Stories from Saturday, December 3, 2011

sports@standard-democrat.com BERNIE -- In the finals for the first time in over three decades, the Risco Tigers survived an early scare from the Holcomb Hornets on Friday to claim the 48th annual Bernie Invitational Tournament championship with a 74-64 win...

sports@standard-democrat.com ORAN -- For the fourth-straight year the Scott County Central Braves hoisted the Oran Invitational Tournament trophy after defeating the Advance Hornets 85-64 on Friday night. Unlike their previous three, however, this year's title game was a lot closer than the 21-point margin of victory indicated...

sports@standard-democrat.com DEXTER -- In past seasons, the Sikeston Bulldogs could dominate a game through pressure defense, forcing turnovers and tempo. While those aspects are still alive and well for the Bulldogs, this year's version has added another weapon to the arsenal -- outside shooting...

ORAN -- The Oran Eagles needed an extra four minutes to put them away, but they did just that as they took care of the Malden Green Wave 62-58 in overtime during the third place game of the Oran Invitational Tournament. After two chances at ended it in regulation failed, the Eagles took the lead with two minutes remaining in overtime after a basket by Kody Moore made it 59-58...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The SEMO Conference Tournament will tip off tomorrow evening with three first round games at the Sikeston Field House. Top-seeded and three time defending tournament champions Sikeston will open the tournament at 5:30 against eighth-seeded Dexter...

In terms of political bombshells for our region, Wednesday's release of new Missouri Senate and House districts ranks right up there. A panel of appeals courts judges has worked on a redistricting plan since the release of the 2010 census data. Much of the attention has focused on the St. Louis region where the suburbs continue to grow and the city population continues to shrink...

MALDEN -- Loyd Denzil McCain, 83, died on Dec. 2, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Malden. Arrangements are incomplete at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Willis Lee Black, 69, died at 7:15 a.m. Dec. 2, 2011, in the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born May 1, 1942, in Moline, Ill., son of the late Wilford Black, Pauline Posey Black Simpkins and J.T. Simpkins, he lived most of his life in Mississippi County where he was a retired truck driver...

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Troy Eugene "Gene" Carr, 75, died at 1:49 a.m. Nov. 30, 2011, at Fairview Nursing Plaza in Rockford. Born Dec. 29, 1935, in Reverie, Tenn., to the late Troy Clifton and Ruby May Wren Carr, he had worked as a factory machinist and was of the Pentecostal belief...

SIKESTON -- Joey Little, 53, died Nov. 29, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born May 6, 1958, in Sikeston, to the late Eugene and Sarah Crim Little Sr., he attended Sikeston High School and was of the Baptist belief. Survivors include: two brothers, Eugene Little Jr. of Pontiac, Mich., and Hugh "Do Knot" Little of Sikeston; and four sisters, Cecelia Herring of Pontiac, Lucy Newton and Susie Stallworth of Milwaukee and Betty Jean House of St. Paul, Minn...

sports@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Bulldogs wrestling team came away with a win and a loss on Thursday night in a three-team meet at Notre Dame Regional High School. Results of the matches were: 106 - Sikeston Forfeits to Notre Dame...

POPLAR BLUFF - Southeast Missouri drivers are being put on notice - don't drive drunk this holiday season. During December, Troop E of the Missouri Highway Patrol will conduct a sobriety checkpoint and a driving while intoxicated saturation. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

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news@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Catholics continue this weekend to adjust to Mass changes formally implemented last Sunday. Joan Chinnadurai, a longtime member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston, said she thought the changes were a wonderful idea...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County's salary commission has revamped its salary schedule for elected officials. Salary commissions are made up of all of a county's elected officials. State statutes provide that salary commissions must meet for the first time prior to Nov. 30 in odd numbered years to set salaries for offices up for election in the following year. The deadline to come to a decision on salaries for elected officials is Dec. 15...

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