Stories from Thursday, May 29, 2014

At the May City Council meeting, Vannessa Frazier, coordinator for the Howardville Community Betterment, spoke about the Brownfield Initiative. She is assisting in heading up a similar initiative in Howardville. This will soon be looking for local folks to employ in the construction phase...

The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold open houses at 14 locations around the state to discuss white-tailed deer management with citizens. The meetings will not have formal presentations. Instead, they will use an open-house format where people can come and go any time between 3 and 8 p.m. ...

JEFFERSON CITY--Memorial Day is an even bigger deal for hunters and anglers than it is for other Missourians. That is the weekend when squirrel season opens and anglers can keep legal-sized black bass in most southern Missouri streams. Missouri's squirrel and black bass seasons open on the same day, the fourth Saturday in May, each year. To take full advantage of these seasons, it helps to be familiar with the regulations for each...

Missourians care about conservation and have given the Missouri Department of Conservation constitutional responsibility to protect and manage all of the state's wildlife, including white-tailed deer. Both captive and free-ranging white-tailed deer in Missouri are wildlife...

Years ago, a nine-year-old boy, whose mother died in November, arrived at the George B. Taylor Orphanage in Rome, Italy, shortly after Christmas. One of his first assignments in school was a composition on "My Favorite Toy." When asked what he wrote, the boy replied, "I didn't know what to write. I've never had a toy!"...

WWII Veteran Robert L. Nowell of Portageville attended the Memorial Day Service held at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau. He went to hear his son, Tony Nowell, play in the Municipal Band, during the ceremony. Afterwards, the senior Nowell and his wife, Marie, had a chance to meet the Assistant US Attorney Larry Ferrell, who was the event quest speaker. The event was held Monday...

As promised to the citizens near Robin Lane, the City of Portageville has begun start up efforts to help keep flood waters from getting into the lower portions of the northwestern part of the City. Right after the last flash flood, South and Associates were in town assessing the area and saw first hand damages done to several homes. Then, City officials met with South and Associates in looking at some of the troubled spots...

By Brent Shipman sports@standard-democrat.com FESTUS -- Every time New Madrid County Central has needed a big play this postseason, they've found somebody to answer the call. From freshman Palmer Campbell pitching them to a district title to sophomore Tyler Sprout scoring the game-winning run in sectionals, there's been no shortage of heroes...

The Bulldogs held a comfortable four-run lead in the sixth inning, but a big comeback by East Carter ended the Bulldogs' hopes in a 6-4 loss Monday at East carter. The Bulldogs end their season with 19 wins and 9 losses. "This is one for the coffee shop talk," said coach Lee Wallace. "It was a tough one to loose."...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Panthers have announced they've signed second round draft pick Kony Ealy, a defensive end from Missouri. Terms of the deal were not released Thursday. Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said after the NFL draft the team had a "first-round grade" on Ealy and felt lucky to get him with the 60th pick overall. The team plans to use him at defensive end and as an inside pass rusher on third downs...

Alexis Kylie Spence was awarded the Joseph E. and Harriette H. McCrate Scholarship of $1,000.00 at Portageville High School's Graduation ceremony May 8, 2014. This scholarship is given by Bank of New Madrid each year to a graduating senior of the Portageville School District...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Two of the three individuals arrested May 20 for the robbery of the Morley branch of First Commercial Bank also are charged with the St. Patrick's Day robbery of First Commercials' Essex, Missouri, branch, according to a warrant affidavit released Friday...

KENNETT -- Charges against a Kennett businessman have been upgraded to first degree murder in the shooting death of his wife. Allan Branum, 51, is accused of shooting his wife, Regena Branum, in the head with a .38 caliber revolver around 8:30 p.m. Thursday at 305 N. Jackson St., Kennett...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced $33 million will be given to farmers and ranchers to make conservation improvements to improve water quality in more than 170 watersheds. The funding is provided through the National Water Quality Initiative, which "builds on efforts to target high-impact conservation" in areas such as the Mississippi River basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes, according to a news release from the department...

By Derek James sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Sikeston's track and field team may not have the times to contend for state championships this year, but that doesn't mean the goals are any different. With two relays teams in both the boys and girls and two competitors each in the open events, the Bulldogs are still hoping for a strong showing at the Class 3 state track meet in Jefferson City on Friday and Saturday...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. OBAMA TO HIGHLIGHT CONCERNS OVER YOUTH SPORT CONCUSSIONS The president is hosting a summit with league representatives, parents and athletes to call attention to the issue and announce financial pledges to improve athletic safety...

SIKESTON -- Summer reading helps children maintain their reading levels and introduce them to new books, but it can also provide so much more. "Books help children shape who they are," said Ann Thompson, children's librarian at Sikeston Public Library...

SIKESTON -- Law enforcement officers ran on two and even four feet on Wednesday to show their support of this summer's Special Olympics Summer Games in Missouri. Approximately 30 officers ran 3.1 miles through Sikeston as part of the efforts to let the public know about the sports training programs and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities...

By Scott Welton scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Bureaucrats are now passing down stricter regulations faster than communities can build facilities to comply -- if they can even afford to, that is. A letter from the New Madrid County Missouri Mayors Association signed by 15 mayors and the New Madrid County Commission sent to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources dated Feb. ...

WYATT -- Donald Smith, 68, died May 28, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

COLUMBIA - Gary Klingel, 65, died May 28, 2014, at Columbia University Hospital in Columbia. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Dorthy McClard, 80, died May 27, 2014, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON - Cynthia Hawkins Hutcheson Thornton, 58, formerly of East Prairie, died May 28, 2014, in the Missouri Delta Medical Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PUXICO -- Beverly A. Watts, 85, died May 28, 2014, at Puxico. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MORLEY -- Christopher Matthew "Matt" Crawford, 37, died May 26, 2014. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at funeral services conducted Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home for Dorothy Marie "Dottie" Johnson, 90, who died May 25, 2014, were: Jack Johnson, Michael Kasten, Jeff Stroderm, David Hay, Brad Biri and Keith Gentry. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition...

BLOOMFIELD -- John Bernard Straman III, 59, died May 23, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Christopher A. Berry, 36, formerly of Dexter, died May 26, 2014, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Mary Emma Riley, 68, died May 28, 2014, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

POPLAR BLUFF -- During the Memorial Day holiday traffic crash and enforcement, Missouri Highway Patrol Troop E, which consists of 13 counties in Southeast Missouri, investigated 29 traffic crashes, which resulted in one fatality and 17 injuries. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log in to our electronic edition...

I cannot believe that those stupid retired football players want to sue the NFL because they illegally gave them pain pills so they could keep playing football. You can't do nothing illegally to anybody unless they are willing. Are they that stupid? Everybody tries to blame everything that happens to them on somebody else and get a lot of money and stuff. ...

scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Continuing efforts with visible results is what the Mississippi County Commission wants out of those in violation of the county's nuisance ordinance. A hearing for a property cited under the ordinance was held during the Commission's regular weekly meeting Thursday...