News

A Dexter woman was injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway 60, one half mile east of Dexter. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Ashley L Issac, 32 of Dexter, was westbound in a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. Authorities say her vehicle struck the rear of a 2015 International School Bus driven by Bradley S Hann, 48 of Dexter. Authorities said that Issac's vehicle then left the right side of the roadway. No students were on the bus at the time of the accident...

A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail after he allegedly shot a woman with a flare gun Thursday evening. Henry Lindsey, 32, of Poplar Bluff is charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. The latter charge stems from prior felony convictions for stealing (2011) and burglary (2014)...

A Puxico man was killed after being struck by tractor trailer Thursday afternoon. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, a tractor trailer was being driven northbound on County Road 477, five miles north of Dudley. Authorities say the the tractor trailer struck a pedestrian walking in the roadway. The pedestrian was identified as William E. Vanover, 31 of Puxico...

The Dexter Youth Soccer Association made presentation to the Dexter School Board in the hopes of bringing a soccer program to the district in the fall of 2025. The board room was filled with kids in uniform and parents. Preston Clark opened the presentation stating how he benefited from the life lessons he learned by participating in football and other sports. He said he wanted the kids to benefit from the same lessons through soccer...

The Dexter School Board addressed a temporary closure of the walking track at the Bearcat Event Center (BEC) during the daytime hours. This is due to construction in the locker rooms at the high school gym. Because of the construction gym classes have moved to the BEC. The district has decided to close the walking track during the day due to safety concerns. The track is expected to reopen for regular usage in mid October. The evening walking track hours will not be affected...

The Dexter Youth Soccer Association has started play on their new field at the corner of Highway ZZ and County Road 612 (Grant Street). A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion and coach Alex Barney spoke about the team. Barney said the team began in the spring using the Dexter Parks and Recreation (DPR) teams. He said an all star team series was created. He said some sponsorship money was received and the team played each other in a three game series...

Recently a ribbon cutting was held at Joe Craig’s studio on Walnut Street in Dexter. The ribbon cutting marked the relaunch of the studio now known as Soulmarks. Craig has spent 50 years photographing people around the world. If he was not taking photographs he was educating people on the art of photography. Craig captured countless memories while taking photos for Carnival Cruise Line...

Hanna Wilson of Puxico, daughter of Mark Wilson and Jeff and Schree Gunnels, was crowned the 2023 Miss Stoddard County Fair Queen Sunday afternoon at the Stoddard County Fair Grounds. Pictured from left is First Alternate Lydia Hanner of Dexter, daughter of Andrea and Larry Hanner, Wilson and Second Alternate Brooklyn Franklin of Dexter, daughter of Jason and April Wray and Robert Franklin...

The Bernie School Board approved two program evaluations and Missouri Consultants for Education (MCE) updates. The first program evaluation approved was the Professional Development. The goal of the program is to provide the professional and classified staff a continuous process of refining skills and keeping current with new developments in the field of education...

A Dudley man died in a single vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Highway WW three miles north of Dudley. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol Noah B Rushing, 22 of Dudley, was northbound in a 2000 Freightliner. Authorities say the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected and ran off the left side of the roadway and struck an embankment...

COLUMBIA, Mo. (Sept. 12, 2023) – Ameren Missouri will send six teams to compete in the 2023 National Gas Rodeo for natural gas workers – a two-day competition, Sept. 14-15, in Springfield, Mo. The Gas Rodeo attracts the best natural gas workers from around the country to compete in events based on traditional tasks and skills...

Dexter, MO - The Bootheel Regional Planning Commission has announced that they will be traveling to different libraries throughout their six-county service area to provide an opportunity for residents to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program. The BRPC is partnering with the Federal Communications Commission to promote and enroll qualifying households into the program...

The Dexter Board of Aldermen passed three ordinances at its September meeting. The first was the approval of the annexation of a piece of land. The land is a 11.08 acre tract along Highway 60 and the South Outer Road. A annexation hearing was opened by Mayor Jason Banken. One member of the community was on hand but had no comment. With no comments offered the board approved the annexation...

