News

FREE ACCESS A Poplar Bluff police officer was among those charged Thursday afternoon with sexual trafficking of a child and multiple child pornography offenses. Brandon Michael Hopper, 39, and Amber Michelle Longhibler, 27, were charged with the unclassified felony of first-degree sexual trafficking of a child, the Class B felony of first-degree promoting child pornography and two Class D felonies of possession of child pornography...

The Poplar Bluff School District sent a message to parents Thursday afternoon after a school resource officer was charged with multiple felonies. “We have been advised that charges have been filed against a law enforcement officer employed by the Poplar Bluff Police Department, who was recently assigned in our school system,” said Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent Scott Dill...

WAPPAPELLO — The summer holiday fireworks display at Wappapello Lake, traditionally presented during the weekend nearest the Fourth of July, has been rescheduled this year and now will occur on the Memorial Day weekend in late May. It’s a move organizers hope will prevent the loss of visitors on a Saturday when several other local communities will host their own displays...

Officials continue to investigate the network disruption that occurred Tuesday afternoon at Three Rivers College.

Recently Cypress Point made a $953 donation to the Dexter Parks and Recreation for the Boon Park Universal Playground Project. Dexter Parks and Recreation Department employee Melissa Jones accepted the donation from valentine king, Bob Young (left) and queen, Geneva Statler (right) who were crowned at the Cypress Point Valentine Dinner. The money was raised through donations and $1 votes...

As part of FFA week the Dexter FFA members drove their tractors to school on Wednesday. The tractors were parked in the parking lot west of the high school. Students who drove tractors to school were asked to arrive early and leave later to avoid traffic issues. Members of the Dexter FFA posed for a photo with the tractors after classes ended for the day...

Sikeston – Southeast Missouri Food Bank announced it has received a $50,000 grant from Tyson Foods to fund Mobile Food Pantries in Stoddard, Scott and Dunklin Counties. The grant will allow the food bank to provide 24 mobile food pantries in these counties from June 2020 through May 2021...

Contested races have developed at the state level for six local offices. Filing opened Tuesday for the Aug. 4 primary election of U.S. representative, state senator, state representative and other state offices. The winners of the primary election will move on to the Nov. 3 election...

“Back in the 50s, my husband and I lived in Tucson, Arizona,” recalls Marie Quinn of Dexter. “One day we were driving in the car and I wasn’t really paying attention to what was playing on the radio, but at the end of the song the announcer said, ‘That was Elvis Presley.’ “I remarked to my husband that I had a cousin named Elvis Presley—never dreaming it was the same person!”...

BLOOMFIELD — Stoddard County EMA Director Kent Polsgrove told the county commission that he has submitted the fiscal 2020 Emergency Management Performance Grant application to the State Emergency Management Agency. Polsgrove told the commissioners at Monday’s meeting that he requested $20,511.81 in matching funds...

The Dexter School Board hired a new custodial company as well as approved changes to the building projects. Currently the Dexter School District holds a contract with Abbco. However the staff in the district has been unhappy with Abbco’s work. Superintendent C.A. ...

After 10 years of operations, the Dexter Twin Cinema, operating under Pollack Cinema, LLC, will cease operations at the end of the month (February). Beginning March 1, 2020, the Dexter Twin Cinema will gain new ownership under Dexter Cinema, LLC, owned by Chris Costin, the long-time General Manager of the cinema, and his wife, Alysa Costin...

The Dexter Fire Department responded to a car fire on the parking lot of Ozark Federal Credit union early Friday afternoon. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control.

Preschool and kindergarten screening/enrollment for Richland Elementary is scheduled for March 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The screening is for children ages 3 to 5 for the 2020-21 school year. Children must be 5 years old before Aug. 1 to enroll in kindergarten...

The Dexter Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Lenten fish fry on Friday, February 28 at the Sacred Heart Parish Center in Dexter. The meal will be served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will consist of catfish, slaw, potato, drink and dessert. An adult ticket will cost $10 and children under 10 are $5. Carryouts will also be available. Everyone is invited to attend...

BLOOMFIELD — A retired Catholic priest now living in Springfield, Mo., was arrested Wednesday on multiple sexual abuse charges that allegedly occurred 20 years ago while he was a priest at an Advance parish. Frederick Joseph Lutz, 76, was arrested on a Stoddard County warrant charging him with two counts of second-degree statutory sodomy and the felonies of forcible sodomy and sexual abuse, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver said in a news release...

Three Dexter students have a total of six pieces that were chosen for the student show at the SEMO River Campus. Jillian Avery had two honorable mentions and one piece chosen. Addyson Green placed first in mixed media and has a drawing in the show. Green has also received $1,500 for a VPN art scholarship. Madeline Ayers had a painting selected for the student show. Pictured from left are Avery, Green and Ayers...

“When I first decided to attend Ruth Gibson’s painting class many years ago,” laughs Betty McClintock of Dexter, “I had no idea how learning to paint would affect my life. One four-week class led to another, and with few exceptions, I have painted every day since then. Even when I broke my hip, I painted. It was therapy for me.”...

This year the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) created the first ever all-state children’s choir. Dexter fifth-grade student Lydia Christian was selected to this inaugural choir. MMEA generally formed all-state choirs and bands for students at the high school level. Those groups perform at the Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in Osage Beach. This year the opportunity was extended to younger students...

The Puxico School Board approved the evaluation of health services at Puxico Schools, as well as approved changes to the summer school program. The district has developed and implemented a program for school health services, which includes goals and objectives, service activities and an evaluation design. ...

The Poplar Bluff Police Department is offering a reward for information leading to the positive identification of the shooter(s) who fired multiple rounds Sunday afternoon and injured four. Authorities have disseminated a photograph of the alleged Bacon Park shooter in an effort to identify the alleged shooter...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Taking a break from work on farms and ranches across the state, more than 550 young farmers and ranchers gathered for the annual Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Leadership Conference. The Feb. 7-9 event was held at the Lake of the Ozark’s Margaritaville Lake Resort. Young farmers from Stoddard County enjoyed a weekend away from farm chores to catch up with their peers from across the state and learn new things in the process...

PUXICO — Puxico High School inducted its inaugural Hall of Fame class on Friday. During a banquet in the gym, Members of the 1951 and 1952 state championship teams, and 1990 graduate Brian Blackburn were inducted and those in attendance, or family members representing them, were honored with a certificate...

An autism workshop entitled Autism Rocks will take place on March 27 at the Regional Health Foundation at Cox's Corner at 215 W. Grant St. The speaker at the event will be Belinda Worley MS-SLP-CCC. The workshop will provide the opportunity to earn six hours of continuing education unit credits...

There are a lot of good things that happen in our communities that often go unnoticed. The Statesman, Stoddard County’s newspaper, wants to change that. We believe those who volunteer their time to help others should be recognized. That’s why The Statesman has decided to recognize those individuals with our first Difference Makers campaign...