General News

FEMA reps urge purchase of flood insurance (05/02/08)
"I can say that I'm 100 percent sure that another flood is coming," says Greg Coulson, who acts as a flood plane management specialist with FEMA. "I can't tell you when, but I can tell you that another flood will be here." Coulson paid a visit to Dexter this week to stress to residents the importance of purchasing a flood insurance policy...

Minor injuries sustained by three in Wednesday's bus wreck (05/01/08)
Three individuals were taken by ambulance from the scene of Wednesday morning's accident involving a Dexter school bus and a passenger van. The accident, which occurred when the school bus, headed east, struck the van in the intersection of One Mile Road and Grant Street around 7:45 a.m. ...

Bloomfield unveils new monument (05/01/08)
Local officials unveiled a new monument on the lawn of the Stoddard County Courthouse Monday afternoon. The monument, entitled 'The Civil War in Bloomfield,' now stands on the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn. Nearly 75 people came out for the dedication...

Morning bus wreck leaves at least two injured (04/30/08)
An early morning accident involving a Dexter school bus and a passenger van sent at least two people to the hospital today. Preliminary reports indicated that the bus, driven by Jayne James, who is a regular driver of Bus No. 8 for the district, was eastbound on Grant Street and was proceeding through the intersection of Grant and One Mile Road at about 7:30 this morning when it struck a southbound van that was already proceeding through the intersection...

Dexter man killed in Sunday night wreck (04/29/08)
Funeral services planned for Wednesday morning

Correction regarding SBA and FEMA remaining in Advance (04/25/08)
A report earlier this week stated that Small Business Administration (SBA) officials would remain on hand at the Advance Knights of Columbus Hall where they, along with FEMA representatives, have been available for disaster assistance following the March floods. This report was in error and it should be noted that SBA officials, along with FEMA, will not be available at the Advance location after the close of business this Saturday, April 25...

Dexter man admits to child molestation charges (04/25/08)
A 35-year-old Dexter man is in Stoddard County Jail today, charged in connection with molesting a three-year-old girl. Chris Abernathy has admitted to molestation allegations, according to the Dexter Police Department. In a report from Detective Lt. Trevor Pulley, Abernathy admitted to the charges of molestation during an interview on Wednesday...

Assistance sign-ups set for ag producers hit by flooding (04/24/08)
Stoddard County has been approved for the Emergency Conservation Program due to the excessive rain and resulting flooding of March 17, 2008 through March 19, 2008, according to Steve Morrison, County Executive Director of the local FSA office in Bloomfield...

FEMA's work is done; SBA to remain on hand (04/24/08)
Saturday is final day of operations for FEMA's disaster center in Advance

Dexter project included in DRA recommendation (04/23/08)
Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham has received word that a $100,000 grant has been approved for the city of Dexter for the purpose of making improvements to the industrial park that houses Emcon Technologies (formerly Arvin Industries). The funds come from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and is a portion of over $737,000 in applications received by the DRA for various economic growth projects in the Bootheel...

Aldermen certify April 5 election results (04/22/08)
The Dexter Board of Aldermen certified the April 5 election results at their Monday night meeting. The election ended in the defeat of incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Tim Crutchfield by challenger Ray Pixley by 60-percent of the 142 votes cast. This brings to a close Crutchfield's second stint on the Dexter Board of Aldermen...

Victim's family and defendant share their feelings (04/03/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- Emotions from both sides were evident Wednesday morning when the family of Richard "Rick" Watkins faced the man who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with his death. Watkins' widow, Betty Watkins of Dexter, was one of two people to speak on behalf of the victim during Wednesday's sentencing hearing for 41-year-old James E. Jankowski...

Jankowski sentenced to the maximum (04/03/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- For the first time since his admitted criminal negligence caused the death of a local businessman, James E. Jankowski was taken into police custody. Forty-one-year-old Jankowski was taken into custody following the handing down of a 15-year sentence by Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. ...

