News

DEXTER — Progressive Industries will vacate its building in October, shutting down operations that provide jobs to a limited number of developmentally disabled residents in Stoddard County. The announcement came at a meeting Thursday by members of the Senate Bill 40 board...

The Bernie School Board adopted a medical marijuana policy and set a date for a tax rate hearing. The board adopted a medical marijuana policy based on the advice of school attorneys said Superintendent Dustin Hicks. Voters passed Amendment 2 in the November 2018 election to legalize medical marijuana in Missouri...

The July meeting of the Bernie Board of Aldermen opened with a public hearing. The hearing centered around a dog impounded for biting a Bernie resident. William Turnbow approached the board and asked that his dog be released. Turnbow expressed concern that the dog was not being cared for properly. ...

“It’s an exciting way to begin the day,” an enthusiastic Becky Arnold observes. “My Chinese students get me revved up, and I carry that energy into my own sixth-grade classroom.” Arnold, a rural Dexter resident and elementary teacher in the Richland district, is speaking of her role as an educator for the VIPKid virtual learning program...

Paul Jones, son of the late Berchel Jones and Catherine Couch Jones, was born on December 3, 1937 in Whitesburg, Kentucky and departed this life on July 13, 2019 at Winchester Nursing Center in Bernie, Missouri at the age of 81 years. Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. ...

ELLINGTON — An endangered silver advisory has been issued as authorities search for an Ellington man who suffers from dementia and hypoglycemia and was last seen leaving a care facility on foot, possibly en route to Poplar Bluff. The Ellington Police Department issued the advisory after Richard Dorey, 78, was last seen at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Brent B. Tinnin Manor, 200 Euel Polk Drive...

Tim Robey general sales manager for Autry Morlan Chevrolet Cadillac, recently presented a putter to Stan Durham, who made a hole-in-one Monday, July 1, 2019, at Crowley's Ridge Golf Course in Bloomfield. Durham, of Bloomfield, made his first career hole-in-one on the par 3, 97-yard sixth hole with a sand wedge. Autry Morlan awards putters to local golfers who make holes-in-one. Someone must have witnessed the feat for a golfer to receive the putter...

When Judy Patterson’s husband Ronnie was offered a transfer with his company, it was an opportunity that was Heaven sent. “We had decided to see if we could get closer to our daughter and son-in-law, who have two young children,” Patterson explains. “I was driving to Arkansas about every other weekend to see the grandbabies, and help out when needed.”...

BROSELEY — A Dexter woman drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming in the St. Francis River near Broseley. At about 6:15 p.m., Barbara R. Reese and a man with her were swimming in the river, six miles east of Broseley off of Highway U, explained Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Richie Ayers...

BLOOMFIELD — An Advance man was charged Tuesday with murdering his brother-in-law who came to the aid of his sister during a domestic disturbance between the couple. Melvin Dewayne Anderson III was charged by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the classified felony of armed criminal action (ACA) in connection with the shooting death of Tristan Davis of Advance...

The Dexter Police are mourning the loss of one of their own. Their police canine Bard has died. Bard underwent surgery on June 27 to remove a piece of metal from his paw. The surgery went well and Bard was at home recovering with his handler, Officer Thomas Forkum. During the evening hours of June 30, Forkum discovered Bard deceased in his kennel...

BLOOMFIELD — The Stoddard County Commission hired a flood plain manager and approved a bid for the removal of trees behind the jail. The commission voted unanimously Monday to hire Smith and Company, of Poplar Bluff, to be the flood plain manager. County Surveyor Joe Pulliam, who works for the company and will be the contact person for the county, and an engineer with Smith and Company will need additional training for the company to hold the position...

Warranty Deeds County Recorder Kay Asbell June 17-21, 2019 • Alan Busby and Charity Busby to Martin Grain Co. City of Bernie Block 5 Lots 7 and 8. • John Corbin Wiggins II to Wiggins Family Trust. Section 4 Township 28 Range 10. • Charles Leible, Terri Leible, Southlaw, Curtis Paul Bond and Michelle Marie Bond to Freedom Mortgage Corp. Ecology Acres Subdivision Block 10 Lots 10, 11, 12 and 13...

PUXICO — “I lived most of my life out of a suitcase,” says retired Army Warrant Officer Mike Allen, “so I’m content to stay pretty close to home these days.” Reflecting on his career as a military pilot, the well-traveled veteran asserts that the frequent, long-term absences were difficult, but necessary to the stability of his young family...

The Puxico Board of Alderman held a preliminary meeting for the preparation for the Fiscal Year 2020 City of Puxico budget. The board started with a rundown of revenue from FY2019 and estimated revenue for FY2020. Once the income estimates had been set, the board began its review of each department’s budget requests that had been developed by department heads. ...

A public hearing was held at the Dexter Board of Aldermen meeting on Monday night concerning the abandonment of Matthews Street. The hearing was held in response to a letter from Tyson Foods that requested that the city abandon the south 895 feet of the street. ...

Dexter R-XI School District will spend just under $26.2 million in the next fiscal year, under a budget approved Thursday by the Board of Education. The plan includes nearly $4.5 million budgeted for bond construction, according to information provided to the board by Superintendent C.A. Counts...

ADVANCE — The findings of an autopsy Monday morning found that an Advance man died of a gunshot wound allegedly fired by his brother-in-law during a domestic disturbance he was attempting to stop. Dr. Russell Deidiker’s preliminary findings on the autopsy of Tristan Davis, 27, were his manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was a gunshot wound, according to Stoddard County Coroner Kenny Pope...

The Stoddard County Commission announced Monday that all county offices, including the license bureau, will be closed Thursday and Friday after Gov. Mike Parson ordered the closing of all state offices the day after the Fourth of July.

Several local students competed at the recent National Beta Convention in Oklahoma City and finished in the top 10. The National Junior Beta Convention was held June 15 to18 and the Senior Beta was held June 19 to 22. Students competed in multiple categories at both the Junior Beta and Senior Beta level...

Dexter native Macy Cecil is the recipient of the Rilla Moran Woods Internship provided by the National Federation of Democratic Women. The internship will be at the DNC Headquarters in Washington D.C. and will last a month. To qualify for the internship the applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 25, endorsed by her local Democratic Women's club and the State Federation Democratic Women's club. ...

A women was shot in Dexter Tuesday night and the Dexter Police are currently investigating. At 10:45 Tuesday night Dexter Police were called to a residence on Bain Street in response to the shooting. A female identified as Charlene Buck, 21, had a single gunshot wound to the throat...

Local libraries in Advance, Bernie, Bloomfield, Piedmont and Puxico were among 35 libraries across Missouri who were the recent recipients of a combined $173,396 in state aid grants. The libraries each received $4,954 of funding for use on literacy efforts and technology upgrades, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office says...

“My mother is my inspiration,” observes Jana Bennett of Dexter. “She was a homemaker and cook, and was so proud of her talent in the kitchen. Cooking wasn’t a chore to her — she loved it.”  Bennett says she inherited her mother’s fondness for food preparation, and when, as a single mother, she needed a way to supplement her income, she found that through cooking...

Bernie Police arrested a man on probation who was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. Alex G. Winder was charged possession with of a controlled substance after his arrest at the Bernie Laundromat. Officer Randy Elles and Bernie Police Chief Justin Allen responded to the laundromat after a caller stated a female at the facility had a warrant...