Stories from Wednesday, May 18, 2011

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs soccer team took an early lead against top seeded Perryville in the Class 2, District 1 Tournament at Notre Dame High School on Tuesday, but were unable to hang on in a 3-1 semifinal loss. Things looked good for Sikeston early as Madison Chaney took a pass from Monica Carter and blistered the ball into the back right corner of the goal in the third minute to give the Lady Bulldogs a 1-0 lead...

BOLIVAR -- Sikeston junior Evan Deere just missed an all-state finish at the Missouri Class 3 State Golf Tournament at the Silo Ridge Golf Course in Bolivar on Tuesday. Deere carded an 80 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 161 which put him in 22nd place, three strokes shy of all-state honors...

ORAN -- The top-seeded Oran Eagles advanced to the Class 1, District 2 championship game with an 11-1, six inning victory over fourth-seeded Leopold on Tuesday at Oran High School. The Eagles (19-2) will play No. 2 seed Bernie (15-8) for the district title today at 4 p.m...

FARMINGTON -- It's not necessarily how a team has played over the season, but how it plays at the moment when it comes to a district tournament atmosphere. Keeping that in mind, the Sikeston Bulldogs are starting to catch fire. The fourth-seeded Bulldogs in the Class 4, District 1 Tournament had a field day at the plate combining for 15 hits in a 12-5 upset win against the top-seeded Farmington Knights on Tuesday at Wilson Rozier Park in Farmington...

CHARLESTON -- In a dramatic finish the fifth-seeded Bloomfield Wildcats upset top-seeded Clearwater on Tuesday to advance to the Class 2, District 2 Championship. Holding a slim 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Bloomfield found itself in trouble when the Tigers hit back-to-back singles to leave the winning run at first...

CHARLESTON -- Still searching for the first district baseball title in school history, the Charleston Bluejays punched their ticket to the Class 2, District 2 championship game Tuesday afternoon with a 5-4 win over the Greenville Bears. "We've never won a district championship, but we just keep playing for them," Charleston coach Michael Minner said. "I tell these guys every year, 'one of these years you have to be the first,' and hopefully this is our year."...

COOTER -- A big sixth inning rally by Holcomb ended the Risco Tigers' season Tuesday afternoon with a 16-6 loss in the Class 1, District 1 Tournament semifinals. Holding a 6-3 lead at one point, the Tigers were able to hold the Hornets to a 6-6 tie entering the bottom of the fifth...

Like millions of others, I watched the Monday morning shuttle Endeavour launch with an ample level of both pride and awe. With understandable amazement, I marveled at the enormous skills and intellect required to accomplish this feat in front of the entire world...

MINER -- Bigger isn't always the best tool for the job. The Miner Board of Aldermen accepted the low bid of $24,748 from Davis Farm Supplies in Jackson for a new tractor during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday. This smaller tractor equipped with a scoop, backhoe and blade is needed because "our big backhoe is just too large to fit in some areas," Harold Tarrants, chief operator of the city water department, said...

BENTON -- Public Water Supply District No. 4 of Scott County, Missouri's first phase is nearing completion. Tim McIntyre, water district manager, updated Scott County commissioners on the district's progress during their regular meeting Tuesday. Upon completion, there will a total of about 765 customers hooked up in Phase One, according to McIntyre...

CHARLESTON -- For one day a year for over 20 years, a Charleston family farm transforms into an outdoor classroom to help local students discover nature. Tuesday marked the annual event known as Solar Day. Over 200 third and fifth graders and teachers from Hearnes Elementary and St. Henry School in Charleston, along with presenters and volunteers, flocked to the Wayne Corse family farm near Charleston...

SIKESTON -- If having legislation survive the process of becoming a bill for the first time feels good, state House Republican Ellen Brandom, 160th District, must be feeling great. Three pieces of legislation introduced by Brandom ended up as bills in one form or another by the time the Missouri General Assembly closed its latest legislative session Friday...

ESSEX -- The Rev. Ricky Davis Sr., 48, died May 13, 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...

SIKESTON -- J W Curry, 62, died May 17, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Billy Burl "Skipper" Thompson Jr., 61, died May 16, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE - Birdie Toon, 86, formerly of Charleston, died May, 18, 2011, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CARLYLE, Ill. -- Audrey Findly Smith, 60, formerly of Wyatt, Mo., died May 15, 2011, at the St. John Hospital in Springfield. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Michael Allen Harris, 56, died May 17, 2011, at his home in Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Lois Estes, 73, died May 17, 2011, in the Golden Living Center at Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Alta Burns, 88, died May 17, 2011 in the Golden Living Center at Bloomfield. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Levella Gold, 95, died May 17, 2011 in the Saint Francis Medical Center at Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

COLUMBIA -- Emma V. "Bogie" Britt, 77, died May 16, 2011 at University Hospital in Columbia. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.