Welty trial pushed back (04/02/08)
A 14-year-old Bloomfield boy accused of murder has again had his trial pushed back. Following a Monday hearing, Judge William Syler decided that the process of jury selection for the case against Owen Welty, originally scheduled for later this month, will now begin in St. Louis on Sept. 19...

Mo. Supreme Court ruling could affect local DWI cases (04/01/08)
A recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling affecting DWI offenses likely won't have as much impact on county cases as some think, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn. In early March, the Supreme Court ruled that municipal court cases in which a defendant receives a suspended imposition of sentence can no longer be cited as a prior DWI offense during the trial phase of future DWI proceedings...

Candidate Allen speaks to Democrat women (03/30/08)
Candidate for 8th District U.S. Congressman was in Puxico for the Stoddard County Democrat Women's Annual St. Patrick's Day Pot Luck held at the V.F.W. building. Being an election year, turnout was clearly high this year both with politicians and supporters alike...

Investigation results in methamphetamine lab bust in Puxico (03/30/08)
A recent investigation in Stoddard County has resulted in the arrests of two people for manufacturing methamphetamine. Arrested were Tina L. Hayden and Dennis J. Hayden of Puxico. Both are currently facing charges of the Class A felony of manufacturing methamphetamine, Class A felony of attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, Class C felony of possession of a precursor to the manufacture of methamphetamine, Class D felony of possession drug paraphernalia, Class C felony of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). ...

Richland board accepts DESE award (03/28/08)
Members of Richland's School Board met in regular session Thursday night, having recently accepted the award for Distinction in Performance from the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education earlier this month. Members approved the calendar for the 2008-09 school year, along with dates for the upcoming summer school session and learned of numerous student achievements...

High-speed chase ends in one arrest (03/25/08)
A high-speed chase involving a Bell City deputy and an Advance deputy ended near the small community of Ardeola yesterday afternoon with one man taken into custody. Shawn Yount, 37, of Bell City, was arrested and placed in the Stoddard County jail after he led officers on a chase through a rural area east of Highway 25 near the area of Bell City and Highway 91...

Dexter welcomes special guest as a result of floods (03/23/08)
Undoubtedly, many stories will be told over the years of the Great Flood of 2008. One of them belongs to Nora White. She is without question one of the most independent 97-year-olds around. Nora White has always lived independently until a recent accident in which she suffered a broken left leg left her dependent upon someone else's care. It was a situation with which the feisty little great-great-great grandmother was not pleased at all...

Trial postponed for Poplar Bluff attorney accused of selling prescription medications (03/23/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- A Poplar Buff attorney arrested for selling prescription drugs in Stoddard County has had his trial postponed again, according to court personnel. Richard J. Bascom, 42, was set to stand trial March 27-28, before Presiding Circuit Judge Joe Z. Satterfield. However, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn that date has been postponed...

Two men placed on probation for separate crimes (03/23/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- Two men charged with separate crimes have been placed on probation for their actions, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn. On Wednesday, both 17-year-old Robert Stoner and 19-year-old Robert Watkins appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. Sharp after Sentence Advisory Reports (SAR) were filed by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole...

Banken called up to assist Butler County rescue efforts (03/21/08)
Two of Dexter's finest were called to aid rescue efforts this week in Butler County. Fire Chief Al Banken, along with firefighter Don Seymore, answered the call that came in early Thursday morning from Region E in Butler County to assist at the command post during flood rescue efforts all over the county...

Sifford trial pushed back until July (03/21/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- A Stoddard County man accused of felony dog fighting appeared in court again last week to have his case set for trial. The case against 29-year-old Jamie Sifford of Dudley has been re-set for trial before Judge Stephen Sharp on Monday, July 7...

Several breaches in area rivers (03/20/08)
Blunt, Bush declare 70 Missouri counties disaster area

Widespread flooding covers Stoddard County (03/19/08)
Widespread flooding throughout Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois is taking its toll on Stoddard County and other neighboring counties as approximately 10 inches of rain fell across the region yesterday and last night. Two deaths have been reported so far, one in Bollinger County and one in Wayne County near Ellsinore...