Stories from Tuesday, March 29, 2011

BLODGETT -- Jimmy W. Johnson, 79, died March 28, 2011, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Arrangements are incomplete.

HERRIN, Ill. -- Billie Lee Bonds, 73, formerly of Kankakee, Ill., died March 27, 2011. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

CHARLESTON -- Raymond L. "Buddy" Marshall, 84, died Sunday, March 27, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

BLOOMFIELD -- Rotha Grimes, 85, died March 26, 2011, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Donald "Pops" Ray Polley, 81, died March 27, 2011, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Evelyn Mary Ruth Bunch, 69, died March 27, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Donald Lee Kitchen, 70, died March 26, 2011, at his home in Sikeston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

CHAFFEE -- Gerry Dale Slinkard, 62, died March 26, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

sports@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Sikeston's Evan Deere led the Sikeston golf team to a sixth place finish at the Notre Dame Invitational at Bent Creek. Deere finished second overall in individual scoring shaving nine strokes off his score from last year's tournament...

sports@standard-democrat.com EAST PRAIRIE -- One play on Monday seemed to put a stamp on the East Prairie Eagles' third straight loss to open the season. Already down by one run and trying desperately to generate any kind of offense against the visiting Malden Green Wave, the Eagles saw an opportunity to put a tying run on the board...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The last time Notre Dame was on the Sikeston pitch, the hometown Lady Bulldogs pulled off a dramatic win in a shootout. On Monday night, there was no repeat as Notre Dame spoiled Sikeston's home opener with a 4-0 victory...

sports@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Holding a one-run lead late and looking to give their starting pitcher Andrew Dooley a little insurance late Monday afternoon against Kelly, the Chaffee Red Devils knocked out four runs in the final frame to secure a 8-3 win...

ST. LOUIS - Members of the Missouri Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, from across the state concluded an unsuccessful first day of air and ground searching for an overdue aircraft, flying from Arkansas to Wisconsin, that was lost from radar contact near the Doniphan/Poplar Bluff area of southeast Missouri...

michellef@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Yard sales can draw a crowd. And this weekend, two towns are taking advantage of their popularity to bring people in. "Yard sales are such a popular thing that (having a citywide yard sale) is a way to bring more people and more revenue into town," said Christina McWaters, executive director of the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce...

SIKESTON -- It takes countless hours to prepare students for state standardized tests, but educators say the hard work pays off as both school district and state education officials learn from the assessments, too. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- This week public school districts can begin Missouri Assessment Program testing. And while every district has its own strategy for students achieving success on the state standardized test, most agree the common denominator for success is communities -- especially the parents -- working with the schools...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Sikeston voters will see two names on the April 5 ballot for the three-year term on the City Council as an at-large representative: Bob Depro and David Carnell. Both candidates have a long history with the city. Carnell said his family moved to here in 1968; Depro said he is a native Sikestonian. Both candidates are graduates of Sikeston Senior High School...