Stories from Thursday, January 23, 2014

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston 8th grade boys basketball team improved to 11-0 on the season with a 63-33 win over Poplar Bluff on Wednesday in the Cape Central Junior High Tournament. Sikeston led 14-9 after one quarter and extended the lead to 31-12 by halftime. They led 50-28 entering the fourth quarter...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- After a lifetime spent working with cutting horses, southeast Missouri native Rebecca Lenderman decided to devote herself to competing full time in the National Cutting Horse Association. Her pay off was a spot in last season's NCHA World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas and a 15th place finish overall on the season in the $35,000 Non-Pro Division...

Veterans will be honored on Friday night.

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County has the footing it needs to continue marching into the future. County Commissioners approved the 2014 operating budget for Scott County during their Jan. 16 meeting. "I felt good about where we ended 2013. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tax time doesn't have to be quite as taxing, thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who are donating their time and expertise to help low- to moderate-income Missourians file their income tax returns. According to Craig Eichelman, AARP Missouri state director, the Tax-Aide program, now in its 45th year, is the largest free tax assistance and preparation service in the nation...

Members of the At Tax Time, Inc. family are getting ready for their busiest time of year- tax season! They've remodeled their office, adding new carpet and a new awning out front. They are also welcoming a new member to their family- Carla Brown. This will be Carla's sixth season in the tax business, her first with At Tax Time, Inc...

SIKESTON -- A Scott County high school is one of four Southeast Missouri schools recognized statewide for its students' high rate of seat belt usage. Nearly 97 percent of Kelly High School students wore their seat belts during Missouri Department of Transportation's annual Battle of the Belt seat belt use challenge. The Benton school had the third highest rate in the Southeast region...

DEXTER -- Judy Roberts, 72, died Jan. 21, 2014, at Southeast Health Center in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Ponder Funeral Home for Melvin Curtis, 48, who died Jan. 21, 2014, will be: James Curtis, Matthew Curtis, Danny Tetley, Randy Foster, Ernie Abernathy, Steve Aters and Michael Zimmerman...

SCOTT CITY -- Betty Zook Mothershead, 83, died Jan. 22, 2014, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Wilma Pauline Brown Miller, 94, died Jan. 21, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

COLUMBIA -- Dr. Robert Colbert, 79, died Jan. 21, 2014, at the Neighborhoods in Columbia. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MALDEN -- Barbara Jean Caffey, 79, formerly of Risco, died Jan. 21, 2014, at Malden Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Norma Jean Kitchen, 75, died Jan. 20, 2014, at Crowley Ridge Care Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ESSEX -- Charles Gisi, 96, died Jan. 21, 2014, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

I would like to put a little deal in Speakout about the water standing on Powell Street in Miner. The south side has been cleaned out, the north side is full of dirt and rocks and our mayor promised to clean it out a year ago but he hasn't got to it. It should be cleaned out before the spring rains...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Other than tossing a name into the hat for consideration, the Mississippi County Commission has no part in replacing the county's public administrator. Presiding County Commissioner Carlin Bennett explained during the Commission's regular weekly meeting Thursday that the appointment of a public administrator to serve until the end of the year will be made by Gov. Jay Nixon...