Stories from Sunday, January 25, 2015

The First Southern Baptist Church of Tallapoosa will be hosting the 18th annual Men's Conference of the Bootheel on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the First Southern Baptist Church Mission Center. The theme for this year will be "Knowing and Experiencing God's Will, Day by Day." There will be two sessions, both beginning at 8 a.m. ...

CAMDENTON, Mo.-- Flames shoot more than 50 feet in the air from a propane truck as a band of firefighters move slowly toward it. The only thing between them and the fire is a wall of water. In this case, it's an exercise conducted by University of Missouri Extension's Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI), using a simulator. But with almost almost one in 10 homes in Missouri using propane for heating, it is important for firefighters to prepare for the real thing...

DEXTER -- Patricia L. Shipman Elmore, 80, died Jan. 22, 2015, at her home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PORTAGEVILLE -- Margaret Boblitt, 86, died Jan. 22, 2015, at the Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Michael Wayne Patterson, 59, died Jan. 22, 2015, in Sikeston. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE - Elise Kemp died Jan. 22, 2015, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Mildred Elaine "Middy" Melrose, 82, died Jan. 21, 2015, at her son's home in Winfield. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, according to a new report, ordered the Missouri National Guard to stand down during the heat of the looting and mayhem in Ferguson following the grand jury's decision in the Darren Wilson case. If that report is true, it would seem the Governor has some explaining to do...