Stories from Wednesday, December 7, 2011

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Austin Mace, the 20-year-old Dexter man charged in the attack of Dexter Police Officer Kevin Moore on Sept. 12, 2011, has received a seven-year prison term after pleading guilty today in a Bloomfield courtroom. Mace and his father, Terry Mace, have been in the Stoddard County Jail since an altercation that left Moore hospitalized with a facial fracture and lacerations as a result of a punch admittedly thrown by Austin Mace as Moore attempted to break up a fight between the father and son.. ...

WAPPAPELLO LAKE - The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake will begin annual winter drawdown from recreation pool to conservation pool beginning Dec. 15, 2011. In accordance with the water control plan, the pool is drawn down five feet, from 359.74 feet relevant to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) to 354.74 feet NGVD. ...

Do you have the cutest photo of your pet decked out in holiday trim? Brutus in a Santa suit? Fifi wearing elf ears or a New Year's tiara? The Daily Statesman is currently accepting holiday pet photos for their latest online contest powered by UPickem. ...

Beginning today, Dec. 7, the Daily Statesman is launching a new online video series, entitled "Off the Cuff." The series will feature interview segments with local individuals, discussing numerous topics, news stories or upcoming events. The show kicks off today with Corey Noles interviewing Kim Slavings, Director of the Stoddard County Gospel Mission...

SIKESTON -- The SEMO Conference Tournament has not been kind to the Dexter Bearcats. Since the tournament resumed in 2006, the Bearcats lone win in the event came in the inaugural season, defeating Kennett 68-38 in a consolation bracket game. The Bearcats looked to change their fate on Tuesday, but the Jackson Indians had other plans, eliminating Dexter from the tournament with a 70-50 win in the consolation semifinals on Tuesday night...

Dru Haertling scored a game-high 25 points to help lead Jackson to a 45-38 win over the Dexter Lady Bearcats in a pivotal early-season meeting of two of the SEMO Conference's top teams Tuesday night at the Bearcat Event Center. Haertling scored 19 of her 25 points in the second half. The 5-foot-9 senior was also 11-of-11 from the free throw line, six of those coming in the final minutes of the game to help the Lady Indians hold off a late push by the Lady Bearcats...

NEW MADRID -- Dexter wrestlers took a 52-26 decision over the New Madrid County Central Eagles in a duel match Tuesday night on the road. "Overall the boys executed well tonight," Dexter coach Rick Schwab commented. "We need to continue to work with our younger kids at the lighter weights. We really need to step it up in practice and the weight room and on the mat to prepare for our first tournament next Friday and Saturday...

An Open House will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the newly expanded and renovated Police Department building. The building is located at 305 Cooper Street. Police Chief Sammy Stone said the building is complete, with the exception of the installation of a few sprinkler heads. The only thing not completed is resurfacing the parking area adjoining the Police Department...

Mattie Irene Hoffman, daughter of the late Elmer and Georgia Ann Culberson Grim, was born near Dexter, Mo., on June 21, 1923, and died at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter on Dec. 4, 2011, at the age of 88. She had lived in Dexter most of her life. She attended the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter and had worked at Bruce's Big Star and then the Piggly Wiggly Store for many years in bookkeeping and as a checker. She loved sewing, quilting, cooking and fishing...