Stories from Friday, May 29, 2015

Be alert when driving to avoid hitting these slow and steady travelers crossing roads.

Legislation meant to give kids in struggling schools more options to obtain a quality education is now on its way to the governor. The House and Senate this week approved a compromise version of what has commonly been referred to as the school transfer bill...

Even if one makes only a cursory reading of the Old Testament, that reading is sure to uncover the fact that ancient peoples were fond of building memorials. In the oldest of times, these places were called "gilgals." A "gilgal" is a "circle" or a "wheel," and these places were exactly that; circular campsites and memorials not unlike Stonehenge. A stone monument would be erected in the center of the circle and the community would gather at the outer edges for their rituals...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A St. Louis man was found guilty Wednesday of two Southeast Missouri bank robberies following a one-day jury trial in Cape Girardeau. Tyrice G. Royston, 36, appeared Wednesday before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr...

With a new name, look and roster, the Sikeston Silver Sox Senior Legion baseball team started its season with a new beginning defeating visiting Pemiscot County 6-5 and 18-0.

Already on the deepest postseason run in program history, Sikeston will no doubt have to play its best game of the season Saturday if they want to keep the Cinderella ride going against ranked Webster Groves.

The Sikeston girls soccer team goes through a drill on Thursday morning at the Sikeston Sports Complex. The Lady Bulldogs soccer team will host nationally ranked Webster Groves in a Class 3 quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Sikeston Sports Complex. It is the first-ever trip to the playoffs for the Sikeston girls soccer program. More on Saturday's quarterfinal game can be found on page 8...

SIKESTON -- Complete with a night skyline and Batman light logo, two staff members at Sikeston Public Library are transforming the McAmis Community Room into Gotham City. Ann Thompson, children's librarian at the library, said the room's new look is part if this year's summer reading program, which takes on the statewide theme: "Every Hero Has a Story."...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. HASTERT INDICTMENT OFFERS FEW CLUES Allegations that the former U.S. house speaker agreed to pay a person millions in hush money does not reveal what he did wrong...

SIKESTON -- Southeast Missouri children will learn "Every Superhero Has a Story" during summer reading programs at their local libraries. Riverside Regional Library, which has branches in Benton and Oran, begins its superhero-themed reading program Wednesday and runs through July 29...

HIGDEN, Ark. -- Mary Jo Eftink Farrar, 82, died May 26, 2015, following a brief illness. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MINER -- Billy "Gene" Hall, 81, formerly of Sikeston, died May 28, 2015, at the Miner Nursing Home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

SIKESTON -- Wesley Keene, 72, died May 21, 2015, at his home. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Leigh-Avy Peters, infant daughter of Haleigh Myers and Austin Peters, died May 28, 2015, at Children's Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

PUXICO -- Bobby Joe Arnold, 74, died May 27, 2015, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

DEXTER -- Charles Issac Farmer, 90, died May 26, 2015, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

CARUTHERSVILLE -- A Caruthersville man is in custody after an attempted kidnapping. The Caruthersville Police Department received a call at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday that a man had attempted to kidnap a juvenile. For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log in to our electronic edition...

CHARLESTON -- A new policy should keep Mississippi County crews from breaking any more buried lines or cables. The Mississippi County Commission adopted during their regular weekly meeting Thursday a set of policies and procedures which regulate for burying utility cables and lines in county right of ways...

I tell you what, I don't know why there are any preachers around anymore. All they want is money. They don't try to save people's souls. They just get up there, just like that old Creflo Dollar gets up there and wants his congregation to buy him a $65 million jet so he can go around the world spreading the gospel. ...