Stories from Thursday, January 2, 2014

New lawsuit seeks to force his hand

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that there were zero fatalities during the New Year's holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, to 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. Troopers investigated a total of 116 traffic crashes with 42 injuries. In addition, troopers made 47 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the 30-hour counting period...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission had a short agenda this week. The only action taken by the commission was to amend the budget in the sheriff's commissary account and in the recorder maintenance fund. County Department heads met again with the commission to discuss the 2014 budget. The budget will be submitted to the commission in mid-January 2014...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County sales tax revenue rebounded in the final months of 2013 to be within $11,584 of the amount collected in 2012. The revenue report provided by the Missouri Department of Revenue reflected revenues through November 2013. Revenue from December will not be recorded until January 2014, so it will be in next year's budget. The numbers for 2013 reflect revenue from December 2012. The county has a one-cent sales tax in place to provide revenue for operating expenses...

Reale Cook, a senior at Dexter High School, is the January 2014 Calendar Girl. Reale is the daughter of Shannon and Karen Cook. She is a member of FCA, FTA, and Honor Society, and she is a varsity football cheerleader. Reale plans to attend Mizzou in the fall. Calendar Girls are comprised of the 12 finalists in the Miss Dexter competition, sponsored annually by the DHS Vocal Music Program...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- December was a busy month for the Stoddard County Jail, capping off a busy year. In December 2013, Stoddard County Sheriff's deputies made 18 drug-related arrests. While the number 18 might not, in itself, seem like a lot, it's the composition of the arrests that are intriguing...

What an amazing week in the great outdoors! I really appreciate all of the faithful readers bearing with me through the holidays, the blizzard and ice, and the torrential rainfall, it can be tough to squeeze an interesting story from the outdoors when most everyone is firmly tucked indoors! This week however, I'm loaded (with stories) so let's get to it!...