Murder-mystery kicks off season
By Scott Welton scottw@standard-democrat.com
SIKESTON -- Sikeston Little Theatre's 50th season will begin with some mystery. "The Mousetrap" will be presented by the theater group at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Albritton-Mayer Cultural Center, 506 S. Kingshighway... More > >

Bulldogs dominate (09/07/08)
SIKESTON -- In an offensive and defensive domination Friday night, the Sikeston Bulldogs clinched their 85th victory over the Charleston Bluejays. The final score was 48-6, and the win puts the Bulldogs at 1-1 on the season. Packed stands provided a great atmosphere for both teams, as first quarter play showed. Both teams scored and the quarter ended at 7-6, although the rest of the ballgame was all red and black...

4-H leader is inducted into Hall of Fame (09/07/08)
NEW HAMBURG -- Dedicated. Committed. Humble. Leader. Giving unselfishly. All those words are used to describe Pat Moore, club leader of the New Hamburg Eager Beavers 4-H Club. And those attributes are what contributed to her being inducted in the 4-H Hall of Fame last month at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, honoring Moore's 44 years of service to the organization...

Greenies parade (09/07/08)
Ninth grade Green Peppers prepare for the annual "Greenies" parade Friday afternoon at Sikeston Senior High School. The parade was part of the induction for the newest Red Peppers.

Convincing scams are hard to resist (09/06/08)
SIKESTON -- The letterhead looks legit. The check seems authentic, and the company's Web site is so professional looking, it couldn't possibly be a fake. But each week, local law enforcement agencies and banks learn of scams that aren't so easy for consumers to resist. Most recently, Sikeston Department of Public Safety learned of a new type of scam when a Sikeston resident questioned a check she received in the mail...

9-11 tribute planned (09/05/08)
BENTON -- Scott County commissioners haven't forgotten the tragic events and attack on the United States, seven years ago, and they want to make sure county employees and residents have not, either. At Thursday's regular commission meeting, they made plans for a tribute to mark the day. "At 9:11, we are going to have a remembrance of 9-11 on the interior steps," said Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner...

Making reading fun (09/05/08)
SIKESTON -- Of the all the activities he did with his mother last school year through a parental involvement program, 7-year-old Seth Spraggs said he liked putting together the animal puzzle best. This year, the first grader at Lee Hunter Elementary in Sikeston said he can't wait until he gets a cooking activity in his kit from the Home Activities Together equal Success, or HATS, program...

Uranium tests may boost the county (09/05/08)
CHARLESTON -- Landowners in Mississippi County should look at offers to survey for uranium as an opportunity, according to County Commissioner Martin Lucas. During the regular County Commission meeting Thursday, Lucas voiced his support for the efforts to determine how much uranium is within the county...

Rain goes away (09/05/08)
The rain and clouds are clearing today but not before providing area fields and garden with welcomed relief. Temperatures are expected to reach into the 80s this weekend.

Kindergarten fire under investigation (09/05/08)
POPLAR BLUFF -- The Mark Twain Kindergarten Center was empty when bells rang Thursday after an early morning fire destroyed four modular buildings that served as classrooms and special purpose rooms for more than 120 of the campus' approximately 400 students...

Three charged in drug busts (09/04/08)
BENTON -- Identities of three Sikeston residents arrested in last week's drug busts along with the charges they face have been revealed. Tony Lamar "Smoke" Bennett, 34, of Sikeston is charged with two counts of class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance and five counts of class C felony of distribution of a controlled substance. ...

Good things sometimes come in small packages (09/04/08)
SIKESTON -- Sometimes smaller is better. Missouri Delta Medical Center's latest piece of equipment, an OrthoScan Mini C-Arm fluoroscope, may not look like much for costing over $50,000. "It only weighs 170 pounds," said Dr. Doug Foltz, a podiatrist at MDMC. "It's about the size of a small filing cabinet."...

Organizers begin United Way campaign today (09/04/08)
SIKESTON -- Members of the Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way are gearing up for the 2008 campaign. "We look forward to having a successful year and getting lots of contributions," said Laura Landers, chairperson for this year's effort. This year's campaign kicks off today with a Thursday luncheon and the goal is $80,000 -- the same as the 2007 local campaign. Organizers plan to wrap up the campaign in November...

Scott City man charged in robbery (09/04/08)
BENTON -- A Scott City man is charged with attempted robbery and armed criminal action at a Scott City residence. Randall Joseph Hanstein Jr., 27, of Scott City is charged with class A felony of attempted robbery in the first degree, felony of armed criminal action, class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon and class B felony of burglary in the first degree, according to Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd...

(Untitled) (09/04/08)
NEW MADRID - A New Madrid man was arraigned today for assaulting an infant. Larry Murphy of New Madrid was charged Wednesday with first degree assault - serious physical injury. He was to be arraigned today in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court before Judge Charles Spitler...

September Calendar Girl (09/03/08)
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Officials to face tough decisions (09/03/08)
BENTON -- With this being the last month the half-cent law enforcement sales tax is collected in Scott County, county commissioners are facing tough decisions for the 2009 budget. Commissioners discussed the ending sales tax during their regular meeting Tuesday...

Emerson kicks off her annual farm tour Tuesday (09/03/08)
MATTHEWS -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson kicked off her annual farm tour Tuesday with stops in New Madrid and Stoddard counties. After visits to the Delta Research Center Field Day in Portageville and the groundbreaking to extend the New Madrid Riverfront walkway, Emerson toured Tiller-Cohen Farms near Matthews...

Improvements will continue along New Madrid riverfront (09/03/08)
NEW MADRID -- Residents of New Madrid along with local, state and federal officials gathered Tuesday for the groundbreaking ceremony to extend the Mississippi River levee walkway along the New Madrid Riverfront. "We're so proud," said New Madrid Mayor Donnie Brown as he addressed the crowd at the city's river amphitheater...

Annual Field Day (09/03/08)
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