Stories from Thursday, January 8, 2015

What an awesome year we've had in the great outdoors, and hopefully 2015 will be even better! There's a bit of a cold snap bearing down on us that should bring at least a few ducks down to our area. Deer season is all but over, with just a week of archery hunting left, and the fishing has been fantastic everywhere in the Midwest and will continue to get better as long as Mother Nature will refrain from freezing all the water again! To keep from crying on my computer over the sad story that culminated last Tuesday without filling that youth deer tag I've been carrying around, I figured a look back at the year was in order.. ...

COLUMBIA --The Missouri State Public Defender System has appointed Susan Warren as District Defender of the Caruthersville trial office, replacing Brandon Sanchez. Warren, a resident of New Madrid County for the last 14 years, graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1997 and a Juris Doctorate degree in 2000...

SIKESTON -- Having served as a mayor and public administrator, Portageville resident Don Rone said he's ready to begin his next phase of service -- representing constituents of Missouri's 149th District. The newly elected state representative will take oath of office when the first regular session of the 98th General Assembly convenes at noon Wednesday in Jefferson City...

Wow, can you believe it? There are only 358 days left to Christmas! At this rate, I need to begin my Christmas shopping now while the selection is plentiful and the after Christmas Sales prices are still in effect! Now, onto the New Year! I hope our readers and advertising customers have a blessed and joyous year...

How do you feel when you have sinned? Do you feel shame? If so, there is hope for you. Sin should make us ashamed of ourselves. God has made us with an inner conscience that accuses when we do wrong and approves when we do right. There was a Native American Christian who compared conscience to an arrowhead in his heart. ...

Gabrielle Green, a first year student, calls up her schedule on one of the new computers in the Three Rivers College Eastern Campus at Sikeston. While some work remains to be done -- including filling the shelves of the school's resource center/library with books -- college officials expect to be ready for the opening day of classes on Monday...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston Junior High School has announced the honor roll students for the second quarter of the 2014-2015 school year. They are: Martina Aguilar, Layan Alkilani, Kirah Anthony, Destiny Atkins, Taylor Babb-Ward, Miranda Bartlett, Madison Beck, Grace Blanton, Emily Boyd, Brenden Brown, Dallis Brown, Jonathon Burton, Kylie Carr, Kiersten Chessor, Warren Chinwuko, Katelyn Clark, Connor Coatney, Seth Coatney, Ammiel Coleman, Isabel Collins, Reagan Collins, Paige Colwick, Seth Copeland, Charles Cox, Austin Crawford, Jonathan Crowe, Adreyaunna Davis, Jade Davis, Karissa Denning, Destiny Drury, Emma Drury, Samuel Drury, Alexander Ellis, Daiquan Evans, Hannah Fodge, Stefani Gancheva, Peyton Gilliland, Blaire Gordon, Keon Graham, Mallory Green, Taylor Green, Madison Hicks, Beyonce Hightower, Shelby Hodgkiss, Lauren Hornback, Payton Howard, Sandy Huang, Makayla Hutton, Rory Jaynes, Tommy Johnson , Audra Jones, Cherei Jones, Kya Kaminsky, Naudia Lazcano, Kaleb Ledbetter, Lang Li, Jordan Lin, Kylie Lossing, Shawnee Lynch, Takyra Mallory, Hannah Manning, Abbygail Massey, Isabelle McGill, Kaden Merrill, Corey Minner, Wendellyn Moblin, Heaven Moore, Collin Murphy, John Myres, Lucas Nation, Kylyn Newton, Charlee Oliver, Justice Orman, Rasheid Parker, Gwyneth Pearson, Lilly Piepenbrok, Nicole Ponder, Karli Pratt, Ethan Presley, Donasha Robinson, Maison Robison, Robert Rodriguez, Noah Rolwing, Abigail Roth, Claudia Santos, Landen Savage, Erica Sawyer, Cameron Schlosser, Makavia Simmons, Jamya Smith, Sandra Smith, Seth Spraggs, Benjamin Steelman, Seth Steelman, Ethan Stone, Grant Stoner, Alexus Sturgeon, Aubrey Sullivan, Katelin Taber, Gabrielle Talley, Barbary Taylor, Audrey Testa, Taylor Tidwell, Ashley Tinnin, Logan Tollison, Haleigh Vires, Tyler Ward, Madalyn Weems, Hannah Whitten, Brynna Wiese, Kadin Wilburn, Megan Witt, Miranda Witt, Aereonna Woods, Hannah Yant.. ...

