Stories from Wednesday, March 1, 2017

BLOOMFIELD, Mo -- A nearly two week break since their last game may have left Scott County Central a little rusty going in to Tuesday's Class 1 sectional matchup against Delta, but by the end of the night the Bravettes was were right where they wanted to be...

Local organizers are planning to host a Meet the Candidate forum on Thursday, March 23. The meeting is slated to be held at the Portageville Community Center. The time is set for 6:00 PM This will a great opportunity for Portageville voters to meet and greet with the mayor, alderman and police chief candidates...

Portageville and Risco listed

Eligible voters who are unable to vote on April 4 can now fill out an absentee ballot in New Madrid County. Absentee voting begins six weeks before the day of the election. Registered voters who qualify for absentee status can request ballots at their local election authority. They can also have a ballot faxed to them by that same election authority...

A bill aimed at increasing penalties for the misuse of dicamba passed the Missouri House Thursday. The bill now moves to the Senate, with its author looking to earn the governor’s signature by mid-March. HB 662 passed by a 144-9 vote. Eight Republicans and one Democrat voted against the measure. The bill passed with an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately if it gains Gov. Eric Greitens’ signature...

From March 6 to 10 Missourians are urged to take action to respond to the deadly hazards posed by tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding and lightning

I am honored to report to you that the members of the Missouri House approved House Bill 662, that is meant to stop the illegal use of herbicides that have caused widespread damage to crops in the Bootheel.   According to experts from the University of Missouri, many farmers in that region lost an average of 35 percent of their crops when neighboring farmers used an outdated Dicamba product.  Wind and temperature changes caused that product to spread onto nearby fields.  Because the product was drifting onto fields not planted with seeds resistant to it, those crops were damaged. ...

St. Eustachius School has announced their Pre-school registration is open now for the 2017-2018 enrollment for three and four year olds. The program offers a half day or full day enrollment, and optional after school care is available. The St. Eustachius Catholic School is:...

The University of Missouri Extension Center is offering produce growers a learning opportunity related to the farmer’s market.  Two workshops will be available at different locations.  The first will be Friday, March 24, 2017 beginning at 8:30 am at the Clinton Center in Sikeston, MO. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As winter winds down, anglers throughout the Show-Me State are beginning to show some signs of trout fever. Symptoms include: tying flies, putting new fishing line on reels, checking waders for holes, and practicing casting. Most anglers who get trout fever get rid of it by doing one thing — visiting one of Missouri's four trout parks to participate in the catch-and-keep trout season...

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be conducting two pesticide collection events for farmers and households in Southeast Missouri in 2017.  The first is in Portageville at the Fisher Delta Research Center on March 11 and the second is in Sikeston at DeWitt Auction Company on June 24.  These events are for Missouri farmers and households to bring unwanted waste pesticide to be accepted free of charge. ...

Pre K and Kindergarten Round up is March 7-9 at Portageville Elementary. Please call the school for an appointment for testing and registration... 573-379-5706. Your child must be 4 by July 31 to enroll. You will need a state issued birth certificate, shot record, social security card, and proof of residency in our district. Please contact Teresa Temple at the Elementary with any questions...

Joseph Vernon "Joe" Edwards was born September 14, 1927 in Portageville to Landon Edwards and Grace (Jackson) Edwards. He died Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Sherwood, AR at the age of 89 years, 5 months and 7 days. Joe was married on February 1, 1947 in Piggott, AR to Marcella Hardin. ...

SIKESTON -- While the main purpose of the Special City Council meeting was to deal with Sikeston's ordinance on the open carrying of a weapon, it didn't take long before another issue recycled into the discussion. Capt. Mike Williams, director of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, explained following the General Assembly's override of former Governor Nixon's veto, Missouri residents since Jan. ...

BENTON, Mo. -- Work on the fourth -- and final -- section of the Scott County Courthouse roof will begin in the coming weeks as the bid for the project was awarded during Tuesday's commission meeting. Presiding Scott County Commissioner Jamie Burger, First District Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn and Second District Commissioner Donnie Kiefer awarded the roof replacement project to the sole bidder, Riverside Roofing Co. LLC of Cape Girardeau, for the amount of $138,542...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A Mississippi County man faces felony drug charges following a joint investigation by the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office, Charleston Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. - A convicted felon is back in jail. Herman A. Duty, 52, of East Prairie will be arraigned Wednesday on felony charges of possession of controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon (for the possession of a weapon and of a felony controlled substance) and the misdemeanor of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia...

