Stories from Wednesday, March 23, 2011

BLOOMFIELD -- The Oran Eagles cruised to a 16-4 win over Bloomfield in their first game of the season on Tuesday afternoon. After scoring one in the top of the first, the Eagles watched Bloomfield tag Dalton Elfrink with four runs in the bottom of the first. That lead would be short-lived, however, as Oran plated five runs in the second and third and five more in the fifth to win by the mercy rule...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldog tennis team opened their season with a 9-0 loss to Marion, Ill., at home on Tuesday afternoon. "Today we found out there is a huge amount of room for improvement in all areas of our game," said Sikeston coach Russ Dial. "The lack of experience was evident in our play...

EAST PRAIRIE -- The East Prairie Eagles were two outs away from escaping with their first win of the season. A home run from Advance's Darren VanGennip in the top of the seventh inning dashed those hopes quickly. After VanGennip's drive to left-center field, the Eagles could not muster a run to tie in their half of the seventh and fell 5-4 on Tuesday at East Prairie...

NEW MADRID -- What looked to be a season opening win against Caruthersville Tuesday afternoon for New Madrid County Central quickly turned into a game the Eagles would probably like to forget. Fresh off celebrating a Gabe Smith three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that put NMCC up by four, the Eagles watched the Tigers rally for five runs off four hits in the top of the seventh to take the game 8-7...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs baseball team opened the season with an 11-7 loss to SEMO Conference rival Notre Dame on Tuesday afternoon at VFW Stadium. The Bulldogs actually held a 5-4 lead after three innings of play, but the bats went cold and the Notre Dame offense came alive to spur the team to victory...

The greatest way to waste taxpayer money is to call it a stimulus and allow a federal bureaucrat or nanny-state politician to spend it. But then again, you could write an entire book on ways to waste taxpayer money. An appropriate title might just be, "The Obama Years...."...

HAHIRA, Ga. -- Patsy Joe Summers, 79, formerly of Benton, Mo., died March 21, 2011, at her son's residence in Hahira. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

ESSEX -- Helen Ruth Vires, 69, died March 20, 2011, at Essex. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services conducted at 11 a.m. today at Wesley United Methodist Church for Marjorie Carter, 93, who died March 20, 2011, were: Jack Burke, Bill Armstrong, Terry Burke, Brad Seabaugh, Bob Jackson and Burke Dodson. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Bobby R. "Diddy" Pratt, 59, died March 21, 2011, at Missouri

SIKESTON -- Bernie Joe Lacy, 85, died March 22, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

MATTHEWS -- David Ervin Shell, 79, died at 11:26 p.m. March 21, 2011, at the Close To Home Nursing Center in Matthews. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

Recent warm weather brought out the daffodils and thoughts of spring. However, there is more cold weather and rain in the forecast.

BENTON -- Area residents living south of Scott County's levees could have a lot riding on the Corps' levee inspection this summer. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials updated the Scott County Commission on the county's levee as it pertains to FEMA's flood plain maps during their regular meeting Tuesday...

SIKESTON -- Due to a clerical error, Penzel Construction may not be the low bidder on a proposed new Sikeston Department of Public Safety building. Bids from the seven general contractors who submitted them were opened Thursday and were "very, very competitive," said Brett Patrick Dille of the Dille and Traxel architectural firm in Poplar Bluff, during a special City Council meeting Tuesday. "We all were excited to see the bids we saw."...

SIKESTON -- Lynn Feeler is working on her menu for April 7 -- tea cakes, tiny pastries and perhaps some small sandwiches. It will be just a taste, but then what else would you expect at the fifth annual Taste of Sikeston and Southeast Missouri. Feeler, who owns RSVP Catering, is joining other restaurants, caterers and beverage vendors to provide samples of their wares for the public all while benefiting the American Cancer Society. ...

SIKESTON -- Bill Engvall doesn't claim to have the cleanest act in comedy. As he puts it: "It's not Disney on Ice." At the same time, the award-winning comedian of "Blue Collar" comedy fame prefers not to use profanity in his routines either. Engvall, who will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Field House, said comedians must give their audiences more credit -- a concept he always tries to relay to young comics...

SIKESTON -- Another performer was announced for a benefit planned for Friday. The Caney Creek Band of North Scott County will open the entertainment at 8 p.m. Friday at a fundraiser for Julie Heppe at the National Guard Armory in Sikeston. Heppe, who owns a portrait studio in Charleston, has been hospitalized for about a month due to pneumonia...

SIKESTON -- Tickets for An Evening of Laughter With Bill Engvall are still available. The stand-up comedian will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Field House. Tickets are available at the UPS Store and Homestead Electronics in Sikeston, McClain's Food Center in Charleston and Valeria's Floral and Gifts in Bloomfield or by calling (870) 351-8432...