Stories from Wednesday, December 2, 2009

BLOOMFIELD -- Della Jean Green, 78, died Dec. 1, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are with the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Larry L. Sylvester, 58, formerly of Virginia, died Nov. 27, 2009, at his home. Funeral arrangements are with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

RISCO -- Camille Newingham, 91, died Nov. 30, 2009, at the Gideon Care Center. Funeral arrangements are with the Bradshaw Funeral Home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Pallbearers for services conducted on Tuesday at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter for Lois A. Eakes, 69, who died on Nov. 27, 2009, were: James Eakes, Benjamin Hunsaker, Matthew Price, David Hunsaker and Tim Green.

Hoops are back for a while. Football is officially over in the area and the round ball is bouncing in gymnasiums all over southeast Missouri. To get things started off right, the New Madrid County Central Eagles hosted four out-of-state teams and three other in-state squads last weekend in the Riverbend Classic. Action was impressive across the board, but none more than the visiting Dallas Lincoln Tigers, who came into the area boasting a Top 40 spot in the nation and two highly touted juniors...

ORAN -- To call Tuesday evening's Oran Invitational Tournament match-up between the Oran Eagles and the Kelly Hawks a barnburner would be an understatement. The game, which finished in a 64-58 victory in favor of the Eagles, wasn't close from start to finish but by the time the fourth quarter neared an end the game was completely undecided...

BERNIE -- The Risco Tigers won their first game of the year on Tuesday night with a 68-59 victory over the Puxico Indians at the Bernie Invitational Tournament. "We started slow but got better as the game went on," Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship said. "It's good to see some things you need to improve on but still get a win."...

CHARLESTON -- Trailing by just two points with under five minutes left to play, the Dexter Bearcats were making a late push to try and get their first win of the season in their first game of the season. After a few Bearcats turnovers and a wide open Akeem Sharp standing under the basket for Charleston, the Bluejays looked to be in control coming up on a minute left to play with a 56-50 advantage...

PREP FOOTBALL 2009 SEMO All-Region Football Team as chosen by local sportswriters Class 4-5: Coach of the Year - Kent Gibbs, Sikeston FIRST TEAM Offense: QB - Juqualin Wiggins, Sikeston, senior, 6-3, 215 RB - Eli Jackson, Sikeston, senior, 6-3, 215 RB - Eljie Johnson, Poplar Bluff, senior, 6-1, 220...

CARUTHERSVILLE - The search continues today for a man wanted in a disturbance where shots were fired inside a Caruthersville home. At 1:40 p.m. Tuesday officers from the Caruthersville Police Department were called to 1311 Vest Ave. following a report of a disturbance and shots being fired from a large caliber handgun. Upon arrival, officers, who saw two men running from the scene, pursued and took the pair into custody...

Christy M. Hency of Oran was sworn in as the circuit clerk for Scott County by David A. Dolan, circuit judge for the 33rd Judicial District on Tuesday. Gov. Jay Nixon made the appointment Tuesday to fill the unexpired term created by the resignation of Pam Glastetter effective Monday. Before the appointment, Hency had served as Glastetter's chief deputy clerk...

SIKESTON -- Jeannie Williams wants people to remember the magic of the Christmas season. "I just think the whole season is magical and I really want to stress that with holiday shoppers," said Williams, owner of Purse'N'Ality in downtown Sikeston. "People need to stop for just a moment and believe in the magic that is happening."...

By Scott Welton scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County's health officials are looking for one out of five Scott County residents to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus. Barry Cook, administrator for the Scott County Health Department, provided an update on his department's efforts during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday...

BENTON -- There may be a silver lining to the big gray cloud of the January ice storms after all for Scott County. A public hearing for the Scott County Enhanced Enterprise Zone was held during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday. Establishing the county's EEZ has been "kind of been a long struggle for us," said Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger -- but worth working for. "I think it will be a very good thing for Scott County over a long period of time."...