Stories from Thursday, May 1, 2014

Portageville -- Heavy rainfall overnight and into Monday flooded streets and forced some area schools to close. Portageville, Risco R-2, and New Madrid County R-1, are among school districts that closed Monday due flooding. Although Portageville School District was closed, the St. Eustachius Catholic Schools met...

A man was being chased by a ferocious tiger. He ran until he came to a sheer cliff. As the tiger came bearing down on him, he grabbed a rope hanging over the cliff and climbed down out of the tiger's reach. The man looked up and saw the tiger leering at him, waiting to devour him. ...

With another win last Friday against, this puts the Portageville Bulldogs win-loss record to 14-5. The Bulldogs defeated No. 1 state Chaffee by one one, 5-4. Both teams traded the lead five times in the process. Portageville managed to come out on top after a strong eighth inning. The Bulldogs scored on an RBI by John Kellams off Chaffee pitcher Cody Payne putting Derrick Priggel to the home plate...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHAFFEE -- Jumping out of the gate with an eight-run rally, the Chaffee Red Devils took down Oak Ridge 10-0 in five innings on Wednesday via the mercy-rule. The Red Devils' eight run first was followed by three innings of silence. They put together one final two-run rally in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early...

sports@standard-democrat.com MALDEN -- After years of longing for a spring playoff system, New Madrid County Central's first trip to the postseason ended as soon as it began. Taking on fourth-seeded Gideon in the Class 1, District 3 tournament semifinals on Wednesday, the top-seeded Lady Eagles watched a one-time, five-run lead slip away as the Lady Bulldogs pulled off the upset, 9-8...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- They seem to take turns having big days but Sikeston's forwards simply ride the hot hand. Wednesday was Torrie Helms' day on the pitch. The sophomore performed a hat-trick scoring three goals to help the Lady Bulldogs to a 5-1 finish over visitin Anna-Jonesboro, Ill., at the Sikeston Sports Complex...

Three Rivers College officially commemorated the opening of the new location of its Center at Kennett with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held April 24. Speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Three Rivers College; Jay Crafton, Mayor of Kennett; and Moses Porterfield, President of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce...

During the month of March the DAEOC Head Start/Early Head Start Program held their Annual Book Drive in honor of "March into Literacy Month". The Program would like to thank everyone who participated and donated to the book drive this year, making it a success. ...

CHARLESTON - Two East Prairie men are in custody on burglary and weapons-related charges while another faces charges related to the case. Van Lynn Owens, 45, and Dusten Matthew Vinson, 24, both of East Prairie, are charged with first degree burglary, a class B felony punishable upon conviction by up to 15 years in the Department of Corrections; three counts each of theft/stealing of a firearm, a class C felony punishable upon conviction by up to seven years imprisonment for each offense; and one count of misdemeanor property damage.. ...

SIKESTON -- Locally grown fresh produce and baked goods combined with live music and community togetherness are among the reasons area residents enjoy the seasonal Farmers' Market in Historic Downtown Sikeston. "When we really get going, we have such a good variety -- about 25 vendors of baked goods, honey and fresh eggs -- which will be there this weekend -- and a lot of different produce," said Lynn Lancaster, executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston, adding homemade crafts are also sold.. ...

Victoria Jordan Knight, a finalist in the 2013 Miss Sikeston Contest, is the May Calendar Girl. The daughter of Megan McGill-Knight of Sikeston and Doug Knight of Dallas, Miss Knight is a senior at Sikeston High School. Following graduation she plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University. (Jill Bock, Staff)...

SIKESTON -- Lawrence Paul Giasson Sr., 74, died April 30, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Betty Jo Fowler, 62, died April 29, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

COMMERCE -- George Woodrow Hopper Jr., 57, died April 29, 2014, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Calvin Walter Owen, 88, died April 30, 2014, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

BERTRAND -- John Albert Peters Jr., 75, died April 29, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

What is the purpose of the Board of Education? It seems that all this board does is put their stamp of approval on government programs like Common Core. I dare say that the majority of the people that have investigated Common Core don't want it. To the older lady that I bumped into at the Goodwill Store on April 17. I have a very unique miniature bell for your collection. Free! Call Don at 471-2797...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County will become part of the Missouri Clean Energy District. The Mississippi County Commission agreed to join the District during their regular weekly meeting Thursday. David Pickerill, the district's administrator, presented information on the District and explained how Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE financing, provides loans with little or no upfront cost to property owners to do energy efficiency improvements to their property...