News

SIKESTON — Registration is underway for drive-thru COVID-19 testing Monday in Sikeston and Wednesday in Dexter. Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be administered by appointment only from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of Southeast Missouri State University in Sikeston and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Lighthouse Church in Dexter...

Scott County Sheriff’s Department recently purchased new uniforms for employees, some of which include load-bearing vests which allow officers to carry equipment in the vest compartments versus in a duty belt. Pictured are, from left: Chief Deputy Rob Merideth, Det. Sgt. Matt Scroggins, Deputy Mike Adams, Jail Administrator Amy Johnson, Corrections Officer Cody Aldrich, Detective Eric Dunn and Sheriff Wes Drury...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is notifying the public about potential exposures of Cape Girardeau County residents and/or Southeast Missouri State University students involved with a boat party at the Lake of the Ozarks from May 29-31...

Blaire Gordon, daughter of Lance and Corrie Gordon, is the Standard Democrat’s Calendar Girl for June. Blaire plans to attend Murray State University and major in early childhood education.

SIKESTON — If you have traveled around Sikeston over the past few weekends, you may notice license plates from different states and crowded restaurants. Most of that is due to the numerous little league baseball tournaments hosted at the Sikeston Recreation Complex...

Another Scott County resident has died as a result of COVID-19. The Scott County Health Department reported the death early Friday afternoon. The death is the 11th in the county. No further information on the resident was released. Two additional positive cases were reported in Scott County as well Friday, giving the county 117 positive cases with 29 active. The two new cases were both females, one between the ages of 50-59 and the other between the ages of 60-69...

BENTON, Mo. — While the Scott County R-4 “Kelly” School District will hold their graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 later than most local schools, the seniors will go out with a bang. Kelly is planning to host an outdoor graduation ceremony for seniors beginning at 9 p.m. June 27. The late start is due to heat concerns and the plan to have a firework display after the ceremony...

SIKESTON — Area residents looking for an easy way to properly dispose of their electronics will have the opportunity to so during the upcoming e-Waste 2020 Recycling Day. From 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, electronic items ranging from TVs, monitors, computers, audio, video and office equipment will be accepted at Carnell’s Collision Repair, 700 Tanner, 417 North Main in Sikeston. The e-Waste event is sponsored by Bootheel Solid Waste Management District...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is notifying the public about potential exposures of Cape Girardeau County residents and/or Southeast Missouri State University students involved with a boat party at the Lake of the Ozarks from May 29-31...

By David Jenkins Standard Democrat CHARLESTON, Mo. — Community members in Charleston gathered for a prayer event Thursday evening in an effort to unite the community after the events with George Floyd in Minneapolis that have let to protests and riots across the country...

SIKESTON — A drive-thru COVID-19 testing is slated for June 8 at the parking lot of Southeast Missouri State University in Sikeston. Scott County Health Department Administrator Barry Cook said he learned early Thursday the Missouri National Guard will assist with administering 300 COVID-19 testing kits from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - While area high school officials want to give the members of the Class of 2020 the experience of a traditional graduation, they are also want to ensure the ceremony is safe in this time of pandemic concerns. In a letter to high school seniors and their parents, Portageville High School principal Barry Branscum announced graduation will be at 7 p.m. June 11...

SIKESTON — Anyone looking for fun, family entertainment while also social distancing will have the opportunity Saturday night during a drive-in movie at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds. Set for 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, the “Drive-In Movie Night” will include a showing of “The Sandlot.” Admission is $10 per vehicle. Healthcare/first responders are free with their valid IDs. The event, which has a 200-vehicle capacity for sound and picture quality, opens at 7:45 p.m...

SIKESTON — On Monday, Phase II of the YMCA of Southeast Missouri reopening will begin. Many of the current restrictions will still be in place, but several guidelines have been loosened. The north half of the gymnasium can now be used for pickleball from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (one court only) and a limited number of group exercise classes...

Another resident of the Crowley Ridge Nursing Home in Dexter has died related to COVID-19. According to the Stoddard County Public Health Center, at approximately 8 a.m. Thursday officials were notified of the death. It is the sixth resident of the nursing home to die from the outbreak...

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri saw an increase of 192 positive COVID-19 cases Wednesday and three additional deaths. To date, Missouri has 13,767 positive cases with 786 deaths. The Scott County Health Department reports Scott County had three new positive cases Wednesday, giving Scott County 113 positive cases. ...

ST. LOUIS – Recognizing the ongoing financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ameren Missouri will provide $3.5 million in additional energy assistance funds to customers across the state. The funding is on top of the $1 million of support announced in March and offers a fresh start for families in need...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With concerns about COVID-19 continuing, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has extended its cancellation of programs and events at nature centers and other Department locations through June 30. To help continue to connect people with nature, MDC will be offering more of its nature-focused programs through online formats. ...

BENTON, Mo. — The Sikeston R-6 School District will soon upgrade its facilities. In a total vote of 1,714 to 1,213, Sikeston R-6 voters approved the $18.6-million bond proposal to construct a new Lee Hunter Elementary and a new “C” Building on the senior high school campus. Scott County votes were 1,470 “yes” votes and 966 “no” votes, and New Madrid County votes were 244 “yes” votes and 247 “no” votes...

NEW MADRID, Mo. - School officials watched as the ballots were tallied Tuesday evening to see if voters would give them the go ahead on “Proposition Safe and Secure Schools.” The voters overwhelmingly did. With an unofficial tally of 814 yes votes to 203 no votes, more than 80 percent of the patrons in the New Madrid County R-1 School District agreed to the district borrowing $8,500,000 with no estimated increase in the district’s tax rate. ...

With few contested races in Mississippi County, voter turnout was low in Tuesday’s election, but races were decided nonetheless. Only 789 ballots were cast in Tuesday’s municipal election as Matthew Morrow, Angela Duenne, and Preston Moore Sr. all earned spots on the Charleston School Board. Duenne received the most votes, with 413. Morrow finished with 393 votes, while Moore Sr. totaled 372. All three beat out Ervin Williams (260 votes), and Alana Mills (289 votes)...

Voters in Ward 1 of Sikeston sign in at Trinity Lutheran Church Tuesday morning. Voters saw a few changes Tuesday, with guards in place and some poll workers with masks or face shields, social distancing requirements, abundant sanitizers and different or fewer polling locations...

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in southeast Missouri continues to rise. The Scott County Health Department is reporting three new cases on Tuesday, giving Scott County 110 positive cases. Of the three new cases, all three were females with one under the age of 19 and two between the ages of 60-69...

SIKESTON — An impromptu demonstration that was mostly subdued was held in Sikeston late Friday afternoon. Sikeston resident and former councilman Michael Harris addressed the demonstration to Sikeston City Council at Monday’s meeting. Harris said the demonstration which went from Lincoln Park to Sikeston DPS was a good thing but it could have been negative because there was little adult supervision. ...

SIKESTON — The budget for the City of Sikeston in 2021 will be a conservative one due to the coronavirus pandemic. A public hearing on the FY21 budget for the City of Sikeston was held Monday and Sikeston City Manager Jon Douglass said the proposed budget is balanced and adds a small amount to the City’s reserves and achieves significant capital improvements...