolford, he was a self-employed farmer in Alexander County for many years.  He attended First Baptist Church in Mounds, Illinois...

BENTON, Mo. — Scott County voters will be choose between two longtime law enforcement officials — current sheriff Wes Drury and former sheriff Rick Walter — during Tuesday’s Primary Election. Drury and Walter are the sole candidates on the Republican ballot for sheriff, and because there are no Democratic candidates, the winner of Tuesday’s election will serve as sheriff of Scott County...