Stories from Tuesday, December 6, 2011

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Employment opportunities in Sikeston are looking up. Ed Dust, director of the Sikeston Department of Economic Development, said he has been receiving tidings of comfort and joy recently regarding the local job market...

SIKESTON - The Missouri Department of Transportation has closed routes in Southeast Missouri due to the recent flooding. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution and plan alternate routes. Butler County: Route142 -from Rt. H in Ripley Co. to Rt. EE in Butler Co...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man is charged with distributing drugs following an investigation by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Narcotics Division. Thomas Harris, 25, is charged with second degree drug trafficking. He is currently being held in the Scott County Jail with a cash-only bond set at $100,000...

BENTON -- A Doniphan man will be arraigned Wednesday for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine in a local motel. Gary Lee Davis Jr., 35, is charged with attempting to manufacture a controlled substance. Bond is set at $75,000 cash only and as of this morning, Davis remains in custody at the Scott County Jail...

DEXTER -- Eloise E. McCarty, 86, died Dec. 4, 2011, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born July 31, 1925, in Brewers Lake, daughter of Oscar Thomas and Willie Mae Graham Ashby, she had lived in the Dexter area most of her life. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dexter and a long-time member of the Eastern Star...

SIKESTON -- Veryl Lee Riddle, 89, died Dec. 5, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Dec. 6, 1921, near Campbell, son of the late Lloyd and Etter Wood Riddle. Mr. Riddle graduated from Campbell High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University, earned his bachelor's degree from University of Buffalo, N.Y., and his Jurist Doctorate from Washington University St. Louis in 1948...

DEXTER -- Kenneth Raymond Dock, 81, died Dec. 3, 2011, at Dexter. Born Nov. 15, 1930, at Malden to the late Otto R. and Olive Oatman Dock, he was a brick mason and was of the Baptist belief. On May 3, 1950, at Piggott, Ark., he married Emma Sue Reynolds, who survives of the home...

SIKESTON -- Linda Carmody, 70, died Dec. 4, 2011, at St. Louis University Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Mary L. Ivie Piper, 89, died at 6:05 a.m. Dec. 6, 2011, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete with Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

BERTRAND -- James L. Dover, 57, died Dec. 3, 2011, at the Bertrand Retirement Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

DEXTER -- Mattie Irene Hoffman, 88, died Dec. 4, 2011, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center. Arrangements are incomplete at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

SIKESTON -- Evelyn L. Jones, 85, died Dec. 4, 2011, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born April 18, 1926, in Marianna, Ark., to the late Andrew Leslie and Violet Juanita Gentry Eagan, she worked at a small arms factory in St. Louis during World War II and later moved to New Madrid where she worked for Dr. Chandler and Dr. Cambron...

SIKESTON -- Judy Kenser Wills, 70, died Dec. 4, 2011, at Baptist Hospital in North Little Rock, Ark. Born Jan. 13, 1941, in Bertrand, to the late Louis and Elizabeth Austin Kenser, she was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and had been employed by Good Humor-Breyers until retirement in 2005...

sports@standard-democrat.com DEXTER -- The Dexter Lady Bearcats had little trouble in their home opener on Monday, thumping Senath-Hornersville 78-23. Dexter led 30-7 after one quarter and held a comfortable 54-12 lead at the half. Dexter put three players in double figures, led by Alison Jarrell's 21 points. Brittany Harris added 13 while Paige Patterson scored 10...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- Led by Tyangela Gibson's 24 points on Monday night, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs opened up the Lady Devils Invitational with a 63-44 win over the Chaffee Lady Devils to advance to the semifinals. "Our pace started to wear them out a little bit," Sikeston coach Matt Schonhoff said. "We adjusted our offense a little to their defense at half time and that helped us out...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- In years past, the Charleston Bluejays have been highly regarded as one of the toughest defensive teams to walk onto the court. On Monday, they epitomized that well-earned slogan and flattened the New Madrid County Central Eagles, 64-27, during the first round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- This time, the Sikeston Bulldogs didn't need the 3-point shot. In their second game with the Dexter Bearcats in just four days, the Bulldogs pounded the ball inside and dominated the glass during their 80-34 win on Monday to open the first round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Featuring an all-children cast, the Sikeston Little Theatre aims to brighten the holiday season as it tells the story of a cheery orphan through four performances later this week. The Theatre will present its children's production of "Annie Junior" with shows set for 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Albritton-Mayer Cultural Center in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- The city of Sikeston will put around three quarters of a million dollars into city streets this round. During their regular meeting Monday, City Council members authorized staff to solicit bids for the 2012 Street and Stormwater Drainage Improvement Program...