Stories from Thursday, January 14, 2016

NEW MADRID -- Approximately half of the workforce at Southeast Missouri's largest single employer could be laid off. Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation announced Wednesday, the first in a series of layoffs as cost-cutting measures companywide. On Wednesday it reduced its workforce by approximately 190 employees...

BENTON, Mo. -- Seven convicted sexual offenders were arrested and the Scott County Sheriff's Department is seeking three more for failure to comply with Missouri sex offender laws. According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, Johnny R. McAnulty, 57, of Miner; Robert Guzman, 63, of Oran; Kenneth J. ...

sports@standard-democrat.com WINDSOR, Mo. -- The Sikeston wrestling team finished 2-1 on the road Wednesday during a quad taking down Windsor and Ste. Genevieve, but losing to Jackson. Sikeston defeated Ste. Genevieve 37-21 and Windsor 55-21. They fell to Jackson 54-18...

NEW MADRID - New Madrid County's taxing entities are taking a big hit after the county's largest employer failed to pay its 2015 tax assessment. According to Dewayne Nowlin, New Madrid County collector, the county did not receive a check for the 2015 taxes from Noranda Aluminum. Noranda's 2015 tax bill totals more than $3.6 million...

After a unanimous vote by the school board, the softball team switched seasons. The change will take place at the beginning in the 2016-17 school year.

Sikeston's Tyeshia Mitchell scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds while Kiera Steward added 10 in a game that began to separate in the second half.

SIKESTON -- Recent violence in Sikeston has sparked citizen concerns which have led to discussions both in-person and on social media and prompted a community meeting in search of solutions. The public is invited to a community forum at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Jubilee House of Prayer, 416 Greer St., in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Cookie lovers will see a price increase per box this year, but Girl Scouts officials insist the extra dollar is worth it as both local girls and the community will benefit. The Girl Scout Cookie Program began Jan. 8 with local Girl Scouts going door-to-door to taking orders through Jan. 27...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The city's Planning and Zoning Commission has agreed on a recommendation for the city's next street and drainage program after hitting the streets with city staff. P and Z Commission members toured city streets Tuesday with Street Division staff before continuing their meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall and quickly arriving at their decision...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An eye-popping and unprecedented Powerball jackpot whose rise to $1.6 billion became a national fascination will be split three ways. The winners' identities remain a mystery, but they bought their tickets in Florida, Tennessee and a Los Angeles suburb where even lottery losers were celebrating Thursday that such heady riches were won in their modest city...

The newly renovated children's programming area at the Sikeston Public Library is already getting lots of use. During the preschool story hour Wednesday, families had plenty of room to spread out as youngsters gathered around children's librarian Ann Thompson for a song and stories about penguins. When the stories were done the children created their own penguins from empty water bottles, cotton, a bit of construction paper and lots of glue.

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Carl Bennett Jr., 80, died Jan. 11, 2016, at his home. For the complete obituary, see the Thursday edition of the Standard Democrat.

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Lillian Kimball, 96, died Jan. 13, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. For this obituary and more, see the Thursday edition of the Standard Democrat.

MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Robert Glenn Smith, 37, died Jan. 5, 2016, at his home. For the complete obituary, see the Wednesday edition of the Standard Democrat.

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The latest shake-up in the coal industry involves the company BMU gets coal from but there shouldn't be any cost increase to pass on to customers. A weakening demand for coal has been cited as the reason Arch Coal of St. Louis on Monday joined coal producers who have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection recently...