News

An officer with Charleston (Missouri) Department of Public Safety received serious injuries after a semi-truck struck the rear of the patrol car he was driving Tuesday, Jan. 31, in Mississippi County. According to the state Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 7:18 p.m. ...

KENNETT, Mo. — A Kennett woman has been arrested following the discovery by Kennett police she was allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student at Kennett High School, where she is employed as a school nurse. Candice Elizabeth Johnson, 26, was arrested Wednesday, Feb.1, and faces two counts of second-degree statutory rape and two counts of sexual contact with a student...

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — A furry critter in a western Pennsylvania town has predicted six more weeks of winter during an annual Groundhog Day celebration. People gathered Thursday at Gobbler's Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil's "inner circle" summoned him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he has seen his shadow — and they say he did. According to folklore, if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't, spring comes early...

A Poplar Bluff Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper was struck shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday while responding to an accident on Highway 60, north of Poplar Bluff at the Marble Hill Road overpass....

Stoddard County Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said county offices and the Stoddard County Justice Center will reopen Thursday. The justice center and county offices were closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to inclement weather.

The races within the townships in Stoddard County are shaping up for the April Municipal election. Duckcreek Township In Duckcreek Township there are three running for two available board spots. Matt Armstrong, Doug Lowery and Curtis Clark are seeking a two year term on the board. Pat Hancock is running unopposed for the treasurer/trustee position. This is a two year term. Lorie Williams is running unopposed for clerk, which will be a one year term...

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said the Stoddard County Offices and the Stoddard County Justice Center will remain closed Wednesday due to inclement weather.

Competitor will become partner as SoutheastHEALTH president and chief executive officer Ken Bateman announced Monday, Jan. 30, the organization will merge with the Mercy system. According to a release, SoutheastHEALTH has signed a letter of intent with St. Louis-based Mercy, and officials expect the merger to be complete in the fall...

At the conclusion of the SCAA Tournament the All Tounrament Cheerleaders were announced. They are: from Dexter, Alexis Bennett, Bella Cook, Lexi Holden, Grace Sepulvado and Ellie Dowdy; from Bell City, Kamryn Stubenrow and Madison Jines; from Bernie, Lilly Bridges and Abby Powell and from Bloomfield, Kilee Schott...

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis opened the weekly commission meeting saying he had spoken to Kaitlyn Lambert with Bootheel Regional planning. He said Lambert had no update in relation to the ARPA funds. Commissioner Carol Jarrell said Lambert has also reached out to Water District 4. Water District 4 did wish to proceed an ARPA fund application...

BLOOMFIELD - Military history all but comes to life at the National Stars and Stripes Museum and Library at Bloomfield. The facility’s World War I room is accessed through a life-sized trench structure that offers visitors a look into the past and maybe, through the eyes of soldiers who depended on trenches for protection while war raged...

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said Stoddard County offices and the Stoddard County Justice Center will be closed Tuesday due to inclement weather.

The Dexter Bearcat Cheerleaders won the Cheerleading Award at the Stoddard County Tournament

SIKESTON –Route AH in Stoddard County will be closed as railroad crews perform railroad maintenance on the tracks. This section of the roadway is located from U.S. 60 to Route 114 near Grayridge, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, February 13 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m...

SIKESTON –Missouri Route 153 in Stoddard County will be closed as railroad crews perform railroad maintenance on the tracks. This section of the roadway is located from Route 60 to Route 114 near Essex, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place Friday, February 10 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m...

Commissioner Carol Jarrell made a motion to open the 2023 budget hearing. This was seconded by commissioner Greg Lintz. And the hearing opened with a 3-0 vote. Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis went through the budget briefly for those in attendance during the hearing. Mathis opened by asking that Jarrell and Lintz to look at the equipment and remodeling budget. He said the collector/treasurer's office had a budget that was $6,000 less than the previous year...

The Bank of Advance celebrated the opening of its Bloomfield branch with a ribbon cutting Wednesday morning located at 120 S. Prairie St. Pictured in front from left is h Pounds, Caroline Fodgs, Cammie Guard, Amy Bryant, Sue Mayo, Melinda Rainey, Cindy Miles, Paula Miles, Grayson Ozbun, Adam Rainey, Peter Coutavas and Bloomfield Chamber President Amy Haas...

Dexter High School has released the list of candidates for the Winter Homecoming court. Dexter will celebrate Winter Homecoming on February 10 when they host the Kennett Indians. The Homecoming Court will be crownd between the junior varsity and varsity basketball games...

The Stoddard County Tournament will continue tonight at the Bearcat Event Center with the semifinal round. The weather delayed Junior Varsity game between Puxico and Bernie was completed Wednesday afternoon with Puxico defeating Bernie. An updated bracket has been released. The JV bracket will begin at 4 p,m, with Puxico facing Bell City. The second JV semifinal is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with Richland facing Woodland...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers moved quickly to pass more restrictions on amending the state Constitution during one of the session's first hearings Tuesday. Republican legislative leaders in the House and Senate have cited cracking down on constitutional amendments as a top priority for the session, arguing it's now too easy to enshrine policies in the constitution...

Inclement weather hindered the delivery late Tuesday and early Wednesday of the Jan. 25 editions of the Daily American Republic, The Prospect-News and the Dexter Statesman. The editions will be free access on the newspapers’ websites because of these issues...

•••Barker has been located safe*** The Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing Stoddard County man. The Stoddard County Sheriffs Office received a report from family members that Jeffery Barker, Jr was last seen on Sunday around midnight walking from a residence in Circle City. ...

The City of Bernie held a public hearing to update citizens on the city’s attempt to obtain a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Grant writer Mitzi Dell with Dell Consultants said the city is applying for the grant to apply to the water project in Bernie...

The Stoddard County Senate Bill 40 Board (SB40) discussed the ARC Funding Agreement, for the Stoddard County ARC at its January meeting. Board Chairman Josh Hester said a contract is sent to the ARC Board and Sheltered Workshop Board each year. The contract is signed and returned and is the agreement between SB40 and the entities involved. ...