Stories from Monday, July 29, 2013

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels Senior Babe baseball team continues its ascent atop summer baseball.

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. MIDEAST NEGOTIATORS HEAD TO US Israeli and Palestinian officials will meet in Washington today after Israel approved the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners...

MARSTON - Albert Sullenger died July 28, 2013, at his home in Marston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON - E.L. "Dick" Tongate, 89, died July 28, 2013, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ADVANCE -- Hanley M. Kelm, 73, died July 25, 2013, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

RANDLES - Jim L. Blue, 78, died July 27, 2013, at his daughter's home in Gordonville. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ST. LOUIS - Sandra Griggs Bryant, 64, formerly of Charleston, died July 28, 2013, at the SSM St. Clare Health Center at Fenton. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER - Robert C. Crow, 89, died July 28, 2013, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Betty Jean Kemp Rice, 75, died at 7:15 a.m. July 27, 2013, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

WYATT - James Wilburn Nolen, 55, died July 28, 2013, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

LILBOURN - Carol Ann Wilfong Crump, 62, died July 27, 2013, at her son's home near Lilbourn. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- David G. Friend, 58, died Friday July 26, 2013, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON - Copies of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project draft environmental impact statement are available at the Sikeston Public Library. The Corps filed the draft on Friday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a news release...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston City Council is accepting Citizen Resource Bank applications from residents seeking to participate in the City's governing process. More than 100 volunteers currently serve on the city's 17 boards and commissions. Residents seeking appointment to a board or commission position are asked to complete and submit a Citizen Resource Bank Application...

I'm calling about a little town that's near Sikeston. If the police are going to have rules, they need to have them for everybody, not just certain people. It's ridiculous. I'm calling about the Alco Store in Charleston that is going out of business. That will be another empty building in town. I just wonder if the city manager will want to tear it down too...

SIKESTON -- Local retailers and their staff have planned for the annual back-to-school sales tax holiday event, which, for some, is the biggest sales weekend of the year. The three-day holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 2 and runs through Aug. 4. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, shoes, school supplies, computers and other items are exempt from state sales tax during the period...