Stories from Thursday, December 22, 2011

Dexter Parks and Recreation Director Lawson Metcalf reminds local residents that the city of Dexter will once again have a dropoff site for used live Christmas trees this holiday season. From Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, trees may be dropped off at the parking lot of the Dexter Aquatic Center on Highway 114 East. A sign will direct residents where to place the trees...

Members of Bloomfield's Boy Scout Troop 72 spent their day off school Wednesday volunteering at Stoddard County Mission as hundreds of holiday baskets were presented to needy families from the area. Loaded down with bags containing frozen chicken, along with canned and non-perishable items are, at left, Sr. Patrol Leader Jeremiah Thornburgh, and Asst. Sr. Patrol Leader Nate Cazee. The two were among several volunteers at the mission this week who helped bag and distribute the holiday groceries...

Dexter Schools Board of Education secured several positions during executive session following a brief December meeting Tuesday night. Josh Dowdy, a 1993 Dexter graduate, will be filling the shoes of longtime Southwest Elementary Coach and Physical Education Instructor Vicky Jarrell, who announced last month her intentions to retire at the conclusion of the 2011012 school year. Dowdy is currently employed with the Twin Rivers School District...

BROSELEY, MO. -- Hannah Noe erupted for 30 points to help lead the Lady Bearcats into the championship game of the Lady Royals Christmas Classic with a 78-47 win over Neelyville Wednesday night. Noe's offensive explosion included six 3-pointers and a perfect 6-of-6 shooting performance from inside the arc. The sophomore finished the game 12-of-19 (63 percent) overall with no free throws...

Wendell and Wanda Smith of Bernie, Mo. will be celebrating 60 years of marriage on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. The Smith family will host a reception for the couple from 2-4 p.m. at the Bernie Community Center on Highway 25 South in Bernie. The family considers the presence of guests sufficient gifts. The Smiths are pictured in a recent photo above, and in a photo taken in 1951...