Stories from Tuesday, February 25, 2014

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Both the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs and Park Hills Central Lady Rebels were looking for an edge. Not against each other, but against a potential playoff competitor who is a favorite to reach the Class 4 state tournament...

sports@standard-democrat.com MALDEN -- Unable to overcome a rough start, third-seeded New Madrid County Central fell to second-seed and defending champion Twin Rivers 81-33 on Monday in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament semifinals at Malden High School...

standard-democrat.com MALDEN -- After nearly pulling off the upset, fifth-seeded East Prairie saw a dominant fourth quarter by top-seeded Doniphan propel the Donnettes to a 58-44 win and into the Class 3, District 1 Tournament championship game. East Prairie took a 41-38 lead on a basket early in the fourth quarter, but were held without a field goal the rest of the way. This allowed the Donnettes to retake the lead and outscore the Lady Eagles 20-5 in the final period to avoid the upset...

DELTA -- It's district time in the Class 1 District 2 boys basketball season. Like clockwork, the Scott County Central Braves are vying for the title. SCC (21-5) dispatched of Bell City 78-40 in the first semifinal Monday night at Delta High School to earn a shot at the championship...

BLOOMFIELD (SMNS) - The No. 5 seeded Portageville Bulldogs beat the No. 4 seeded Holcomb Hornets 62-54 to account for the only quarterfinal upset at the Class 2, District 1, boys basketball tournament Monday. Portageville trailed 45-42 at the start of the fourth quarter. The contest was tied 49-49 with four minutes remaining. The Bulldogs scored the next nine points to move ahead 58-49 with less than two minutes remaining and led by at least four the rest of the way...

standard-democrat.com RISCO -- The Risco Tigers moved their way into the Class 1, District 1 semifinals following an 82-45 win over Koshkonong Monday at Risco High School. Risco, the second seed, was led by Jordon Pavy's 28 points. Brandon Bixler and Josh Earnheart added 17 and 14 each...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - More low-income children in Missouri are starting the school day ready to learn, according to a new report that highlights the progress being made with the federal School Breakfast Program. 
The Food Research and Action Center's annual scorecard finds that nearly 56 percent of the children in Missouri who received free and reduced-price school lunches also received breakfast last year, an increase of almost 2 percent from the previous year. ...

The Ironman Triathlon race is an ultimate test of human endurance and perseverance. The daunting 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and full marathon, a whopping 26.2 miles, would make most weak at the knees and send them in the opposite direction. But not Phil Hawkins, who competed in the Tempe, AZ Ironman race in November...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Missouri Department of Transportation is preparing for an inspection of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge on Highway 74 in Cape Girardeau from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through March 18. MoDOT contractor Modjeski and Masters will perform the work, including an in-depth inspection of the structure's features, according to a news release by MoDOT. ...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. WEBSITE OF BIG BITCOIN EXCHANGE GOES OFFLINE The page's disappearance follows reports that the exchange based in Japan suffered a significant theft -- a possible fatal blow to efforts to gain legitimacy for the virtual currency...

Tonight will be cloudy then gradually becoming partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow with a low around 20 and a north wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Sunny on Wednesday with a high near 31 and a north wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon then becoming clear Wednesday night with a low around 22. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission today approved a new long range transportation plan but cautioned that without additional resources the Missouri Department of Transportation has very little chance of delivering it. ...

Although the number of U.S. farms dropped in 2012, the average farm got bigger. The number or farms dropped 4 percent to 2.1 million in 2012 and the size of the average farm grew from 418 to 434 acres, according to a new government survey. The state with the most farms was Texas, which saw the number of farms increase slightly over the five years. Still, it lost about 200,000 farmland acres over the same period...

Two years ago on Feb. 23, the United States Postal Service confirmed it intended to close Cape Girardeau's Richard G. Wilson Processing and Distribution Facility, saving the agency about $3.8 million annually and eliminating about 100 positions. The facility and its workers still are serving their purpose today, and their future got a bit brighter last month when the USPS announced the postponement of the second phase of its plan to consolidate and close mail-processing facilities, the Cape Girardeau facility being one of them.. ...

This year's Mid South Farm and Gin Show is set to take place Friday, February 28th and Saturday March 1st at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. This year, Cotton Board members are asking everyone to bring their used denim and donate it to the denim drive that will be set up at The Cotton Board's booth...

SIKESTON -- The case began with a young man claiming several people had kidnapped him at gunpoint on a July night in Sikeston, Mo., held him hostage and beat him for several hours. It ended with two men pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault charges...

Resignations- The board was asked to accept the resignations of the following individuals: Cammy Gilmer, High School English; Dell Roberts, Middle School ISS; Diana Pearson, Matthews Elementary; Manessah Hunt, Special Education Assistant. Budget Adjustments- The board was asked to approve budget adjustments for the 2013-2014 school year...

Jefferson City, Mo. -- Secretary of State Jason Kander today applauded the General Assembly's approval and Gov. Nixon's signing of his legislation that levels the playing field for members of the military who run for public office. Deployed service members who are seeking public office will now be able to designate a friend or family member to serve as their substitute and participate in the random drawing that determines the order in which names will appear on the ballot. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- With the majority of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) located in his 25th Senatorial District, Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, commends the recent advancement of Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 in the General Assembly. This resolution urges the National Park Service (NPS) to take one of three options in regard to the ONSR: 1) Choose the "no-action alternative" option of the general management plan, 2) Enter into negotiations with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for the return of the ONSR to the State of Missouri, or 3) Enter into a contract with the MDC for the management, operation, and maintenance of the ONSR.. ...

Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Three Rivers College (far left), along with Dr. Maribeth Payne (far right), awarded Three Rivers' "Master Planner" awards to Missy Marshall, Kathy Richardson, and Kristina McDaniel at the college's annual Planning Retreat. ...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Emergency response agencies in Scott County got something new in their mailbox recently: a bill from the county for dispatching services. Jamie Burger, presiding county commissioner, said that during the budget preparation, the County Commission and sheriff discussed 911's call load and declining revenue and determined another dispatcher was needed -- and that they would ask the 14 agencies they dispatch for to share in the $30,000 cost of that addition...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County crews will be putting in overtime to get county roads back in shape. Employees of the Scott County Highway Department are working five 10-hours days this week, according to county commissioners. Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner, said this is the worst winter damage to roads he has seen in his 13 years on the County Commission...