Stories from Monday, March 4, 2013

sports@standard-democrat.com HILLSBORO -- For the first time in a long time the Charleston Bluejays found themselves in the underdog role on Saturday when facing Madison Prep in the Class 3 quarterfinals. Despite taking a two-point lead early in the final quarter, the defending state champion Bluejays were unable to hold on as the currently top-ranked Bears rode a hot finish to a 63-54 win...

sports@standard-democrat.com DEXTER -- It wasn't a matter of if it would happen, it was a matter of when. Unfortunately for the Scott County Central Braves, their quest for a fifth-straight championship and the stranglehold they've placed upon Class 1 basketball ended on Saturday...

SIKESTON -- Carmen Sanders, 49, died March 3, 2013, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Arrangements are incomplete with Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

SIKESTON -- William S. Vandivort, 89, died March 3, 2013, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

CHARLESTON -- Ruth Morehead-Foster, 69, died March 3, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

NEW MADRID - Mary Gladys Newton, 71, died March 1, 2013, at Union City Manor in Union City, Tenn. Born Aug. 4, 1941, in New Madrid, she was the daughter of the late Delmar George and Eveline Shephard Taylor. Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Jennifer Newton of New Madrid; two sisters, Nellie Johnson of Kewanee and Betty Stafford of Hornbeak, Tenn.; and two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren...

SIKESTON -- Pallbearers for services conducted Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home for Ruby E. Yanson, 94, who died Feb. 26, 2013, were: Ed Felker, Robert Gierse, Andrew Felker, Bart Grant, Nick Bell and Mike Reall.

BLOOMFIELD -- John Doyle Whitaker, 51, died March 1, 2013, at his home. Born July 17, 1961, in Malden, to the late William and Helen Myers Whitaker, he had lived in Bernie and Bloomfield most of his life. He worked as a deckhand on a riverboat and had his own tree service. A U.S. Army veteran, he attended the Bible Tabernacle in Bloomfield...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Jerry Dee Allen, 78, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Sikeston, passed away Friday, March 1, 2013, at Chateau Girardeau Nursing Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 5, 1934, in Jackson, to Joe M. and Grace L. VanAmburg Allen. Jerry was an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. ...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- With cell phone use and social networking by children growing rapidly over the years, the adults in their lives continually work to keep them safe. Based on 2010 data, 93 percent of teens go online and 75 percent of teens ages 12-17 have cell phones, according to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. On average, texting teens send and receive 1,500 text messages a month...

Pastor Michael Obi (left) of Mt. Zion Prayer Centered Church in Cleveland, Tenn., discusses different world views with Jerry Hixson during lunch at the 8th Annual World View Conference held Saturday at the Clinton Building.