Stories from Wednesday, August 31, 2011

SIKESTON - An 18-month, multi-agency narcotics investigation led to the arrest of approximately 60 individuals in the Southeast Missouri area. Today Sikeston Department of Public Safety and several other cooperating agencies conducted a warrant round up in reference to drug trafficking in Southeastern Missouri. The round up kicked off early today in Sikeston as officers began taking suspects into custody...

SIKESTON -- The streets of Sikeston and surrounding communities had a little cleanup on Wednesday. "Operation Clean Sweep" kicked off before dawn, with officers from various law enforcement agencies in the area setting out with indictments for some 60 individuals, concentrated in the Sikeston area but reaching as far north as Cape Girardeau and as far south as Blytheville, Ark...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Marion R. Williams, 76, died at 11:14 p.m. Aug. 28, 2011, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- Percy Visor Sr. 75, died Aug. 26, 2011, at his home. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

Two news items crossed my desk recently. Both seemed to make perfect sense to me - and since both were universally panned by liberals - I find even greater benefit. Let's start in Michigan. The fine state of Michigan has a unique program that allows nearly all college students, regardless of their financial status, to qualify for food stamps...

CHAFFEE -- After opening the season with a three-game losing streak, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs got the proverbial monkey off their backs Tuesday afternoon, picking up a 9-5 win against the Chaffee Lady Red Devils. "That's big," Sikeston assistant coach Paige Silverthorn said of her team's first win. "It helps the team morale a bunch...

DEXTER -- The Dexter Lady Bearcats volleyball team improved to 2-0 on the season with an easy win over Kennett 25-9, 25-18. Dexter was helped by impressive serving that led to seven aces in the first set, three by Erika Mouser. McKenzie Mitchell finished with four aces in the match to lead the Lady Bearcats...

SIKESTON -- Although their season opener didn't quite go the way they wanted it to, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs volleyball team seemed upbeat about their close encounter with the state-ranked Bernie Lady Mules and what may come later in the season. "Bernie's always a tough team, but I will say that this is the toughest Bernie team I've seen in a number of years," Sikeston coach Steve Beydler said. ...

SIKESTON --Hundreds of ducks are already adopted for the upcoming Duckapolooza, but event organizers say there's still time to claim a duck before the big race. This summer, through the joint fundraiser between the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce and YMCA of Southeast Missouri, individuals and businesses have adopted ducks to be raced down a 15-foot slide...

EAST PRAIRIE -- On Friday, Big Oak Tree State Park and Towosahgy State Historic Site in Mississippi County will reopen to the public. The sites were closed in May after they were covered with 12 to 16 feet of water and sand following the intentional breach of the Birds Point Levee along the Mississippi Ri#ver...