News

The 30th Annual Fourth of July Patriotic Parade for Kids will be held on Monday, July 4th at 10:00 a.m. This annual parade will begin at the corner of Elm and Vine streets in downtown Dexter. The youngsters guided by Uncle Sam aka Mayor Banken will gather on the steps of the U.S. Post Office on Stoddard Street to salute the American Flag with the Pledge of Allegiance. They will sing a few patriotic songs and pose for those everlasting photos...

SIKESTON — One person was killed and another injured in a shooting at a Sikeston gas station early Sunday morning. According to Sikeston DPS Capt. Jon Broom, officers responded to Huck’s, located at 833 E. Malone in reference to shots fired and two people injured at approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday...

The Dunklin County Sheriff's Department has issued an endangered person advisory for Mary Ruth Blevins, 50 of Campbell. Blevins has not been heard from since 11 a.m. June 30. Authorities say Blevins may be with Michael Skyler Kinder. According to authorities Blevins was involved in a domestic dispute with Kinder that involved weapons three days to her last contact with her mother...

The 7th annual Grille It Up at Dexter's East Park is taking place on Friday, July 8 and Saturday 9. Friday evening will kick off the event with the Super Troopers mud volleyball match. The match will pit the Dexter Police Department against the Missouri State Highway Patrol. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — The Stoddard County Sheriff's Office on Friday warned residents to be aware of recent thefts around the rural areas, especially the Bell City area. “Please be cautious, lock all building and equipment and place cameras if available,” the sheriff’s office via a post on its social media...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday approved most of a roughly $48 billion state budget while cutting $500 million lawmakers had set aside for tax refunds. The budget outlines spending on state programs and services for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins today...

A Stoddard County man, Shawn Yount, was sentenced to 50 years in prison Thursday by Judge Joe Z. Satterfield. Yount was convicted on May 5 of five counts of burglary and stealing. “Shawn Yount has been a menace to Stoddard County business owners and residents. ...

The Boon Park Universal Playground Project is getting closer and closer to reality. On Thursday afternoon a ground breaking ceremony was held at Boon Park and a 50/50 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was officially presented to the City of Dexter. A large crowd gathered to witness this moment that was six years in the making...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri voters will have to show photo identification to cast a regular ballot in the November election as a result of a law signed Wednesday by Gov. Mike Parson that caps a nearly two-decade-long push by Republicans for stricter voting requirements...

CLAYTON, Mo. — A Wayne County teenager pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of his younger brother. Williem A. Taylor, 18, of McGee pleaded guilty to the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action Wednesday before 21st Circuit Court Judge Joseph Walsh III in St. Louis County...

Dexter, MO — This Independence Day, law enforcement in Dexter, Missouri will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired driving awareness campaign. The primary goal of the law enforcement presence will be to prevent the tragedies previously seen around the July 4th holiday...

A Michigan man is in custody following a pursuit and reached speeds of 101 miles an hour in Stoddard County Sunday afternoon. According to the probable cause statement, Sergeant Derrick Durall with the Dexter Police Department was dispatched to U.S. Highway 60 at 1:51 p.m. to investigate a report of a careless and imprudent driver. The suspect vehicle was reported to be westbound...

The Dexter Board of aldermen held a special meeting Monday afternoon to start formulating a plan to move forward with repairs to the lagoon and sewage system in the city. City Administrator Trevor Pulley and city engineer Rich Cochran said the city is currently in violation with the ammonia levels at the east lagoon. ...

The Stoddard County Commission opened bids for the purchase of a body scanner for the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department Monday Morning. Sheriff Carl Hefner said the scanner will be used to scan inmates as they enter the facility to locate any contraband on or in the individual...

By JOSH AYERS Editor The Stoddard County Senate Bill 40 Board (SB40) agreed to finance a contract for the renovation/repair of the Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop. The contract itself will be between Rick Shipman Construction and the Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop...

With the Fourth of July around the corner many will celebrate with family and friends. That celebration will likely include fireworks. Lisa Tucker with Extreme Fireworks in Dexter along with Dexter Fire Chief Don Seymore want to ensure that the celebration is safe...

ST. LOUIS – Shaking her head in disbelief while sitting at Missouri’s last remaining abortion clinic, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush threaded her fingers together and bowed her head as the constitutional right to abortion unraveled. “Oh my gosh,” Bush said Friday morning, her voice breaking as she was wrapped in a hug. “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. 49 years. 49 years. I’m sorry. 49 years and they strip it away. 49 years. 36 million people will be affected and it’s, ‘Oh well.’...

Publisher of the Southeast Missourian and president of Rust Communications Jon K. Rust will be a 2022 inductee into the Missouri Press Association Newspaper Hall of Fame. Hailed as an industry innovator and community stalwart, Rust and two others will join the hall during the association's annual convention and trade show Sept. 16 in Lake Ozark...

COLUMBIA, Mo., June 22, 2022 – Fifty-five Missouri students recently competed in the 2022 National History Day contest. Students from Missouri received outstanding entry awards and special prizes. A student team from Odessa was also selected to be part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History exhibit showcase...

The Bernie School Board approved the 2022-23 budget, high school handbooks and program evaluations at its June meeting. The first program evaluation was the Federal Program. The goal of the district is to operate the Federal Programs in an efficient manner to provide an educational benefit the district and to meet the district’s goals. Superintendent Dustin Hicks said the evaluation recommended no changes to the district’s program...

Risco's William Collier has his sights set on Gillette, Wyoming and the National High School Championship Rodeo. Collier will compete in the steer wrestling competition representing Missouri as the state champion. Collier competed in the Missouri High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) to win the state title...

On May 16, 2022, Skyler Travis, 32 of Poplar Bluff, was charged with Sexual Abuse in the first degree, related to allegations of repeated non-consensual sexual contact with a male victim. On Friday the defense made a motion for the appointment of Special Prosecutor due to the fact that the defendant’s attorney is currently running for the position of Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney...

SIKESTON—Missouri Route 25 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.  This section of roadway is located from Route M to Route E near Bloomfield, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily...

A convicted sex offender who purchased internet access from a neighbor has been arrested for promoting child pornography following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Investigators say they initially traced six images of child pornography to an apartment in the 3300 block of South Westwood Boulevard. The resident told troopers he was selling Wi-Fi access to another man, James W. Graham, 65...