News

At the Missouri Veterans Cemetery cold temperatures and rain did not dampen the spirits of those in attendance. The reason they were there outweighed any weather conditions. They were there to thank those veterans who served to ensure freedom and remember those who served and gave their lives for freedom. And finally remember those listed as Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) in hopes that they will one day come home...

Ladylike decorum, quiet concentration, and strict adherence to playing rules are NOT what you will find when game night convenes at Patty Shell’s home on Chautauqua Lane in Dexter. From the outset, the cozy kitchen is alive with conversation and laughter. ...

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Stoddard County Commission asked the Dexter Statesman to publish this article to inform citizens of the changes in the floodplain management office in the past few months. The Stoddard County office of floodplain management has seen a few changes recently...

Three Dexter students have been selected to the Missouri All State Choir. The three students selected are: junior Mattilyn Williams, senior Madeline Parker and junior Tyler Montgomery. They will represent Dexter at the January 2020 MMEA convention held in Osage Beach, Mo. over the course of four days...

Orscheln in Dexter held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its grand reopening after an extensive remodel. Pictured on the front row from left are: Interim Chamber Director Ed Dust, Dexter Mayor Jason Banken; Orscheln representatives Al Osvron, Randy Croney, Tisha Cole, Rebecca Pulley, Destiny Cagle, Jonathon Simmons, Lara Simmons, Angela Rauscher; Dexter Chamber member Maddie Guethle, SouthHEALTH of Stoddard County CEO Sue Ann Williams, Dexter Alderman Jerry Corder, Dexter Chamber member Cecil Haley, Dexter Chamber member Jennifer Whitesell and Dexter Chamber President Alisha Trammell. ...

The Dexter High School Student Council along with Tim Holder, hosted a recent Halloween Dance. The students collected canned goods and $350 to be donated to the Stoddard County Gospel Mission. Pictured making the check presentation from left are: Carter Dorton, Kim Lemons with the Stoddard County Gospel Mission, Magi McBride, Mike Morris with the Stoddard County Gospel Mission, Ellie Dowdy and Destiny Ahrens...

Third Grade Honor Roll Kingston Banken, Kenton Barbour, Lola Barr, Kohen Batchelor, Stacy Bowers, William Busse, Eben Carr, Jaden Carter, Lindsay Lee Christian, Mila Clark, Carter Claussen, Seth Clubb, Grace Cobb, Beau Craft, Makinley Crosby, Ethan Taylor Davis, Ashton Deberry, Taran Deprow, Reed Dodson, Audriana Dukes-Cazares, Eli Earnheart, Kennedy Essner, Lilly Fields, Payden Fowler, Bryan Galloway, Addelyn Gill, Matthew Glore, Miley Gold, Elliott Goldschmidt, Jaxson Goodman, Aaron Gott, Eli Gott, Lilah Grimes, Gabrielle Guethle, Greta Guethle, Gabriel Hammond, Tyler Hankins, Ethan Harris, Harley Haws, Olivianna Hester, Farrah Hofer, Samuel Howard, Ella Hutson, Zachary Jackson, Ada Jarrell, Parker Keena, Aubree Killian-Mcdonald, Kayleen Kingston-Horn, Alexzander Alan Lin, Chase Lowman, Liam Luttrull, Addison Mann, Gunner Matney, Aiden Mcclish, Lily Mccord, Jagger Mcfaddin, Clayton Mcgowan, Dennis Mcintyre, Melora Mckay, Sebastian Mcroy, Addison Meador, Bronsen Menley, Jiles Monroe, Mason Monroe, Hudson Moore, Marlie Morris, Jett Mosier, Trista Murphy, Gracy Neal, Mckendree Neuhaus, Kyle Nichols, Lilly Nugent, Triston Oliva, Korbin Olsen, Robyn Ordway, Ava Parker, Blake Pfeffer, Silas Pfeffer, Hailey Pratt, Lana Rangel, Hayden Redfering, Bryson Rice, Andon Ridenour, Marcus Rios, Elyzabeth Robison, Jacob Rowland, Seth Rowland, Selah Sepulvado, Kamden Shaver, Mason Smith, Zoey Smith, Clarabelle Sok, Hunter Spain, Bailey Stevens, Alison Stonis, Ba Templemire, Sawyer Thurlkill, Hadley Walton, Korben Warner, Emmarie Watkins, Addilyn Williams, Clara Williams, Blake Wilson, Hayden Wilson, Peyton Wright. ...

