News

Courts in Stoddard and Dunklin counties were able this week to move into phase two of their COVID-19 recovery plan for the first time. Phase two allows more people in the courtroom at one time, said Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer, who issued an administrative order Jan. 19 for the 35th Judicial Circuit...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed 12 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 recoveries. The county now sits at 2,904 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 79 active, 2,764 recoveries and 61 deaths. Broken down by age group the cases are 0 to 19 – 398 cases, 20 to 29 – 386 cases, 30 to 39 – 381 cases, 40 to 49 – 449 cases, 50 to 59 – 384 cases, 60 to 69 – 392 cases, 70 to 79 – 302 cases and 80-plus – 212 cases. ...

UPDATE 4 p.m. Jan. 20 Butler County health officials have confirmed all spots in Friday's mass vaccination clinic have been filled. Additional mass vaccination events are planned for Southeast Missouri, with information to be released as it becomes available.

Saint Francis Healthcare System has received reports of a COVID vaccine phone scam where an unidentified caller attempts to schedule a COVID vaccine at Saint Francis. The caller provides instructions for receiving the vaccine and asks for a social security number to schedule an appointment...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed the 61st COVID-19 related death in Stoddard County. Godwin also confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 recoveries. The county now sits at 2,892 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 81 active, 2,750 recoveries and 61 deaths...

Route TT in Stoddard County will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulder repairs. This section of roadway is located from Route 60 to County Road 642. Weather permitting, work will take place Thursday, Jan. 21 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m...

Nestle Purina recently presented $25,000 to Puxico Project 4 Paws, along with a donation of dog food. The grant money will jump-start the organization’s project to build a new animal shelter. Puxico Project 4 Paws is a nonprofit organization that was started in 2020 to support the city of Puxico Animal Control. The organization is led by CEO Jennifer Sokolowski, Karen Sanders and Tammy Corbin Beck...

The Puxico School Board moved forward with the Puxico School Bond and placed the bond on the April ballot. If the bond passes the district will build a new 30,000 square foot elementary school. Prior to the vote board member Kristi Siler asked what the public response has been thus far. Superintendent Cindy Crabb along with two other board members, Chad Payne and Dusty Stroud, said the response has been positive so far...

A mass COVID-19 vaccine event will be held Jan. 22 in Poplar Bluff, the first such event for Southeast Missouri The event was announced Friday by the Butler County Health Department. It will allow nearly 2,000 Missouri residents who are over the age of 65, or who are aged 18-65 and considered high risk, to receive vaccines, said Emily Goodin, director of BCHD...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 and 36 recoveries. The county now sits at 2,843 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 75 active, 2,708 recoveries and 60 deaths.

A Poplar Bluff man was ordered to stand trial Thursday afternoon for his role in connection with a recent fatal home invasion. Christopher “Jantzen” Gilmore appeared by video before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a preliminary hearing in his case. He was accompanied by his attorney, Ted Liszewski...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed 10 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 recoveries. The county now sits at 2,829 confirmed cases with 97 active, 2,672 recovered and 60 deaths. Broken down by age group the cases are 0 to 19 – 387 cases, 20 to 29 – 370 cases, 30 to 39 – 375 cases, 40 to 49 – 432 cases, 50 to 59 – 376 cases, 60 to 69 – 390 cases, 70 to 79 – 291 cases and 80-plus – 208 cases. ...

The Dexter Elks Lodge recently held its annual American Essay Contest. The topic was “How can Patriotism be Demonstrated”. The winners received a certificate and monetary prize. The winners will move on to the district level competition. Pictured above are the winners of Division I, which is fifth and sixth grade. ...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A local man will soon be returned to Butler County where he faces charges in connection with a recent fatal home invasion. Stacy Andrew Gipson appeared Wednesday morning before a judge in Kanawha County, West Virginia, for a hearing and waived extradition back to Missouri, according to the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed 16 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 recoveries. The county now sits at 2,819 confirmed cases with 109 active, 2,650 recovered and 60 deaths. Broken down by age group the cases are 0 to 19 – 386 cases, 20 to 29 – 368 cases, 30 to 39 – 375 cases, 40 to 49 – 430 cases, 50 to 59 – 374 cases, 60 to 69 – 388 cases, 70 to 79 – 291 cases and 80-plus – 207 cases. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Authorities are continuing to search for a Mississippi County woman who has been missing for over two weeks. On Sunday, the Mississippi County and Scott County Sheriff’s offices, along with SEMO Search and Rescue, conducted a joint operation in an area bordering both counties, searching for Madisson Lambert, 24, who was last seen at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 2020...

A 26-year-old Dexter man was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, on U.S. 60, four miles east of Poplar Bluff. According to the report, Nicholas A. Becker was operating a 2016 Kia Soul westbound when he failed to yield, and his car struck the rear of a 2003 Freightliner being driven by Jimmy D. Calder, 69, of Poplar Bluff...

A Dexter man has been arrested on drug charges after fleeing from officers on Monday. Matthew A. Taylor, 37, was arrested and charged with the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid...

DEXTER — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the City of Dexter joined forces during the past summer to install a new well at the north end of Dexter City Lake, following a decision that the previous well -- located at the south end of the lake -- could not be repaired...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed 8 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 recoveries. The county now sits at 2,803 confirmed cases with 100 active, 2,643 recovered and 60 deaths. Broken down by age group the cases are 0 to 19 – 385 cases, 20 to 29 – 365 cases, 30 to 39 – 373 cases, 40 to 49 – 427 cases, 50 to 59 – 371 cases, 60 to 69 – 388 cases, 70 to 79 – 289 cases and 80-plus – 205 cases. ...

Stoddard County Warranty Deeds County Recorder Kay Asbell Jan. 4-8, 2021 • Matt Thurmon and Mindy Thurmon to Alfonso Pab Rodriguez Sola and Linda Esther Rodriguez. Gossett’s Replat Lot 3. • Bank of Advance Inc. to Toby C. Eaton. North Hillbrook Subdivision Lots 8-9...

BLOOMFIELD — The Stoddard County Commission finalized the proposed budget for 2021 at a special meeting Thursday and announced Monday that a public hearing concerning the budget has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Stoddard County Government Building...

BERNIE – The Bernie School Board quickly worked through a short agenda Monday evening. Board President Judy Zoll stated the filing deadline for the Bernie School Board election is Jan. 19 at 5 p.m Two seats will be up for grabs in the election. As of the time of the meeting, the only two to file are the two incumbents, Zoll and Gary Eaton...

Two suspects were arrested Monday in connection to an armed robbery Saturday evening at The Bottle Shop on South Westwood Boulevard. Two white males entered the store at approximately 6:30 p.m. and threatened the store owner with a handgun, said Lt. Josh Stewart...

The director of the Stoddard County Health Center, Ben Godwin, confirmed 16 new cases of COVID-19. Of the new cases, two were confirmed over the weekend and 14 on Monday. The county now sits at 2,795 confirmed cases with 106 active, 2,629 recovered and 60 deaths...