Stories from Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The Dexter Board of Aldermen held its April meeting Thursday at the Parks and Recreation Gym at East Park. The board approved an ordinance accepting a grant for phase II of the walking trail project. The grant is a 64/36 grant meaning the city would pay 36 percent of the cost and the grant will cover 64 percent. In addition the ordinance accepted a bid from Mike Light Cement Finishing, Inc. for $391,654.20 to pave the trail. The city would pay about $140,000 of this project...

Farmers from Butler and Stoddard counties are encountering various challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gary Deardorff, who runs a cattle and farming operation in Stoddard County, said transportation already is becoming an issue. While he hasn’t encountered any problems shipping cattle, he said, some feed lots are getting backed up. ...

BLOOMFIELD — Two people appeared in court Tuesday after recently being charged with the January death of Robert L. Hardwood, who was killed during the alleged perpetration of a burglary and robbery at his home. Joshua Richard Herron, 41, of Advance and 15-year-old Zalma resident, Evan Schrader, appeared Tuesday before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield for arraignment in their cases...

When Dexter Parks and Recreation Director Jamie Rowe called Missouri Conservation Department Fisheries Management Biologist Mike Reed last fall to inform him the water pump at the Dexter Fishing Lake was not operational, he knew the clock was ticking for the lake...

Linda Patricia Morgan Montgomery passed away at her home in Bernie, Mo on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 she was 64.  A private, family only, graveside service will be conducted at Bernie Cemetery.  Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is in charge of all arrangements...

Elenora Louise West, daughter of the late Arl and Nola Hester Hartline, was born July 21, 1938 and departed this life on April 17, 2020 at the Crowley Ridge Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 81 years. Funeral services were conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on April 21, 2020. Interment followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

Pansy Pauline Kleffer Link Darby, daughter of the late George Martin Kleffer and Lozettie Patterson Kleffer, was born on March 23, 1927 in Clewiston, Florida and departed this life on April 17, 2020 at Bloomfield Living Center in Bloomfield, Missouri at the age of 93 years...

Flossie Lee Craft, daughter of the late Oscar Turner and Bertha Mae Stevens Turner, was born on June 9, 1935 in Lilbourn, Missouri and departed this life on April 15, 2020 at her residence in Bernie, Missouri at the age of 84 years. Funeral services were conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, April 17, 2020. Interment followed in the Bethany Cemetery...

Pauline Jackson Gaskins, daughter of the late Lon Jackson and Jessie Gertrude Parks Jackson, was born on December 27, 1928 in Aid, Missouri and departed this life on April 16, 2020 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 91 years...

Stoddard County Warranty Deeds County Recorder Kay Asbell April 6-10, 2020 • Lora A. Rowland and Lora A. Baker to Keith L. Baker. Chautauqua Park Third Addition Dexter Block 14 Lots 1-4. • Mary G. Ralston to Sam B. McKee and William H. McKee. Section 27 Township 27 Range 12...

The demand for food through the Southeast Missouri Food Bank has more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic overspread the country in March, according to Chief Advancement Officer Lisa Church. “For example, the Good Neighbor Pantry in Sikeston had 217 families come through in February and 680 in March,” Church said. “That’s an indication of what we’ve seen.”...

People who have not needed assistance getting food in the past are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory as companies have laid off and furloughed employees because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Southeast Missouri Food Bank Chief Advancement Officer Lisa Church, there are three ways to access food assistance: stationary pantries, mobile food pantries and SNAP benefits...