Stories from Tuesday, September 25, 2012

SIKESTON -- Juanita B. Alcorn, 94, died Sept. 24, 2012, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Walter "Dusty" Rhodes, 90, died Sept. 21, 2012, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 14, 1921, in Williamsville, son of the late Walter Lacey and Mary Ellen Cook Rhodes, he was a longtime civil servant with the defense department and watchmaker in St. Louis many years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

MATTHEWS -- Genevieve Castleberry, 88, died Sept. 23, 2012, at the Close To Home Nursing Center in Matthews. Born July 23, 1924, in Bloomfield, daughter of the late Samuel and Rosie Byrd, she was employed for 30 years at the Brown Shoe Company and was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Sikeston...

KELSO -- Vincent Stephen Essner, 92, of Kelso, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, at his home. He was born July 31, 1920, in New Hamburg, to Leo W. and Rosa H. Uhrhan Essner. He and Lorena Mary Diebold were married May 4, 1946 at Kelso. Vincent served in the Army during World War II as a veterinary technician and received four Bronze Stars for campaigns in Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Rome-Arno...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs trumped the visiting Charleston Lady Bluejays, 9-0, Monday at Sikeston High School. "We played a very solid match in our win today," Sikeston tennis coach Russ Dial said. "Due to the approaching district tournaments we had to do some juggling with our doubles teams, however, it all worked out in our favor."...

sports@standard-democrat.com POPLAR BLUFF -- Sikeston freshman Earnest Fobbs ran for a staggering 300 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to tackle Poplar Bluff Monday during the Bulldogs' freshman football game in Poplar Bluff. "We showed some heart today and I'm proud of that," Sikeston coach Matt Johnson said. "Just too many offensive mistakes and penalties. We clean those up, we win these types of games."...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Picking up their third win in the last four games, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs pulled off a two set sweep of the Charleston Lady Bluejays on Monday, 25-12 and 25-7. "This was our first conference game, so it's nice to get that started and out of the way," Sikeston head coach Steve Beydler said. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Sikeston man has been sentenced to 65 months for unlawful possession of firearms. Steven. J. Webb, 29, was sentenced to 65 months on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- In an effort to support Charleston Society for the Arts, a jazz performance planned Saturday evening will also show attendees a different side of the arts. Set for 7 p.m. Saturday at The Dugout Bar and Grill in Charleston, the one-night act will feature vocalist Kerry Davis of Charleston, pianist Terry Parker of Charleston, drummer Steve Williams of Cairo, Ill., and Ross Forbey of Charleston on bass...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Having spent over $14,000 on legal fees, Sikeston appears to be no nearer to satisfactorily resolving a notification issue with FEMA. During a special City Council meeting Monday, Council members formally authorized the mayor to engage the Husch Blackwell law firm of St. Louis to explore the city's complaint against the Federal Emergency Management Agency...