News

T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter held its honors program and several students earned awards. Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Family and Consumer Science Food and Nutrition Peyton Boles Grant Ayers Kaden Bias Peyton Boles Kinleigh Chappell Shelby Dawson...

Kindergarten Mrs. Blair's Class Reading Josclyn Watson Alyssa Hicks Reading most improved RyLee Cobb Tessa Hendley Math Benjamin Mitchell Tessa Hendley Spelling Sarah Stevens Maisie Hopkins Alyssa Hicks Most Improved Overall Easton Walker Handwriting...

The Kennett Police Department has issued an Endangered SILVER Advisory for a missing adult incident that occurred on South Everett Street in Kennett, Mo. at 2:30 p.m. on May 14. Kerry Wayne Thomas is described as a white male, age 66, height 5-5, 180 pounds, gray hair, blue eyes. ...

The Bearcat Event Center was filled to capacity Friday evening as the 131 members of the Dexter High School Class of 2019 received their diplomas. Emotions seesawed between laughter and tears. The graduates entered the event center walking between rows of school teachers, administration and school board. The teachers and graduates had a last opportunity to say goodbye as high fives, hand shakes, hugs and tears were shared...

Stoddard County commissioners were presented with preliminary jail plans Monday morning by approved architect, Shawn Harding of HMN Architects in Kansas. “What I brought you today is a culmination of what Dale (Rogers) started and what we took over from Dale and tightened up,” Harding said. “I think we got a plan that works. I think we have kept in mind the dollar amount we talked about originally. We made a couple changes and have identified some areas we could simplify construction.”...

BLOOMFIELD — A former deputy clerk filed suit Tuesday morning against Stoddard County and her former boss for wrongfully terminating her for questioning irregularities in the April 2 municipal election. Cape Girardeau attorney, Laura Clubb, filed the suit at 10:19 a.m. in Stoddard County Circuit Court on behalf of her whistle-blower client, Ginger McCoy...

Bernie High School has announced a three way tie for valedictorian. Daisy Eaton, daughter of Gary and Amber Eaton; Cymber Arnold, daughter of Derik and Casey Arnold and Tom and Lacey Winchester and Weston Zoll, son of Donald and Brandee Zoll have all been named valedictorians. Joshua Ellenburg, son of Allan and Tommie Ellenburg has been named salutatorian. The Bernie graduation ceremony will be Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. in the Bernie gym.

Advance High School has announced the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Advance Class of 2019. The valedictorian is Katlyn Cook and the salutatorian is Sierra Shirrell. The graduation ceremony for Advance will take place at 6 p.m. tomorrow evening (May 11) in the Advance gym...

Bloomfield High School has announced the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Bloomfield Class of 2019. Leading the Class of 2019 is valedictorian Sydney Mayo. She is the daughter of Scott and Cheryl Mayo. Mayo has accumulated a 4.0 GPA and is involved in numerous activities. ...

The 2019 Bearcat Basketball Summer Camp will be June 17-19 at the Bearcat Event Center. Boys entering kindergarten through the third game will participate from 8 to 10 a.m., fourth through sixth grade from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and seventh and eighth grade from 1 to 3 p.m...

“Bonnie Gillespie is a man whose service to his country didn’t end with his discharge,” remarked Jackie Gilles, adjutant of the Bloomfield American Legion Post 382. “Bonnie continued to serve both his country and his community through his long-term involvement in the Bloomfield American Legion,” Gilles continued...

Stoddard County commissioners officially awarded the depository bid Monday morning after taking the week to look over the services offered. The Bank of Advance will continue to provide the county with depository services for the next four years. “Things were very, very close,” Presiding Commissioner Danny Talkington said...

The Dexter Board of Aldermen approved Monday spending nearly $23,000 to make repairs to the historic gymnasium used by the city’s Park & Recreation Department. “Ten years ago we put the new roof on the gymnasium (on Park Lane) and then a few years ago, we put a brand new floor in it,” explained City Administrator Mark Stidham. “It was brought to our attention we’re going to have to have some tuck-point work done on the building.”...

