Stories from Saturday, December 17, 2016

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” —Exodus 20:17

CLARKTON, Mo. -- Nathan Burnett poured in a game-high 39 points to lead Risco to its first Clarkton Holiday Tournament championship since 2011 during a 62-61 overtime win over South Pemiscot Friday in Clarkton, Mo. Second-seeded Risco trailed by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter before they rallied to tie the game at 52-all at the end of regulation...

SIKESTON -- They may not be as explosive as when they were rattling off state championships just a few short years ago, but the Scott County Central Braves are still potent when they are able to push their pace. After eventually breaking loose from Malden's imposed speed, the Braves turned an early deficit into a 67-61 win Friday at Scott County Central High School...

SIKESTON -- Last Friday, the Sikeston Bulldogs were flying high after clinching the SEMO Conference Tournament title with a win over Jackson in the championship game. Just three days later the mood changed as the team, and all of Sikeston, learned of the sudden passing of Bob Depro, longtime teacher and Sikeston Bulldogs public address announcer for decades...

SIKESTON -- Area residents are being cautioned that an email claiming to sell advertisements for a high school calendar is a scam. Some area businesses and individuals this week received an email from "CW Promotions" with "Project Manager Samantha Woodward" soliciting advertisements for the "2017 Sikeston High School All Sports District Schedule Calendar."...

BUSAN, South Korea - Mollie Triplett of Busan, South Korea, wants to be the best. "I wanted to be the best teacher I can be," said Triplett. "I wanted to do a good job at my chosen profession. I knew I needed to have the professional development and training to do and be the best."...

SIKESTON -- To the 300-plus customers on their paper route, Larry and Kathy Pluhar are more than the people who deliver their Standard Democrat newspapers on a near-daily basis. The Benton couple are known to go the extra mile in ensuring the newspaper is delivered timely, dry and in one piece...

Traffic was rerouted for approximately 40 minutes while Sikeston Department of Public Safety personnel cleared an accident scene just before noon Friday. According to a DPS spokesman, a westbound truck on Malone Avenue failed to yield the right of way when making a left turn onto Dona Street. ...

Sikeston fans watch a tribute video of Bob Depro Friday night at the Sikeston Field House. Depro, who announced Sikeston basketball games for over 50 years, died Monday.

SIKESTON -- To the 300-plus customers on their paper route, Larry and Kathy Pluhar are more than the people who deliver their Standard Democrat newspapers on a near-daily basis. The Benton couple are known to go the extra mile in ensuring the newspaper is delivered timely, dry and in one piece...

SIKESTON -- Area residents are being cautioned that an email claiming to sell advertisements for a high school calendar is a scam. Some area businesses and individuals this week received an email from "CW Promotions" with "Project Manager Samantha Woodward" soliciting advertisements for the "2017 Sikeston High School All Sports District Schedule Calendar."...

Despite my very best intent, I will never find the appropriate words to express the loss for our community with the passing of Bob Depro. Honestly, space will simply not permit a complete list of the ways that Bob impacted Sikeston and the amazing legacy he leaves behind...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Sherman Day Kimes, 84, died Dec. 15, 2016, at his home. Born Sept. 11, 1932, in Portageville, to the late Franklin Day and Effie Mae Hoggard Kimes, he was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1953-1955 in Germany. He and his brother owned and operated Kimes Brothers Farms from 1958 until 2008...

WARDELL, Mo. -- Bobbie Lewis, 65, died Dec. 16, 2016, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Born July 7, 1951, in Kennett, to the late Juanita Clifton and Maurice Clifton, she had served in the U.S. Air. Force, was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Church of Christ of Wardell, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force...

FAIRDEALING, Mo. -- Annie Eldora Huffman Clifton, 84, died Dec. 13, 2016, at her home. Born July 22, 1932, in Parma, daughter of the late David Peter and Annie Ruth Victoria OGuim Huffman, she was raised in Olgesville and was a lifelong resident of Missouri. She was a member of the Pentecostal Church...

BERNIE, Mo. - John Scott Mathis, son of Vernon Carroll Mathis and June Faye Lawrence Mathis of Dexter, Mo., was born Jan. 18, 1962, in Sikeston, Mo., and departed this life on Dec. 16, 2016 in Benton, Mo., at the age of 54. John Scott was an employee of Donald Bond Construction Company, where he was a heavy equipment operator. He attended Liberty Hill General Baptist Church in Dexter. John was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed duck hunting, deer hunting and motorcycles...

MATTHEWS, Mo. - Mary Ruth Brooks, 75, died Dec. 16, 2016, at Cotton Point Living Center in Matthews. Born Dec. 29, 1940, in Matthews, daughter of the late Raymond and Mary Lois (Moore) Dowdy, she had been a cook on a river boat and a beautician at Mary's Beauty Shop...

CHAFFEE, Mo. - Gracie Iona Givens, 94, died Dec. 15, 2016, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born April 3, 1922, to the late Lawrence and Lou Surface McCulley, she worked for Advance Shoe Factory in Advance for five years. She also worked for and retired from Superior Electric in Cape Girardeau. After retirement she worked part-time for the Delta Schools. She was a member of New Life Full Gospel Church in Scott City...