PORTAGEVILLE- DAEOC Head Start/Early Head Start is hosting their annual book drive. It will take place during the month of March to recognize National Literacy Month. If you have new or gently used books for children ages 0-5 years old, please donate them. You may drop books off at Central Office or your local Head Start Center at any time...

A tornado ripped through Perry County, Missouri, on Tuesday evening, forcing the closure of a six-mile stretch of Interstate 55 and bringing with it reports of significant damage and at least one fatality. The National Weather Service reported a trained spotter saw a funnel cloud near Silver Lake -- an unincorporated community in Perry County -- that snapped or uprooted large trees shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday...

Audrey Keller, the March Standard Democrat calendar girl, is happy to find spring arriving in Sikeston. The daughter of Mary Below and Robert Keller, Keller was the second runner-up in the Miss Sikeston contest. She is a senior at Sikeston High School and plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University majoring in business...

Sikeston Public Schools Superintendent Tom Williams speaks about one of the many options of the proposed new Matthews Elementary School Building during a town hall meeting at the Sikeston Public Library on Monday night. Williams discussed various pricing options for the different buildings, which will be funded by a bond issue if the public passes a bond issue on April 4. Estimated cost of the new elementary school is projected to be $11 million...

Ten-year olds Trinity Taylor, left, and Alexis Johnson color designed papers at the 4th-6th grade Family Fun Night hosted at the Sikeston Public Library on Tuesday night.

BENTON, Mo. -- Work on the fourth -- and final -- section of the Scott County Courthouse roof will begin in the coming weeks as the bid for the project was awarded during Tuesday's commission meeting. Presiding Scott County Commissioner Jamie Burger, First District Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn and Second District Commissioner Donnie Kiefer awarded the roof replacement project to the sole bidder, Riverside Roofing Co. LLC of Cape Girardeau, for the amount of $138,542...

Depending on just what version of the prevailing landscape you believe, it's either a wonderful time to live in America or it's the absolutely worst time in history to be an American. I always find it somewhat amusing that people can view the same set of rules and come to such radically different conclusions. But alas, that's where we find ourselves...

Several schools forced to close due to power outages.

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Thirty-nine members of the New Madrid County R-1 Future Business Leaders of America Chapter attended the 2017 FBLA District 16 Leadership Conference held on Feb. 3 in Malden. Over 450 members and advisers representing 19 chapters throughout the district met to elect officers and compete in the district leadership awards program...

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Career and Technology Center hosted the Skills USA Welding Fabrication district contest, which brings together competitors from Doniphan, New Madrid, Kennett, Pemiscot, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston. This was a timed event were students receive a set of detailed prints, raw materials, and three hours to finish it. The top two teams will advance to the State contest at Linn State...

Da'Shyla Brown was crowned Scott County Central High School's homecoming queen on Feb. 10. Pictured from left are the queen and her court: Kaylie Casey (returning queen) with escort Derrick Adams, Hailey Kesler and TJ Davis, Da'Shyla Brown and Deven Blackmon, Macy Scherer and Dalton Blissett and Abby Burchard and Landon Estes...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Herman Paul Brands, 91, died March 1, 2017, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Born Jan. 1, 1926, in Portageville, son of the late Rosina Elfrink Brands and Theodore Brands, he was a member of the Catholic church. A lifetime member of the VFW, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during World War II...

CHARLESTON, Mo. - Katherine Clemons Owens, 90, died Feb. 27, 2017. She was born June 17, 1926, in Osceola, Ark., to the late Leon and Mary Hunt Bradley. She was married to Edgar Owens, who preceded her in death in 2009. Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Percy and Teresa Owens of Bertrand and Julius Owens of Charleston; seven daughters and four sons-in-law, Lillie and Larry Smith, Barbra and Michael Parker, Essie McCatrey, Ruby Owens, Timothy Owens and Carolyn and Bradford Garland all of Charleston, and Cora and Jerry Johnson of Haywood City; one brother, Leon Bradley of East Prairie; more than 100 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 30 great-great-grandchildren.. ...