News

While formal filing for the District 25 seat currently held by Sen. Doug Libla won’t begin until February, two candidates have already expressed interest in the position. Poplar Bluff businessman Eddy Justice announced today he is seeking the seat when Libla’s current term ends. Libla is prevented by term limits from running again...

Stoddard County officials will soon be seeking bids to handle the county’s financial accounts for the next four years. Commissioners approved for County Clerk Cecil Weeks to draft bid specs for the county’s financial accounts. Once drafted, Weeks said the bid request will be posted in the newspaper and letters will be sent to local banks...

The Puxico school board removed the interim title from Cindy Crabb extending her tenure as superintendent through the 2019-2020 school year. The Puxico School Board also opened the door for a new team by voting to move forward with the formation of a cross country team...

This marks the 100th year that the family of Ernest Aslin has been farming land in Stoddard County. “It has actually been in the Aslin family longer than that,” explains Bob Aslin, now the senior farmer in the family farm operation. “My grandpa Ernest took possession of his 60-acre inheritance in 1919, and the rest of my great-grandfather’s farm was parceled out among Grandpa’s siblings.”...

Southern Bank held a ribbon cutting at its new location 303 Market St. The new location houses a full service bank and insurance office. Pictured in front from left: Amber Christian, Southern Bank; Korie Fish, Dexter Chamber Executive Director; Sue Ann Williams, CEO SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County; Lea Jenkins, Southern Bank; Crystal Tucker, Southern Bank; Alex Becker, Southern Bank; Brett Dorton, Southern Bank; Josh Miller, Southern Bank; Janice Nichols, Southern Bank; Elizabeth Malone, Southern Bank; Billie Shelton, Southern Bank; Kevin Bishop, Southern Bank; David Illig, Southern Insurance Services; Cecil Haley, Southern Bank; Rebecca Mitchell, Southern Bank; Jerry Corder, Alderman; Dexter Mayor Jason Banken and Alisha Trammell, Trammel and Son Reality.. ...

Modern Woodmen presented a $2,500 check to the Stars and Stripes Museum recently. The odern Woodmen matched funds raised at the Stars and Stripes trivia night. The trivia night raised about $3,000 and Modern Woodmen matched funds up to $2500. The money is going to the Stars and Stripes school outreach program. Pictured from left are Grant Thorn with the Modern Woodmen, Museum Administrator Laura Meyer and Jim Mayo...

The Kennett Police Department has issued an Endangered SILVER Advisory for a missing adult that occurred at Urgent Care in Hayti at 10 p.m. on March 10, 2019. The endangered missing adult is: William Swinton, a black male, age 64, six feet two inches tall, 140 pounds, gray hair, brown eyes, wearing black stocking hat, gray cap, brown leather jacket and khaki pants. ...

“I’m sure times were hard and Mother struggled to make ends meet,” recalls Beulah Fulkerson Eaton, “but we never knew it.” Gathered on a recent wintry day, the Fulkerson sisters — Eaton, 94; Dorothy Fulkerson Gillespie, 92; and Alma Fulkerson Lewis, 95, shared memories of growing up in a single-parent household during the Great Depression. The three sisters are the last remaining siblings of eight Fulkerson children...

Candice Averett’s fourth grade class at Central Elementary was asked to write an essay stating where they wanted to go for a field trip. The purpose of the essay was to convince the rest of the class to vote for the location the student wrote about. ...

The Bernie Board of Aldermen discussed the repair of mechanical sirens and adopted a new ordinance at the March meeting. EMA Director Robbie Kennedy addressed the board in regards to the sirens. He reported that all three sirens were not working. The siren at the water treatment plant was frozen and he was not sure if a repair was possible. ...

DEXTER — The community had an opportunity to hear details of a proposed no-tax-increase bond to fund district-wide improvements Monday. According to Superintendent C.A. Counts, the 12 projects total an estimated $18.5 million dollars with $15.7 million generated through the bond, if approved by voters during the April 2 election...

