Stories from Sunday, November 13, 2011

A belated but sincere thank you to the veterans who had their brief day in the spotlight Friday. Shame on us for setting aside just one single day to honor these brave men and women who make such an important sacrifice for this great nation. While American military personnel are currently in harm's way, it is even more appropriate to take the time to show our appreciation and recognize the significance of military service...

BENTON -- Antoinette Marie Johnson, 70, of Benton, Mo., passed away Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at her home in Benton. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

PIEDMONT -- Barbara Ann Atkinson, 49, formerly of Lilbourn, died Nov. 10, 2011, at the Doctors Regional Medical Center North in Poplar Bluff. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Nina Ellis, 84, died at 5:06 a.m. Nov. 12, 2011, at 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...

CHARLESTON -- Harold Dean Haley, 78, died Nov. 11, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

BERTRAND -- Anna Marie Lewis Kohler, 48, died Nov. 8, 2011, at her home in Bertrand. Visitation is from 11:30 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. Saturday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. Her cousin, Mark Hendrickson, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Dogwood Cemetery near East Prairie...

KAUFMAN, Texas - Elsie Charlene Mitchell, 70, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died Oct. 21, 2011, at her home in Kaufman. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at the Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home...

CHARLESTON -- Murry Lee "Man" or "G-Unit" Asberry, 34, died Nov. 8, 2011, in Charleston. Born Jan. 22, 1977, in Sikeston, son of Carolyn J. Young Harris of Charleston, he Visitation is from noon until service time at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bowden Civic Center in Charleston with the Rev. Steve Betts officiating...

CHAFFEE -- Janis Marie Payne, 70, died Nov. 9, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is after 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at the First Baptist Church in Chaffee...

ST. LOUIS -- Sie McMiller, 98, died Nov. 8, 2011, at Hillside Manor in St. Louis. Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid, where services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. The Rev. Jessie Dunigan will officiate...

ADVANCE -- Frances M. Lee, 87, died Nov. 10, 2011, at her home in Advance. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to service time at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery at Bell City...

When you see Sikeston junior Kelsey Dial on the tennis court you can always tell she is having fun. Never without a smile, Dial will laugh with her coach or teammates on crossovers and one would never be able to tell if she was having a bad day. Chances are, she isn't...

DEXTER -- Unable to overcome a rough first quarter, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs' eighth grade team fell to the Dexter Lady Bearcats 43-22 on Thursday. "We knew this was going to be one of the best teams we saw all year," Sikeston coach Keyth Blissett said of Dexter. "All I wanted from the girls tonight was to put in their best effort and I believe they did that. The game was over for a while, but they continued to play...

SIKESTON -- For over 20 years, a Sikeston church has used November to give thanks to a group of people in the community who are typically the ones doing for everyone else -- the senior citizens. The 24th annual Senior Appreciation Dinner and Show will begin at 4 p.m. Nov. 13 at The Stafford Center at Tanner Street Church of God, located at 619 Tanner St...

CHARLESTON -- The state's first major concrete highway had held up pretty well against time and traffic but was no match for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During the regular County Commission meeting Thursday, Bill Feezor of Charleston asked commissioners if there is any hope of repairs for a section of the old "slab road" located just west of Wyatt now listed as County Road 340...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Little Theatre is opening its 2011-2012 season with a production about unruly children who help others rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. Performances of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" are set for 7 p.m. Nov. 17-19 and 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Albritton Mayer Center in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- The city of Sikeston has declined to support a tax credit application for investors in a proposed senior housing project on West Malone. A motion to support the application died for lack of a second during a special Sikeston City Council mee tating Thursday...

CHARLESTON -- The officers involved in the Tuesday fatal shooting of a Charleston man have been placed on paid administrative leave. The law enforcement officers were placed on leave after Murry Lee Asberry, 34, was fatally shot while confronting them with a knife...