Stories from Saturday, March 1, 2014

SIKESTON -- A winter storm warning is in effect from 6 a.m. Sunday through 6 a.m. Monday for Southeast Missouri and the surrounding region. The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., has issued a winter storm warning for ice, snow and sleet for the region, including Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi and Stoddard Counties...

I'll admit I know nothing about new math. My calculator shows 21 cents plus 20 percent is 25.2. How they got the figures in speakout to show us it was 99 cents, I'd like to know. My calculator also shows 21 cents plus 350 percent shows .9975. It seems to be the powers that be don't think the ordinary person has enough sense to believe these figures. ...

Because of the massive downward slide in society, I find myself wondering just when and how we reached the point where we find ourselves today. As a product of the college environment in the 1960s, I know that many place the blame on that era when "free love," drugs and a counter-culture seeped into society...

CALDWELL, Idaho -- Shirley Elrod Tannahill, 56, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died at 4:48 a.m. Feb. 24, 2014. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat or log in to the electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Opal I. Miller, 85, died Feb. 27, 2014, at her home. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat or log in to the electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Carl "Eddie" Todt Jr., 55, died Feb. 27, 2014, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete obituary, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat or log in to the electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Jonna F. Nowell, 63, died Feb. 28, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete obituary, see an upcoming edition of the Standard Democrat or log in to the electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Participants in this year's Ron Creed Memorial Youth in Government Day learned about local government -- and had a good time doing it. Students began their day Friday by first assembling at the high school's cafeteria and then touring the Sikeston Department of Public Safety Headquarters...

NEW MADRID -- The reward for assistance in locating a missing New Madrid resident is now $50,000. The family of Barbara Stoffer, 83, who disappeared on Aug. 20, 2013, has doubled the amount of the reward for her return. New Madrid Assistant Chief of Police Joey Higgerson said the reward would be paid for the return of Mrs. Stoffer or for assistance in locating her...