CHARLESTON -- Charleston Middle School held its annual Christmas Talent Show Dec. 19 for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students and teachers. Performances ranged from vocal and dance to instrumental, and were judged by CMS teachers Kim Lincoln, Susan Collier and school counselor Jennifer Dement. Some teachers participated as well, including a high-energy rendition of "12 Days of Christmas" performed by Megan Williams, Stephanie Grimes and Anne Willis...

By the Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. HUNT FOR 2 IN PARIS SHOOTING; 1 SURRENDERS Police search for two heavily armed men, one with a history in jihadi networks, in the killing of 12 people at a French satirical newspaper...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The city's revenue from sales tax is up but will need to remain that way for the rest of the fiscal year for the city to see real growth. "Yes, sales taxes are up about 10 percent from the prior year," City Clerk Carroll Couch said. "That's welcome news but we are cautiously optimistic."...

BENTON -- A Scott City woman is in custody on charges stemming from a child abuse investigation. According to a release from Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, Crystal Dawn Kennedy, 35, has been charged with the Class C felony of abuse or neglect of a child and the Class C felony of second degree domestic assault...

SIKESTON -- If area farmers haven't yet begun to research the new Farm Bill, then now is the time to get started. Local Farm Service Agencies and University of Missouri Extension offices have been and continue to offer informational meetings on the 2014 Farm Bill, which brings about significant changes in revenue and price loss payment programs...

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) -- Missouri's Republican legislative leaders vowed to push back against big government as they started the 2015 session Wednesday with their largest numbers of Republicans ever, a significant shift in power for a place once known as a swing state...

SIKESTON -- Visitation for Annabeth "Beth" Huber, 99, who died Jan. 6, 2015, is scheduled from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CRESTVIEW, Fla. -- Charles E. "Chigger" Yant Jr., 60, died Dec. 14, 2014, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CHARLESTON -- Edward Dean Williams, 62, died at 1:44 a.m. Jan. 6, 2015, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Hilda I. Rowland Myers, 95, died Jan. 5, 2015, at Mulberry Manor. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

HARVEY, Ill. -- Arne Pullen, 86, formerly of Bell City, Mo., died Jan. 1, 2015, in Harvey. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for funeral services conducted Tuesday at the Ponder Funeral Home for Brenda Lucille Vanover, 65, who died Jan. 4, were: Ted Berberich, Rodney Manning, Terry Couch, Kevin Winter, Ron Davis and Wayne Davis. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers at services conducted Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home for Ronald Steven "Ronnie" Carter, 54, who died Jan. 3, 2015, were: Anthony Pobst, Josh Hargrove, Gary Owens, Buddy Alberson, Wayne Brown and Raymond Brown. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition...

SIKESTON -- Clara Talley died Jan. 7, 2015, at her daughter's home in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Thad Bryant Ryan, 86, died Jan. 6, 2015, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

This is to the mayor of Morehouse. Would you please check the house out where there is trash all over, torn up lawnmowers, all kinds of old tires, an old recliner setting in the back and see if you can get something done about this junk? I really think we need code enforcement over here if you could reach down into your pocket and hire someone. ...

New Madrid County Central senior Gage Silman signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Fontbonne University Wednesday. Pictured with Silman are, bottom row from left, Carri Silman (mother), Silman and Robbie Silman (father). Top row from left, NMCC assistant baseball coach Jacob May, NMCC head baseball coach Joe McClarty and NMCC athletic director Rand Amick...

sports@standard-democrat.com MARION, Ill. -- The Sikeston Bulldogs' wrestling team continued its recent hot streak on Wednesday with a sweep of the competition at a quad-meet in Marion, Ill. The Bulldogs took down Poplar Bluff 53-21, Carterville, Ill., 60-13 and host Marion County, Ill., 52-15...