Stories from Tuesday, August 27, 2013

PADUCAH, Ky - Summer isn't over quite yet. According to the National Weather Service at Paducah, after a cooler than normal summer, a significant and extended heat spell is in store for the Bootheel. "A large dome of high pressure aloft now located over the plains will gradually build east toward the Mississippi River by late this week," the NWS reported. "This will allow hot and humid conditions to build east with time."...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Commuters and other motorists frequenting the back route between Chaffee and Cape Girardeau can look forward to an end to the detour around the overpass destroyed by a train crash. The State Route M overpass located north of Chaffee at Rockview should be open by the weekend, Jamie Burger, presiding Scott County commissioner, said during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. KERRY:'UNDENIABLE' EVIDENCE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE His tough language marks the clearest justification yet for U.S. military action against the Syrian regime...

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee Lady Devils have a new coach, a new outlook and are hoping to get back to the fundamentals. The Lady Devils return to the field Aug. 28 in their season opener on the road against Kelly after a 7-14 season. "The Lady Red Devils are looking to get back to the basics," first-year head coach AJ Horn said. "This group of girls has been really working hard and looking forward to being successful. The team has quite a few returners from last year, but we are young...

Experienced core returns to lead the Kelly Lady Hawks

The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs undergo a complete overhaul going into the 2013 fall softball season.

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

SIKESTON -- George Elliott Simmons Sr., 85, 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.

CAMPBELL -- John S. Childers, 49, of Campbell, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

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

I respectfully request that our state representative, Ms. Rehder, in her report published in this paper initiate an intelligent discussion of the issues before General Assembly. The people would benefit from this as very little of the real facts are available to us without political spin. ...

Portageville entering second season as a fall softball team

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- The Scott County Commission's efforts to get a bridge into the Off-System Bridge Replacement Program have paid off. Commissioners have been working to show Missouri Department of Transportation officials that a county bridge located on Scott County Road 262 northwest of Oran near the Caney basin needs to be replaced...