Stories from Monday, August 26, 2013

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Another step toward putting in public parking for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety headquarters building was taken but the wrecker balls will have to wait a bit longer. The Sikeston City Council accepted during a special meeting Monday the low bid of $9,400 submitted by Bill James Excavating for the demolition of the Wither's Building...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Sikeston residents and business owners will soon pay more for water and sewer services. The Sikeston City Council approved during a special meeting Monday preparing an ordinance to set new water and sewer rates Sept. 12 at the next City Council meeting...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ASSAD REBUTS CHEMICAL WEAPONS ACCUSATION He says the Syrian military would not have used such weapons in a purported attack last week because there was no clear front line between regime and rebel forces...

SIKESTON -- Anna Mae Bixler, 95, died Aug. 24, 2013, at Miner Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- E.B. Nace, 92, formerly of Portageville, died Aug. 23, 2013, at the Clearview Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MOREHOUSE -- Lillian B. Orr, 90, died Aug. 23, 2013, at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock, Ark. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- John M. Hahs, 90, died Aug. 24, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- George E. Simmons, 86, formerly of Charleston, died Aug. 25, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHAFFEE -- Paul DeWayne "Flip" Pfefferkorn, 79, died Aug. 25, 2013, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BERNIE -- Hazel Vivian Gregory Walker Crouch, 92, died Aug. 24, 2013, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

TROY -- Bryan Forrester, 45, died Aug. 23, 2013, at Troy. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Thomas W. Hedrick, 63, died Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Five of Sikeston's top six girls tennis players from a season ago said goodbye after graduation. One of those included postseason staple Kelsey Dial. With the face of the program for the last three years gone, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs tennis team will start the 2013 season with their slate wiped clean...

CHARLESTON -- Jeff Hemphill, 27, of Wyatt, was found guilty of a variety of charges stemming from a 2011 incident after a jury trial on Friday at the Mississippi County Courthouse. Hemphill was found guilty of two counts of assault in the first degree, two counts of child abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree...

Terry Pruden and other local residents used the sunny weather to drop off unwanted limbs at the city's compost site on Saturday.

SIKESTON - Sikeston businessman and community leader Thomas W. Hedrick died Sunday at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was 63. Mr. Hedrick, who was serving his second term as a member of the Sikeston City Council, was an original member of the Veterans' Park Committee. He served as past president of the Sikeston Rotary Club and was named to the Sikeston Public Schools Honor Wall...

I was calling about the person that called into SpeakOut, "Hey, you've got our stuff." I don't understand why the person who had their items stolen reported it to the Department of Public Safety and they themselves would not pursue it with Morehouse or New Madrid or Scott County Sheriff's Department instead of telling that person that there's nothing they could do about it, otherwise telling them it would be investigated. I mean, c'mon...

SIKESTON -- Although she comes from a family of writers, Sikeston native Bethany Largent said she doesn't want others to thinks she's being a copycat. Largent isn't distancing herself from her song-writer mother, Sandy Bloemer, and author-brother, Brad Bloemer -- quite the opposite -- but she does want others to know her new book -- and career -- is unique in its own right...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston R-6 Board of Education set its tax levy during a special session Monday at the district's Central Office. During the public hearing, board members approved the new operating tax levy of $3.6310 per $100 valuation, which is slightly lower than the 2012-2013 levy...