The Puxico Board of Aldermen viewed a drawing of a proposed new fire station for the city at the February meeting. The meeting opened with a prayer led by Alderman Gary Burns and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Rick McLean. Puxico Fire Chief Eugene Goodale said the fire station is in the planning stages. ...

Stoddard County Commissioners awarded a mobile generator bid to Clifford Power Systems of Independence, Mo., during Monday morning’s meeting. Clifford Power submitted the lowest of three bids for a mobile generator at $48,940, including shipping. The county will receive an 80kw Generac mobile generator with a two-year warranty or 2,000 hours. The warranty also includes unlimited hours covered during the first year...

DEXTER — Stop signs will soon be erected in the Valley’s Addition Subdivision near Boon Park after a vote Monday night by the Dexter Board of Aldermen. The subdivision, Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham said, is finished and several homes already have been built...

DEXTER — The Dexter Board of Aldermen heard a request Monday night from a group of individuals asking the city to consider allowing utility-task vehicles to operate inside the city limits. Speaking on behalf of the group of about 12 was Shelly McClintock...

“When I was 3 years old, Grandpa Blue gave me my first dog,” recounts Bonnie Blue of Bloomfield. “His name was Adlai — in honor of Adlai Stevenson. I have been a dog-lover ever since.” Blue shares her comfortable home with a brood of six dogs and three cats. While the group varies in size and temperament, they all share a common thread — each one has a history; a story of how he or she came to be a part of the “Blue Bunch.”...

A Dexter man was found dead Friday in his trailer on Clements Street in Dexter. According to Detective Corey Mils with the Dexter Police Department, the body of James Freddy Moore Jr. was discovered by a maintenance worker with the trailer park. The landlord believed Moore had moved and rented the trailer to a new tenant. Mills stated the maintenance worker forced entry into the trailer and discovered Moore. Dexter Police were called to the scene...

DEXTER — A former employee of the Town & Country Supermarket at Dexter has been charged with robbing the store at gunpoint. Rodney B. Bowen, 49, of Dexter was charged with the Class A felony of first-degree robbery by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

Missouri Governor Mike Parson visited Richland Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 15, to present a proclamation honoring the school for receiving the National Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education. “I think this award shows that you’re looking at the best of the best. ...

BERNIE — A Kennett, Mo., man was arrested and charged following a burglary reported at MFA Agriculture in Bernie on Wednesday. According to Bernie Police Chief Justin Allen, Richard Marcus McCarthy, 30, was arrested and charged through the Stoddard County Prosecutor’s office with burglary in the second degree, stealing a motor vehicle and stealing...

Nestlé Purina announced Thursday morning the expansion of its Bloomfield factory in Southeast Missouri where Tidy Cats brand cat litter is made. The expansion represents a $115 million investment that will allow Purina to meet a growing demand from cat owners...

Two Stoddard County bridge projects are a step closer to replacement with the opening of bids from four companies during Monday morning’s county commission meeting. Smith & Company Bridge Engineer/Project Manager Jeremy Manning opened bids from Robertson Contractors, Inc. of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Joe’s Bridge and Grading, Inc. of Poplar Bluff, Keith Simpson Contracting, LLC of Benton, Mo. and Fricke Management and Contracting, Inc. of Murphysboro, Ill...

Four Dexter High School students have had nine pieces of art between them accepted by the Southeast Missouri State University Art Department. Those pieces of art will appear at at the 41st annual high school art exhibition entitled the Exhibtion of Excellence from Feb. ...

DEXTER — A project to extend Interstate 57 past Sikeston along U.S. Highway 60 to connect Chicago to Dallas, Texas took another step Friday with the unveiling of the Future I-57 sign in front of a large crowd at the First Baptist Church.  Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham opened the program saying, “It is a good day for Southeast Missouri, and we are unlimited in what we can accomplish.”...

Dr. Nathan Seyer recently received the Patriot Award from Employer Support Group of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ESGR is a Department of Defense program that promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ...