SIKESTON — Six local children have been named the poster children for the 42nd Annual Kenny Rogers Children’s Center Telethon. Set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25 at the Miner Convention Center, this year’s event will celebrate the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center’s 50th anniversary. The Center provides pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy free of charge to children with special needs throughout Southeast Missouri...

SIKESTON — Police are investigating a shots-fired incident that occurred early Thursday, March 23 in Sikeston. Shortly after midnight Thursday, March 23, officers with Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to the area of Wakefield and Hawthorn for a report of shots fired, according to Sgt. Tyler Rowe, public information officer for Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

PADUCAH, Ky. — A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, or KYTC, plans a work zone lane restriction on U.S. 51 at the Kentucky end of the U.S. 51 Ohio River "Cairo" Bridge on Thursday morning, March 23. This work zone lane restriction at Ballard County mile point 7.3 is to allow guardrail damaged by a recent crash at the Kentucky end of the bridge to be replaced...

SIKESTON — Sikeston voters will choose between two candidates to fill the at-large City Council person position when they step up to the polls during the April 4 municipal election. To help voters get to know the candidates, the Standard Democrat has compiled information in a question-and-answer format with the candidates, Lori A. Caldwell and Ryan Lindsey. The at-large council person position is for a three-year term...

BENTON, Mo. — Current Thomas W. Kelly High School Principal Dan Hecht has been named the director of the Perryville Area Career and Technology Center for the 2023-2024 school year. Hecht, who has served as the principal at Kelly High School for the past 14 years, submitted his letter of resignation to the district on Feb. 15, effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year...

The Sikeston Kiwanis Club hosted its annual all-you-can-eat Kiwanis Pancake Day Tuesday, March 21 at the Sikeston Elks Lodge. Proceeds will go toward Kiwanis projects.

SIKESTON — Over $16 million has been awarded to SEMO Electric Cooperative to improve internet access in rural southeast Missouri. As part of the $261 million Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, or DED, SEMO Electric Cooperative has been given $16.6 million...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Postage delivery delays are creating problems for citizens and city officials. In his report to the New Madrid City Council at their March 13 meeting, City Administrator Aaron Griffin said the city has received numerous complaints from citizens that electrical bills are not delivered in a timely manner. Griffin said it is a problem in other Southeast Missouri communities as well...