Stories from Thursday, March 27, 2014

As the filing period for running for federal offices reaches its final days, many candidates are tossing their names into the ring at the last minute. On Friday morning, 8th Congressional District Rep. Jason Smith gained one more challenger. Doug Enyart, a Constitution Party candidate from Piedmont, Mo., will appear on the ballot with Democrat Barbara Stocker, Libertarian Rick Vandeven and Smith, the sole Republican...

Portageville -- Don Rone of Portageville, Missouri filed to run for the Missouri House of Representatives, District 149. The district includes all of New Madrid County, as well as portions of Mississippi and Pemiscot Counties. Rone is a lifelong resident of Portageville, Missouri. ...

A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who`s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "I`m Joe James, taxi-driver, of New York City." Saint Peter consults his list. ...

Members of the PHS Varsity baseball team are, front, from left,Tyler Daugherty, Jon Kellams, Hunter Jackson, Ethan cooper, back are, Derrick Priggel, Myles Stafford, Bryce Wallace, Warren Chambliss, Ben Story, Hunter Cook, Chance Howard, Kurt Penn. They are coached by Lee Wallace...

Members of the PHS jayvee baseball team are, front, from left, Chance Lovins, Nick Allred, Luke Darst, Cameron West, Montoya Covington, Hayden Roberts, Ryan Priggel, Conner Edison, back are, Wyatt Robbins, Peyton Leonard, Nathan Chastain, Caleb Smith, Tyler Jones, Bradley Wallace, Logan Ford, Peyton Gibbons, and Louis Patton...

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- On Sunday, a hooded gunman stormed into a Joy in Jesus Church service and indiscriminately fired at worshippers. Screams of pain and terror filled the air; some fell to the ground. Others tried to flee, only to meet with gunfire from two other attackers stationed outside the church, located near the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Heading into the season, Sikeston baseball coach Alan Scheeter knew his pitching staff would be one of the team's strengths. But he wasn't so sure about his offense, which graduated eight seniors from last year's team...

POPLAR BLUFF --Hannah Noe had a memorable day. When the Dexter senior woke up Wednesday morning, she didn't realize that she would be committing to a Division I college and win the award for top girls basketball player in the SEMO Conference. A few short hours after committing to Southeast Missouri State University, Noe brought home a bulk of the honors given out at the 56th Annual Poplar Bluff Letter Club Basketball Banquet at the Black River Coliseum. ...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Rebounding from Monday's loss to Jackson, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season Wednesday in a 3-1 decision against Harrisburg, Ill. Sikeston was knotted up 1-1 late, but thanks to some late adjustments came away with two unanswered goals in the final 12 minutes of the contest...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- Cody Payne pitched a complete game shutout as the Chaffee Red Devils defeated Cape Central 1-0 Wednesday. Payne pitched seven innings, allowed three hits and struck out eight while out-dueling Cape Central's Chase Hagerty. Hagerty, who struck out eight and gave up four hits, went the distance but gave up one run...

CHARLESTON -- A Mississippi County man is in jail following a sexual abuse investigation by the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department. Scottie Leon Tidwell, 29, of Anniston, is charged with first degree statutory sodomy and two counts of first degree statutory rape, both of which involved a victim less than 14 years old, and three counts of first degree child molestation...

CHARLESTON - A tire fire first discovered Tuesday evening could burn for days as it is allowed to burn itself out. The Charleston Department of Public Safety received a call at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday about a fire west of the city limits. Responding officers found a large pile of tires on fire on the property of the Mississippi County Highway Department...

Tuesday, March 18 was the Area 16 FFA Banquet, in attendance were FFA members from around the Southeast Missouri area, parents, advisors, and community leaders. During the banquet various members received awards for outstanding achievement. Jatyra Marsh placed 3rd for a speech about the Missouri Pet Breeders Association at Area Fall Speaking in Doniphan, MO...

Fifteen high school bands and nine high school choirs will perform in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 29, as Three Rivers College hosts the 16th annual Three Rivers District Music Festival. The event is open to the public, and friends and family members of the musicians are invited to attend...

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2014-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia today recommended that farmers and ranchers who plan to participate in FSA programs register in advance. Producers are encouraged to report farm records and business structure changes to a local FSA Service Center before April 15, 2014...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday: 1. FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT NORTHWESTERN CAN UNIONIZE The federal agency's decision could revolutionize college sports _ raising the possibility of salaries for student-athletes, along with such things as labor strikes and lockouts...

With the promises of warmer temperatures and spring rains, area farmers are venturing into their fields to get the soil ready for planting.

By Adrienne Ross SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU -- He's bringing "Rickey Smiley and Friends" to Southeast Missouri on March 29, and Josh Hanlon, marketing director of the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, is thrilled. When it comes to booking entertainment in Southeast Missouri, Hanlon said, "You try and hit different genres." The Show Me Center recently has hosted gun and knife shows, New York Times best-selling author Nicholas Sparks and a Christian music concert, among other events...

Listed here are some of the books recommended by the Common Core as reading material for our children. Parents should be screaming at our school board to get Common Core removed from our school system. "The Bluest Eyes" is an explicit depiction of rape, incest, sexual violence and pedophilia. ...

KIRKWOOD -- Jimmie M. Hubbard, 64, died March 24, 2014, at his home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition

PUXICO -- Ronnie M. McGuire Sr., 66, died March 22, 2014, at his home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER -- Patricia K. Whitman, 71, died March 22, 2014, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


CHARLESTON -- Opal Hayes, 96, died March 25, 2014, at her home. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.

LaFORGE -- Opal M. Nelson, 84, died March 25, 2014, at her daughter's home where she lived. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


MORLEY - Mary Garner, 68, died March 27, 2014. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- The tire fire behind the Mississippi County Highway Department is out although it may continue to smolder for a few days, according to county officials. Next is the cleanup. "We don't know how the fire started," Carlin Bennett, presiding county commissioner, said during the Mississippi County Commission's regular weekly meeting Thursday. "Perhaps someone was back there cooking meth."...

SIKESTON -- James Haren Bowen, 71, died March 26, 2014, at his daughter's home in Sikeston. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until time of memorial service at 1 p.m. Friday at Ponder Funeral Home with the Rev. Ed Stoner officiating.

MORLEY -- Mary Evelyn Garner, 68, died March 27, 2014 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Ponder Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Rev. Jim Matthews, pastor of Cape County Cowboy Church, will officiate...

SIKESTON -- Members of Union Baptist Church in the devastated Pinhook community haven't had much to sing about in quite some time. A Sikeston church hopes to change that by reuniting some of the church's choir members during its weekend service. Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Allen and Wakefield in Sikeston, is using its nontraditional service this Sunday to recognize the families who once resided in Pinhook...