Stories from Thursday, July 3, 2014

It is not often that Portageville School District gets a lot of attention especially unless you have great leaders making a difference. Just a few years ago, Portageville School District received recognition when their own basketball coach, Jim Bidewell, was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. It has not been too long ago that another former football coach, Jim McKay, was also inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame...

Liza Priggel, is the seven year-old daughter of Joey and Heather Priggel of Portageville. On Saturday, she won Little Miss Liberty Queen 2014 in Holcomb. On Sunday, in East Prairie, she was the first alternate Petite Miss Sweetcorn 2014. She was also named with Most Beautiful, Best Dressed and Prettiest Eyes! She LOVES doing pageants and getting all dressed up! Special thanks Misty Hall for helping her ready...

As farmers are thrashing their wheat crops, their finding that all is not well for their efforts. According to Jeff House, an agronomist with Crop Production Services in Sikeston and Piggott, AR, "The wheat harvest has not been pretty." When asked if the recents rains during the spring season attributed to it, he said, "It sure did not help!"...

Klipfel's Korner golf team participated in the Riceland Relay for Life benefit tournament. The event was played at Bent Creek Golf course in Jackson on May 30th. "We have played in it every year since it was started 10 years ago, ended up with a four under par round for the top of C flight," said Vince Berry. From left are: Pete Klipfel, Vince Berry, Tony McCoy, and Jimmy Wyman...

(Editor's Note: In 2002 when I was the president of the SEMO Press Association, I met several influential folks within our industry. I still manage to hear from them on occasion. Below is an article submitted to me from Ken Blum, publisher of The Butterfly Publications, Orrville, OH. Blum is a newspaper consultant and travels all across the USA. Below is an article he received."

Years ago, an American submarine sank off the coast of the eastern United States. Divers went down and attempted to rescue those on board. When they went down they could hear the survivors tapping on the side of that submarine in Morse code a question: "Is there any hope? Is there any hope?" Today that same question is being asked across America: "Is there any hope for America?"...

JONESBORO -- Students named to the Chancellor's and Deans' lists for spring 2014 at Arkansas State University have been announced. Combined, the group has 2,083 students. The two lists recognize students who achieved the highest grade point averages while enrolled in 12 or more credit hours of study...

Average retail gasoline prices in Missouri have risen 0.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.53/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 3,940 gas outlets in Missouri. This compares with the national average that has not moved in the last week to $3.68/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com...

sports@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- It came a few days later than expected, but family, friends and teammates got a chance to honor the memory of Kelly High School's Kaden Robert Wednesday on the same field where he spent most of the past few springs...

Burlap & Lace, a boutique located at 120 East Main Street in Portageville, held a ribbon cutting with city officials on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Tiffany Weeks, owner, had family and friends their to help her celebrate her business. Weeks opened Burlap & Lace April 19, 2014. The southern style boutique offers a variety of products including clothing, footwear, jewelry, handbags, candles, home decor and more. However, they do offer services on top of the items they sell...

CARUTHERSVILLE -- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pemiscot County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Mike Blankenship reminds agricultural producers that July 15, 2014, is the deadline to file an acreage report for spring seeded crops. Planted acres must be reported to FSA by July 15, 2014. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) requires producers on a farm to submit annual acreage reports on all cropland...

As Independence Day approaches, fireworks stands are popping up all over Southeast Missouri. Local emergency workers are asking residents to exercise what Capt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department calls common-sense safety precautions with their holiday celebrations...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. 32 STATES TRAIL US AS A WHOLE IN JOB RECOVERY Five years after the Great Recession officially ended, most states still haven't regained all the jobs they lost, even though the nation as a whole has...

SIKESTON -- For many, the Fourth of July is a time for family, friends and fireworks. Also at the core of celebrating the nation's independence is remembering those who've fought -- and continue to fight -- for that freedom. Among those millions serving America is Sikeston native Tayler Turner. A petty officer, Turner is a second-class gunners mate serving in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world's largest warships, the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan...

The Sikeston Public Library is offering the summer reading program, Fizz Boom Read! with special sessions planned for preschool through eighth grade. For more information about times and topics contact the Library.

Brandon Penrod watches as Eric Annesser hoists up a flag into a holder at the corner of Kingshighway and Greer Street Wednesday afternoon. The two were assisting in the project, sponsored by the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion, to place the flags along the roadway in anticipation of the 4th of July holiday weekend. (Jill Bock, Staff)...

DELTA -- The note -- written on torn, now-yellowed paper in a traditional, slightly shaky cursive -- arrived in a postage-paid business reply envelope marked, "Please give to man who wrote articles on Huffman case." It implored a reporter to visit its author at her home north of Benton, Missouri, "and please keep plans quiet."...

The United States of America is in a fog. When it lifts, will we still be the land of the free? Voting is our civic duty, so register today and be ready to vote. Strength is in numbers. To keep our republic we must vote for candidates that are pro life, pro Constitution, pro gun. It is our civic duty to vote for a candidate that is on America's side. God bless America...

SIKESTON -- Arnold Stone, age 76, died Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


BRAGG CITY -- Joseph Bailey Rutledge, 97, died Monday, June 30, 2014, in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. -- Sylvia Jean Pemberton "Sammye" Kettler was born May 9, 1948, in Charleston, Mo., and passed on May 10, 2014, in Fountain Hills. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.
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DEXTER -- Charles Dwaine Hoggard Sr., 71, died July 1, 2014, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Mary Margarette (Harlan) Willard, 86, of Sikeston, died June 24, 2014. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


HARRISBURG, Ill. -- Joseph Earl Cobb, 52, died June 30, 2014, at the Harrisburg Medical Center. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


DEXTER -- Michael A. "Mike" Brown, 52, died June 30, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


scottw@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County officials will look for places to trim back this year's asphalt overlay program. County commissioners accepted the sole bid for asphalt overlays on county roads during their regular meeting Thursday even though it came in over the budgeted amount...

news@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A Sikeston teenager is facing felony charges for stealing a handgun out of a vehicle. Tyler Blake McClinton, 17, was arrested Tuesday by Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers after they learned one victim of a number of car break-ins reported following the weekend ending June 22 had managed to get her item back...