Due to construction at Charles Bland Stadium the Goodwill Games were moved to the Bearcat Event Center. But the spirit of the games remained true, friendly competition, encouragement and success. Seven schools with a total of 194 students with special needs participated in 20/50 yard dash, wheelchair races, running long jump, shot put-softball throw and 100 meter event. The schools represented were Dexter, Bernie, Bloomfield, Puxico, Crowley Ridge State School, Richland and Woodland...

The Stoddard County Relay for Life was again successful. Over $63,000 was raised for the fight against cancer. Even though the threat of rain moved the event indoors, a large crowd descended on the gym at Dexter’s East Park. The evening was filled with entertainment from the young talent in Stoddard County. Dancing, singing, games, food and more filled the evening...

Schools and organizations serving K-12 students in communities served by NewWave Communications recently had the opportunity to win $3,000 to fund their technology project or club as part of NewWave’s “Dream Bigger” social media campaign. Among the five winners is Dexter High School’s Student News Group, Bearcat News, which will use the funds to purchase updated equipment such as teleprompters, monitors, audio, and visual equipment. ...

The Puxico Board of Aldermen certified election results, swore in the newly elected officials and reorganized. Mayor Rick McLean, Marshal Rick Sheren, along with aldermen Matthew Mitchell and Harlan Lamb were sworn in by City Clerk Alice Patrick. Mayor McLean presented outgoing aldermen Gary Burns and GS Kilbreth with plaques recognizing their years of service to the city. Following the presentation Lamb was elected president of the board...

Stoddard County officials opened bids Monday morning for depository services and are expected to award the bid during next week’s meeting. Four banks submitted bids for the county’s depository service including First Midwest Bank, Bank of Advance, Sterling Bank and Southern Bank...

Friendship Baptist Church will be holding a Spring Revival April 28 through May 1. Services will be held on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. with the Monday through Wednesday night services at 7 p.m. Gene and Diana Edwards from Mountain Grove, Mo. will lead the services. ...

On May 31 at the Dexter Elks Lodge 18 FORE Life will hold its 15th annual banquet. Once again it will be headlined by two speakers who will both motivate and inspire those in attendance. Dexter resident Mark Guethle will share the inspirational story of his battle against cancer. Mark, a 1976 graduate of Dexter High School and his wife Sharon have two sons, Shawn and Chris and five grandchildren...

After eight years Faurecia in Dexter has raised its Ford Q1 flag again. “This is eight years of really demonstrating a track record of excellence to get back this flag here,” said acting Cluster General Manager Frederic El-Ahdab. “That is evidence of a lot of hard work, a lot of commitment in terms of quality of service, quality of deliveries.”...

The Dexter boys tennis team will participate in the statewide Coaches for Cancer event Thursday, May 2. The Bearcats will host Sikeston at 4 p.m. at T.S. Hill Middle School. The event raises money for local families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. One hundred percent of the money raised will be donated to Bloomfield High School teacher Lori Vaughn, 18 Fore Life and Friends of Kids with Cancer...

DEXTER ­— Additional improvements will be made to a drive at Southwest Elementary, along with facilities within the Dexter School District for field events at Charles Bland Stadium. The project alternatives were approved Monday by the Board of Education as part of an approximately $19.7 million improvement plan. ...

BLOOMFIELD — A Dexter man was sentenced to life in prison Monday after being convicted in February for statutory rape. David W. Madsen, 42, appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer in Stoddard County for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of first degree statutory rape of a person less than 14 years old...

“On New Year’s Eve my husband took me to a local restaurant for dinner. As I was leaving the restroom, which has a heavy door, I lost my balance when I tugged on the door to open it. Some women were coming in, and one of them remarked to the others about ‘the drunk.’ I politely responded that I suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Behind me I heard another lady comment that I was too young to have Parkinson’s. I am 56.”...