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said Jim Tweedy prepared deeds for the property behind the Stars and Stripes Museum. The commission deeded part of the land to the museum and the remainder to the Bloomfield Assistance League on behalf of the Veterans Cemetery...

Dexter's Ronnie LeGrand joined the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association in 1999. Pitching horseshoes became a passion for LeGrand. He has competed in numerous competitions. He has earned the titles of state champion and world champion. LeGrand now has a new title, Hall of Famer. LeGrand was inducted into the Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame on September 2. LeGrand was nominated by a friend of his, Stanton Griggs...

When Stoddard County Fair Board President Kevin Holman pulled into the Stoddard County Fair Grounds on Saturday morning it was bustling with activity. The county 4H and FFA students were cleaning the livestock and exhibit barns and the FFA/4H Building. Final preparations are underway for the 96th annual Stoddard County Fair...

Authorities have taken Chris J Smith, 28 of Poplar Bluff, into custody after a lengthy search. Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout said Smith was a passenger in vehicle in Dexter on August 12. Trout said at that time a traffic stop was conducted and Smith fled on foot. He was last seen near Whitman and Houston Street. Authorities said Smith had an active warrant and he should be considered dangerous...

Debra M. Wright, the subject of a two-day search of the Black River, is alive and presently in the Butler County jail. Authorities spent Monday afternoon and Tuesday searching by boat for Wright after she was reported missing. Wright was arrested Wednesday morning in the 2000 block of West Henry Street for a probation violation — dangerous drugs. She is being held without bond, said Poplar Bluff Police Lt. Josh Stewart...

In Poplar Bluff, the search for a woman reported missing at 3 p.m. Monday in the Black River is continuing into its second day. Missouri State Highway Patroll divers are searching near the Vine Street bridge. Poplar Bluff firefighters and police officers, Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department responded to the 200 block of North Riverview when Roland L. ...

Dexter High School announced the 2023 Miss DHS Candidates and their escorts. The candidates and escorts are: Alexis Bennett and Landon Jarrell Kate Churchill and Cameron Bell, Emma Dorton and Luke Worley, Shelby Driskill and Beau Carrier, Kaylee Hazel and Rhyder Williams, Mia Holden and Banks Nesselrodt, Reanna Laden and Luke Gentry, Brooklyn Link and Sawyer Rascher, Abbie Lloyd and Anistin Kyle and Addie Medley and Chase Farmer The coronation will take place Thursday morning September 7 at Charles Bland Stadium.. ...

A Stoddard County family is suing members of the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department following the death of their 9-year-old lab mix, Parker. Court documents filed by The Oliver Firm, run by former prosecutor Russ Oliver, ask for the body camera footage of the incident, as well as a civil penalty in the amount of $5,000 and attorney fees...

One person has been fired and another placed on leave by Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner after an investigation was started into the killing of a domesticated dog. On Wednesday, both Hefner and Stoddard County Prosecutor Sawyer Smith formally requested an independent investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

Congressman Jason Smith visited Lowery Acres as part of his annual farm tour. Lowery Acres is a fourth generation farm located on County Road 283. “It's great, it is the prime example of what so many family farms are in Southeast and South Central Missouri,” said Smith following the tour of the farm. ...

The improved portion of a Butler County levee officials stood on Wednesday morning represents $1 million of work by a drainage district, and is all that stands between thousands of acres of Alex Clark’s farmland and crops lost to regular flooding. It also unfortunately marks only three-fourths of one mile out of the 11 miles that need similar work...

The ninth annual Ride For a Cure Dice Run for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital left the Dexter Elks Lodge on Saturday morning. Over 80 motorcycles pulled out, escorted by the Dexter Police Department to the city limits. The ride is held in honor of Dexter resident Larry Maronay who lost a battle to Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2010...