Stories from Sunday, January 23, 2011

POPLAR BLUFF -- After leading for the better part of three quarters Friday night, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs saw the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules erase an eight-point halftime deficit in route to a 62-52 win. "We made a lot of unforced mistakes and they capitalized on them," Sikeston's Keyonna Blissett said of her team's second half troubles. "That's what a good team does. If we wouldn't have made those mistakes, then this would have been our game."...

KENNETT -- Just like the snow and ice put a halt on most basketball action Friday, the Sikeston Bulldogs took advantage of a cold shooting night on the Kennett Indians behalf keeping the state's eighth-ranked Class 3 team at a standstill and extending their own unbeaten streak to 16 games...

Sometimes I think we just don't get it. The state and nation's economies are in a tailspin yet when there is talk of reducing spending, no one wants to take a hit of any size, at any time to those precious programs they hold sacred. President Obama will this week deliver the State of the Union address and he'll call for spending restraint. But there will be little substance and ample rhetoric...

DUDLEY -- Virgie White, 91, died Jan. 21, 2011, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

CHARLESTON -- Tammy Hughes Baugh, 44, died Jan. 21, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

NORFOLK, Va. -- Darrel C. Keene, 82, formerly of Portageville, Mo., died Jan. 16, 2011, at VA Hampton Medical Center in Hampton. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

DEXTER -- Bill Gromer, 62, died Jan 19, 2011, near Dexter. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

OZARK -- Dennis Backfisch, 63, died Jan. 18, 2011, at the Cox South Hospital in Springfield. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Johnnie B. Copeland, 99, died Jan. 19, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

HERCULANEUM -- Mable T. Gilliland, 78, formerly of Sikeston, died Jan. 20, 2011, at the Scenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Herculaneum. For the complete obituary and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Two Poplar Bluff residents pled guilty in federal court on Friday in an identity theft ring, which affected a Sikeston bank, William C. Taylor and Danielle Lynn Luck, both of Poplar Bluff, each pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and one felony count of conspiracy to commit use of a counterfeit debit card for acts that occurred in Cape Girardeau County and Perry County from March 2009 through January 2010. ...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- When Lakilia Taylor Bedeau was chosen as Mrs. Paducah, Ky. -- a title that advanced her to the upcoming Mrs. Kentucky America Pageant -- the Lilbourn, Mo., native said the opportunity is something she can cross off her "bucket list."...

\BENTON -- Latecomers were welcomed to Phase 1 of Scott County's rural water district but for this next portion it may be now or never. "We're currently moving forward with Phase 2," said Tim McIntyre, district manager for Public Water Supply District No. 4 of Scott County. "It covers the northwest corner of the county."...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man is behind bars for his involvement in two meth labs discovered in a Sikeston home. Charles M. Bell, 42, is being held in Scott County for manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to Sgt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

SIKESTON -- The Heckemeyer family may not fit the typical perception of farmers. Tony Heckemeyer and his sons don't plant and harvest seeds. Instead, they have chicken houses, a tree farm and cattle. And the elder Heckemeyer said it's all about being different, and finding the best use for their land...