A rainy Saturday (Oct. 26) moved the Dexter Veterans of Foreign Wars benefit concert indoors but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those involved. The event was originally scheduled to take place in Downtown Dexter across from the VFW building but was moved to the Dexter National Guard Armory. The events included live music, food, bounce houses, face painting, games and trick-or-treating...

BLOOMFIELD — Floodplain manager Joe Pulliam, of Smith and Company, updated the Stoddard County Commission on his progress of accounting for properties in the floodplain during Monday’s meeting. The State Emergency Management Agency requires that each community or county have a certified floodplain manager, who handles the necessary paperwork and notifies residents of changes to the floodplain map...

The Dexter Board of Aldermen passed two ordinances and asked City Attorney Yewell Lawrence Jr. to start writing the wording on a third. The first ordinance addressed was one intending to simplify the wording on harassment. Before the ordinance spelled out more specific acts of harassment such as threatening communications in writing or by telephone. ...

Local authorities continue to search for a Poplar Bluff man who is accused in the weekend shooting of another man in critical condition at a St. Louis hospital. Poplar Bluff Police Lt. Josh Stewart said officers have been searching for Carlos James Wallace, who should be considered armed and dangerous, since Saturday afternoon...

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter will hold its annual turkey dinner this Sunday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Turkey and ham with all the trimmings, along with drink and dessert will be served. An adult ticket will be $10, children age 6 to 10 will be $5 and children under 6 eat free. Carry outs are available and require an adult ticket...

“I never thought about living to be 107 years old,” Eldon Stafford remarks matter-of-factly, “but here I am!” Born October 12, 1912, Stafford has been witness to over a century of change and innovation. Reflecting on farm life during his childhood, Stafford observes, “When I was born, and during most of my growing-up years, we had no electricity, no running water, plowed with teams, and used an outhouse to do our business,”...

Editor’s Note: The chamber history is taken from The Dexter Chamber of Commerce 70th Anniversary magazine produced by the Dexter Statesman. The Dexter Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 75th birthday at The Gathering on Thursday, Oct. 24, with a drop-in event consisting of food, games and more...

The Puxico Board of Aldermen used an additional grant to fund the addition of sewer lines to the sewer project. Maintenance Supervisor David Hawthorne gave the board a copy of a change order involving Visu-Sewer’s work on the city’s sewer lines upgrade project. ...

By KYLE SMITH Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD — A representative of Ameren Missouri met with the Stoddard County Commission on Monday morning to discuss natural gas safety and educational opportunities for county officials. Josh Faatz, damage prevention and public awareness specialist for Missouri Gas Operations, mentioned safety programs for water and wastewater operators, law enforcement and first responders...

Beechwell General Baptist Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, November 3 with a homecoming celebration. The day will start with sunday school at 9:45 a.m. , Worship service at 10:45 a.M. , Lunch and singing featuring the Krepps Family will start at 1:30 p.M...

The Dexter Parks and Recreation Little League Football team was honored at halftime Friday night. The team has a record of 6 wins an 1 lose. They will travel to Jackson on Saturday to play in the SEMO championship game against Jackson.

Dexter School honored the Williams family at halftime of the Dexter football game Friday night. The Williams family has owned Fiddlers Fish House in Dexter for 36 years and have provided fish, chicken, cases of Pepsi and hushpuppies for game officials and the press box staff at home games on Friday nights. ...

The Dexter Statesman participated in a pink out day in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This was a company wide event with other area newspaper offices. Pictured from left are Sports Editor Kyle Smith, Customer Service Representative Lynda Whitmer and Editor Josh Ayers...

The Dexter Bearcats honored their seniors prior to the varsity volleyball match against Perryville. Shown above is Alexa Werneck the daughter of Chad and Amber Werneck. Werneck has lettered four years in volleyball and was selected to the 2018 All-District team. She plans on attending college and majoring in occupational therapy...

According to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner in a Facebook post both suspects in the Essex bank robbery that occurred Monday are now in custody. The suspects have been identified as Glenn Hamilton, 54, of Poplar Bluff/St. Louis area and Jamie White, 54, of Poplar Bluff. Both suspects are being charged with the class A felony of first degree robbery and are being held with no bond.

The annual Gravel Hill Church Pie and Box Supper will be held on October 25th at 6:30 p.m. Come for old time fun and help support cemetery maintenance.

A fundraiser for the Crowley Ridge State School in Dexter will take place at the Dexter Sonic tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sonic will donate 20 percent of tonight's sales to the school.