Stories from Friday, August 16, 2013

SIKESTON -- Playing in front of thousands of fans and being drafted into the National Basketball Association hasn't changed Otto Porter, Jr. He's still stricken with awe and amazement that his small, hometown school would chose the humble star to name their basketball court after...

ANDALUSIA, Ala. -- Fighting off a late inning scare against Covington County, Ala., on Friday the Charleston Fighting Squirrels opened up the Senior Babe Ruth World Series with a 12-8 win. "We were fortunate enough to hold on for a win," Charleston head coach Michael Minner said. "We jumped out to a 10-0 lead and just didn't do a real good job of putting it away...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. 'DAY OF RAGE' IN EGYPT The Muslim Brotherhood pushed for nationwide marches to denounce this week's bloodshed that left over 600 dead and broke up two major protest camps...

HICKMAN, Ky. (AP) -- The Dorena-Hickman Ferry in western Kentucky has reopened. Mechanical issue that would take until late Thursday to resolve. The cabinet said Thursday afternoon the ferry was back open. The ferry connects Kentucky 1354 at Hickman, Ky., with Missouri Route A and Route 77 near Dorena, Mo. Kentucky and Missouri are the only border states that aren't directly connected by a road, leaving the ferry as the only direct route between the two states...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Gene Myers, 78, died Aug. 15, 2013, in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE - Susan Thompson, 72, died Aug. 16, 2013, at Benchmark Healthcare in Portageville. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Elsie Naomi Sifford, 95, died Aug. 13, 2013, at the Malden Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Myrtle Frances Mays, 85, formerly of East Prairie, died Aug. 15, 2013, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PELL CITY, Ala. -- Jamie Denise Nolen Moore, 48, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Aug. 7, 2013 in Pell City. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

sports@standard-democrat.com RISCO -- After seeing several of their core members graduate this past spring, the Risco Tigers baseball team hopes to use this fall to bring a talented group of freshman up to speed with its senior-laden roster. "Graduation hit us pretty hard," Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship said. ...

ANDALUSIA, Ala. -- The Charleston Fighting Squirrels baseball team was not able to play their first round game of the 2013 Senior Babe Ruth World Series Thursday due to rain. Scheduled for a 7 p.m. start against the host team, Covington County, Ala., the Squirrels watched a downpour flood Crum Foshee Field at LBW Community College in Andalusia...

EAST PRAIRIE - An investigation into the welfare of a child led to the arrest of two persons. Mississippi County Sheriff's Deputy Marc Tragesser was dispatched Wednesday to assist the Division of Family Services with a child abuse/neglect investigation on Mitchell Street, in East Prairie...

SIKESTON - "Let the construction get under way!" declared Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College, at the conclusion of a ceremony to mark the start of the college's Eastern Campus. And the construction of its Sikeston site is coming none too soon. Stephenson told the standing-room-only crowd at Life Church, where the ceremony was conducted due to recent rains, that the current Sikeston campus is at capacity and having to turn students away...

I live in Sikeston and me and four different neighbors in our one-block area have had bicycles, lawnmowers and several other items stole from all. I, myself, called the police and told them the vehicle and what was stolen at my house, told them where the person works and told them where the person lives. ...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- One of the oldest sporting venues in southeast Missouri has gotten a makeover. Renovations to the Sikeston Field House recently completed after three cosmetic improvements began in late May. A new gym floor, overhead lights and personalized banners now hang and lay inside the 34-year old home of the Sikeston Bulldogs...