Stories from Wednesday, July 16, 2014

scottw@standard-democrat.com SCOTT CITY -- Southeast Missouri Regional Port is on tracks to even greater success. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for Semo Port's 2014 North Tracks was celebrated Tuesday at the Port. John Thompson, chairman of the Semo Regional Port Authority Board of Commissioners, opened the event by recalling how the Semo Port was created by Scott County and Cape Girardeau County in 1975 and since then has grown through the efforts of the Port Authority, port customers and several grant funding agencies.. ...

The 9/10 Portageville travel team has competed in five tournaments, and have played in three championship games and walked away with two first place wins (Portageville and New Madrid) and took second place at Kennett. These boys also have the best cheering/support system from their family and wonderful coaches (Chris Kelley and Jamie Frakes)...

Average retail gasoline prices in Missouri have fallen 2.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.41/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 3,940 gas outlets in Missouri. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.61/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com...

NEW MADRID - As early as Thursday, New Madrid County could have a decision on where its prisoners will be housed for the next six months. Following a meeting of the New Madrid County Commission on July 10, all prisoners at the New Madrid County Jail were moved and the jail facilities closed...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- If the Charleston Fighting Squirrels are to win their seventh championship in eight years it will come a day later than hoped. Unable to find an answer to Boonville starter Josh Judd, the Squirrels fell 9-3 Tuesday in the first of two Senior Babe Ruth Missouri State championship games in the double-elimination tournament...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ISRAELI RAIDS ON GAZA INTENSIFY Hundreds of Palestinians flee Gaza border areas after Israel tells them to leave ahead of further strikes. 2. AGENCY TOUGHENS PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS...

scottw@standard-democrat.com MINER -- Miner has a city attorney but is still waiting for an assistant fire chief. Mayor Darren Chapman's appointment of Tabatha Thurman to the city attorney position was approved by the Miner Board of Aldermen in a split vote during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday...

scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- Scott County will follow its assessor's recommendation and make no changes yet to the assessed value of Ameren's gas distribution system. "The Board of Equalization opened at 8:30 this morning and was sworn in," County Clerk Rita Milam said during the Scott County Commission's regular meeting Tuesday...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston residents who want to see how part of their tax dollars are being spent will have the chance to do so -- up close and personal during an open house Saturday at the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sikeston DPS will open its new headquarters, located at 201 S. Kingshighway, to the public...

Matt Holifield works a backhoe to remove an old stump from the ground in American Legion Park in Downtown Sikeston on Tuesday. City workers were completing dirt work for the new bandstand to be located on the park's east side. The bandstand will be named in honor of the late Keith Collins and is expected to be completed sometime this fall. (Jill Bock, Staff)...

HOLLAND, Mo. -- A Wappapello man was killed when he was struck by a car while walking along Interstate 55. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 12:55 a.m. Tuesday, a northbound vehicle driven by Dong G. Huang, 48, of Glendale Heights, Ill., struck a pedestrian, identified as Charles E. Maronay, 43, who was walking in the roadway at the .4 mile marker on Interstate 55...

My topic is bullying. You hear about children being bullied all the time. They have their parents, their teachers and maybe even their principals to help. What happens when you are elderly and handicapped and you have a landlord that bullies you? What are you supposed to do? Man challenges you for fixing this or that, charges you for the pipes and time and it's not fixed. ...

While out for a brief Sunday afternoon shopping binge, I couldn't help but notice the "Back to School" sections were in full display. My kids are long out of the educational environment so I pay much less attention to the school calendar. But the reality for thousands of kids and parents is that the summer break is drawing closer to an end and in just a few short weeks, the school routine begins anew...

BOONEVILLE - Dara Sue Grant, age 83, went to be with her Heavenly Father on July 14, 2014, at Boone County Hospital in Columbia. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


CHAFFEE -- Yonetta P. Moore, 77, died July 15, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- John Douglas Sharber, 58, of Sikeston died Friday, July 11, 2014, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON -- Charles Earl "Chuck" Hannah, 54, died July 13, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON - Patricia M. Harris, 75, died July 14, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


ESSEX - Raymond Gale Eaton, president of FTI Printing, passed away early Tuesday morning, July 15, 2014, at his home in Essex, Missouri. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


EAST PRAIRIE - Veda Estlene Ivie, 83, died at 4:54 p.m. July 14, 2014, in the Southeast Hospital. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


CHARLESTON - Don W. Stracener, 68, died July 15, 2014, at his home in rural Charleston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


SIKESTON - Carl Crow, 82, died July 15, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


WYATT -- Robert J. Dugan, 92, died July 14, 2014, at the Charleston Manor. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


ESSEX -- John "Jack" Huckstep, 65, died July 13, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.


Ayven Demarious Nelson was born at Kennett, Missouri April 1, 2014, to Kelci Lynn Nolen and Justice Demarious Nelson. He went to heaven on July 7, 2014, at home surrounded by his family at the age of 3 months and 6 days. He is survived by his parents, Kelci Nolen of Portageville and Justice Nelson of Kennett, grandparents, Patrick and Monica Nolen of Portageville and Donna Nelson of Kennett, great-grandparents Lloyd "Buddy" and Tanya Brasher of Portageville and Elenor Booth of Hayti, great-aunt Connie of Portageville, great-great-grandmother, Connie Shankle of Portageville, aunts Jami Nolen, and cousin Sophie, of Portageville, Reba Nelson, Annastine Davis Green, Donnisha Nelson and Lowerstine Nelson of Kennett, uncle Marcus Nelson of Kennett and loads of great aunts and uncles, cousins, family and friends.. ...

Ben and Rebecca Stevens are happy to announce the birth of their first child,a son, Elijah Henry Stevens. He was born June 26, 2014, at 10:07 p.m., at Charite Virchow Klinikum in Berlin, Germany. He weighed 8.9 pounds and was 20.5 inches long. Elijah's grandparents are Gene and Leeta Stevens of Portageville, Missouri, and Mary Wilhelm and the late Jerome Wilhelm of Antigo, Wisconsin. ...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- With a decade-old wildlife habit program coming to an end, conservation officials want to get the word out on new programs to keep habitats in place. A series of conservation workshops for landowners and land managers have been scheduled in the area to present information on Farm Bill program changes as well as other opportunities to promote, restore and enhance wildlife habitats...