Stories from Tuesday, February 26, 2013

sports@standard-democrat.com DEXTER -- Fighting through nagging injuries that hampered their lineup and the absence of their head coach, the Dexter Lady Bearcats kicked off their Class 4, District title defense Monday with a win over Perryville. Brittany Harris led the effort with 18 points while Paige Patterson chipped in 12 points to guide Dexter to a 61-27 rout that once again put the Lady Bearcats back in the championship game...

CHAFFEE -- Charles "Sonny" Lee, 77, died Feb. 25, 2013, at his home in Chaffee. Born Nov. 3, 1935, in Chaffee, son of Elnora Seabaugh Lee of Chaffee and the late Charles Andrew, he was the retired owner and operator of Sonny's Garage and Wrecker Service in Chaffee from 1965 until 2007...

MURRAY, Ky. -- James Milton Smith, 78, formerly of Marshall County, died at 11:15 p.m. Feb. 22, 2013, at his home. Mr. Smith was a self-employed truck driver. He was a veteran of the United States Army, a member of the Alford Masonic Lodge 925 F & AM and a member of Aurora Baptist Church...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Minnie Lee Treece Crumpecker, 93, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Monday Sept. 1, 1919, in Decatur, Tenn., to the late Isaac C. and Lula Boyer Treece...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- There are few who have made a bigger splash in one year than Sikeston's Josh Hampton. Although he knew the trade, Hampton set records and made a name for himself in just one season in goal for the varsity Bulldogs which led to his move to the next level...

LILBOURN - Officials face a "major mess" as they work today to clean up a coal train derailment. At 5:08 a.m. today, the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department was alerted of the derailment in Lilbourn. Twelve cars from a Union Pacific coal train were overturned and two more were off the track blocking Highway U as well as Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Phillips streets, according to New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens...

scottw@standard-democrat.com HAYWOOD CITY -- If you've wanted to hook up to Scott County Public Water Supply No. 4, now may be your chance. "We started a new contract. The contractor started last Monday," said Tim McIntyre, the water district's manager. "We will be putting in about 56 miles of new water lines to serve approximately 150 new customers. Most of them are residences but there are a few small businesses."...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man remains in custody after being arrested on drug-related charges. According to Missouri Case.net, Richard T. Nation, 31, was arrested by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, deliver or manufacture and possession of solvents and precursor materials with intent to produce a controlled substance...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- It's career week for a group of Sikeston preschoolers. Youngsters at Bulldog Preschool, located on the campus of Sikeston High School, this week are learning about the possibilities of what they can be when they grow up. For the first time, professionals are visiting the preschoolers to discuss their careers...

In the 1940s, teaching in a rural school didn't pay much, only about $200 per month. Jackie Hayes took a job teaching at Higgerson School near New Madrid for the fall semester of 1952. Besides the low pay, there were the children. The one-room school had 20 students that year in grades one through eight. ...