Stories from Monday, May 5, 2014

EAST PRAIRIE - A Sikeston man was killed in a one-vehicle accident at 7:20 a.m. Sunday on Highway 102, eight miles south of East Prairie. Heather D. Steelman, 23, of Sikeston was driving northbound, when she lost control on a curve, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and overturned, ejecting the passenger, 24-year-old Chad A. Harden, the report said...

Perfect spring weather set the stage for the annual Sikeston in Bloom Festival in the Legion Park in Downtown Sikeston Saturday. The event offered music, craft vendors, pony rides and food. Here, Blaise Thomas, 6, and little brother, Cash, 5, select their favorite flowers from a selection offered by Bizzell's Lawn Care and Nursery. (Jill Bock, Staff)...

JEFFERSON CITY- Medicaid expansion is not a handout to the unemployed - a message some health care and business advocates hope Missouri lawmakers take from a new report. 
It finds that more than half of the Missourians who would benefit from the move are workers critical to the state's economy. ...

ST. LOUIS - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler has signaled his intention to allow broadband Internet service providers like Comcast or Time Warner Cable to charge content providers like ESPN or Netflix higher prices for faster download speeds. ...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. HOW THE SEARCH FOR FLIGHT 370 WILL PROCEED Investigators will re-analyze all the data gathered so far to make sure search crews have been looking in the right place _ a remote area of the Indian Ocean off western Australia...

NEW YORK - Sikeston native Terry Teachout, a theater critic and writer for the Wall Street Journal and Commentary magazine, will receive one of four Bradley Prizes in a ceremony June 18 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C...

Regan Manes adjusts the dress of Ashley Carmack while taking pictures before the Richland High School prom that was held Saturday night in Essex. The prom was one of several held in the area on Saturday night. (David Jenkins photo)

BLOOMFIELD -- Elaine Hutchison, 66, died May 3, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MATTHEWS -- James H. Atwell, 87, died May 4, 2014, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Dennis Melvin Myers, 65, died May 1, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

ESSEX -- Anice Smith, 86, died May 1, 2014, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MORLEY - Ethel "Babe" Spitzmiller died May 4, 2014, at her son's home in Morley. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON - Rebecca Sickrey, 56, died May 5, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Chad Allen Harden, 24, died May 4, 2014, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Mississippi County. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHARLESTON -- Josephine Nadine Brady, 79, died May 3, 2014, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston City Council is now accepting applications for the Sikeston Library Board of Trustees. On June 30 the terms of three Library trustees will expire. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log in to our electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- New voter registration identification cards were mailed to all Mississippi County voters, according to Mississippi County Clerk Hubert DeLay Jr. DeLay explained in a news release his office has issued ID cards in various colors over the years so election judges can be instructed on which color card to accept. The new cards, which are white, replace any prior issuances...

Would someone please put Weight Watcher times and meeting places in SpeakOut? I would like to go. There used to be a man on Center Street who repaired sweepers. Does anyone know if he moved his location or retired? If he has, is there anyone in the Sikeston area who works on sweepers? I need somebody...

CHARLESTON (AP) _ A man convicted of robbery in 2000 but never sent to prison until last year because of a clerical mistake walked free Monday after a judge lauded his "exemplary" behavior during 13 years of freedom. Cornealious "Mike" Anderson dabbed tears from his eyes as the judge announced his decision during a hearing that lasted just 10 minutes. Anderson left the courtroom with his wife and 3-year-old daughter on one arm and his mom on the other...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Mary Evelyn Penrod, 92, died May 4, 2014, at her home. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. Stan Hargis officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery...

SIKESTON -- Rebecca Redfering Sickrey, 56, died May 5, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. The Rev. David Ross, pastor of First Baptist Church of Sikeston, will officiate...

PATTON -- Rodney Rangel, 48, died May 4, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is from noon until time of service at 2 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter with the Rev. Jim Hook officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery...