Stories from Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The Daily Statesman will be observing Women in Business during the week of Oct. 21-25, and in order to best recognize all area businesswomen, the paper will be taking a group photo at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 at the corner of Stoddard and Walnut Streets in downtown Dexter...

The late Ruth Nichols was a feisty lady -- a colorful character with a keen wit. She was full of mischief and fun and she could hold her ground with any verbal opponent who challenged the welfare of a child under her care. Nichols was an elementary teacher in the Dexter Schools for many years. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - For the sixth consecutive year, Wreaths Across America will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. Each year enough wreaths have been sponsored by individuals, churches and other groups to provide a wreath for every grave site in the cemetery. It is estimated that 1,900 wreaths will be needed to meet that goal again this year...

Note: All information and photos provided by school officials. Schools may e-mail results to dward@dailystatesman.com each night after a game. ESSEX, Mo. - The Richland Rebels middle school boys basketball program collected a season-opening sweep against the Leopold Wildcats Tuesday night...

BERNIE, Mo. - Upsets were absent for a second straight day in the varsity bracket of the SCAA volleyball tournament Tuesday night at Bernie. The third-seeded Bernie Mules beat the sixth seeded Bloomfield Wildcats 25-17, 25-22, and the fourth-seeded Advance Hornets eliminated the fifth-seeded Puxico Indians 25-21, 25-23...

The latest fundraising reports for 2014 state and federal-level elections were released Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) reported raising more than $250,000 in the third quarter of this year and having nearly $160,000 on hand as of Sept. 30. Smith won a June special election to replace Jo Ann Emerson, who resigned in January...

Melba Loraine Fisher, 75, of Advance, died Oct. 14, 2013, at her home. She was born March 20, 1938, at Bloomfield, Mo., the daughter of Elzie "Monk" and Julia Patrick Moore. Melba had been a homemaker. She also had worked as a special education aide and had worked at the Advance Nursing Center and at Pyramid Home Health. She was a member of the Perkins Baptist Church...

Janes R. Bolin Sr. of Puxico, died on Oct. 14, 2013, at the age of 77. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Watkins & Sons Funeral Home of Puxico.