Stories from Sunday, March 6, 2016

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Legislation is progressing through the Missouri Senate to expand the state's "stand your ground" laws to make it easier for people to use deadly force in self-defense. Sen. Kurt Schaefer, a Republican from Columbia, who is running for attorney general, told a Senate panel Wednesday people should be able to do whatever it takes to defend themselves without worrying about a lawsuit afterward...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Five area residents were arrested Friday in a drug bust led by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department. According to Sheriff Carl Hefner, the bust was the result of an ongoing undercover operation involving the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, the SEMO Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer Employees of the Poplar Bluff Animal Control Service were deeply moved by a note they received recently about one of their dogs. The note described how one adoption had changed not only the dog's life, but the life of the young man who adopted her as well...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff man has been arrested on suspicion of making terroristic threats in a doctor's office. At approximately 1:50 p.m. Friday, officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department were dispatched to Poplar Bluff Pediatrics Associates, located in the 2200 block of Barron Road in reference to a complaint of terroristic threats...

Where was Superman? The epitome of arrogance. I wonder what happened to Superman in the Super Bowl? Good ball game. Thanks. Well done, DMV I'd like to say a word about the local DMV office in Poplar Bluff. Too often it gets a bad rap. Today, I went to the DMV office to get new tags. ...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Standard Democrat It seems that government at all levels is prone to find a solution in search of a problem. The old axiom of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" clearly does not apply to some within government. There is no better example than the bone-headed move in the Missouri Legislature to expand the number of members on the Missouri Conservation Commission...

Jerry Hooper Jerry Hooper, 65, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, March 5, 2016 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Missouri has enjoyed a conservation success story for nearly 80 years, after voters across the state resoundingly approved the creation of the Department of Conservation and its four-member Conservation Commission in 1937. MDC's success comes about from its science-based decisions about fish, forests and wildlife and its dedicated one-eighth cent sales tax, which was approved by voters in 1976...

Dear Editor: As the principal of Sacred Heart School, I would like to thank all those involved in Dancing with the PB Stars this year. It was a great success and a fun evening! The generosity and support of this community is very much appreciated. There were many involved with making this night happen and I want everyone to know that we are so very grateful for the outstanding support we have received...

Willa Gladys Page Willa Gladys Page, 101, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday, March 5, 2016 at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Todd McGregor ADVANCE, Mo. -- Todd McGregor, 44, of Zalma, Mo., passed away Friday, March 4, 2016 in Marble Hill, Mo. He was born Feb. 17, 1972 in Poplar Bluff. He was the son of Sheldon Edward and Valerie Kay Lee McGregor. Todd was the lead Equipment Operator with the Missouri Department of Conservation-Division of Design and Development. He also trained quarter horses...

Gary L. Stage FISK, Mo. -- Gary Lee Stage, age 23, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Stage was born July 9, 1992 at Poplar Bluff. He is survived by his parents: Gary Edward Stage and Melanie Dawn Goings both of Poplar Bluff; one son: Gabriel Wayne Merchant Stage; one grandfather: Melvin Goings of Lake Mary, Fla...

A. Dwight Hyde OVERLAND, Kan. - A. Dwight Hyde, 68, Overland Park, Kan., died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at home. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m., Saturday at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Overland Park, Kan., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m...

Amanda Elaine and Ryan John Bader of Campbell have chosen the name Callen Laine Bader for their 8-pound son born Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Callen was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Marilyn Trout of Broseley and the late Jimmy Dale Trout and Pam and Stan Bader of Glennonville...

EMERSON, Ga. -- Seven runners prevented Abe Young from throwing a perfect game at the Perfect Game Headquarters. Instead, the Raiders' opening-day starter teamed up with Tyler McLevain for a 7-0 shutout over Cuyahoga (Ohio) on Friday. Young pitched 8 1/3 innings and gave up three hits and four walks with six strikeouts...

Marion "Bud" Myers DEXTER, Mo. -- Marrion "Bud" Myers, 78, of Dexter, died Thursday, March 3, 2016 at his residence in Dexter. Visitation and funeral were Saturday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Rick Roberts and Rev. Steve Tippen officiating...

James Edward Moore James Edward Moore, 87, of Naylor, Mo., passed away Friday, March 4, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Moore was born Oct. 18, 1928 in Pocahontas, Ark. He moved to the Ripley County area in 1974. On March 21, 1951, Mr. Moore married Fern Redus Moore, who survives. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed his bees. He was a Army Veteran during the Korean war...

VAN BUREN -- A Naylor team that's used to dominating with size turned to one of its smallest players for a spark Saturday afternoon. The Lady Eagles survived a first half riddled with foul trouble and got a boost from 5-foot-2 junior Hannah Cunningham's 14 second-half points on their way to a 43-33 victory over Bunker in the MSHSAA Class 1 quarterfinal at Van Buren High School...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- It took four trips, but the nightmare on Black Knight Drive is finally over for the Neelyville girls basketball team. After three straight losses in the quarterfinals, the Lady Tigers were more focused and determined more than ever in a rematch with Clopton...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- It happened so fast. And when you saw it, you cringed. Sikeston's Tyra Bonner made an instinctive play that would have been fine in any other situation except the one she found herself in with 21 seconds left in a district title game...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Bloomfield's been waiting 50 years for this. For the first time since 1966, the Wildcats are going to the Show-Me Showdown following a 63-41 win over Clopton in the Class 2 quarterfinal Saturday night. "It's amazing. First time since '65-66, biggest game of my life," Bloomfield junior Tim Hector said. ...