Stories from Wednesday, February 29, 2012

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor PUXICO, Mo- Several homes were flattened and at least one person was critically injured in a storm that slammed into rural Puxico just before 5 a.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service has not yet confirmed the strength of the storm that ripped several houses from their foundations and scattered debris across an area east of the city...

PUXICO, Mo. - The path of destruction that tore through Stoddard County in the early hours of Wednesday morning left many residents picking up the pieces of their lives. A drive down many county roads in rural Puxico will quickly show signs of the what most residents are convinced was a tornado...

PUXICO, Mo. - The man who lost his life when a mobile home virtually exploded in Wednesday morning's storm has been identified as 50-year-old Mark Champlin. He was pronounced dead at 7:35 a.m. at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau after being airlifted from a rural area east of Puxico where the storm's most significant damge occurred...

The opening day of filing for the Aug. 7 primary election was a busy one in Stoddard County as 14 people filed at the county clerk's office. Many of those filing were incumbents for county offices, and no one has filed to oppose them. One race that has generated a lot of interest is District 1 on the Stoddard County Commission. ...

The Boys Scouts Blue and Gold Banquet took place Saturday night, with several area Scouts and their families in attendance. Receiving their Bear Rank patches are Austin Jones, with his mother, Carly, behind. At right is Jeb Hubbard, with his mother, Christi. Scouts received patches, Arrow Points and Academic and Sports Belt Loops...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Chaffee's offense started Tuesday's Class 2 District 3 semifinal in overdrive. The Red Devils struggled offensively at points this season, but that wasn't the case during the opening eight minutes against Advance. They were hitting baskets in transition, forcing turnovers and looked ready to make a run at upsetting top-seeded Advance...

OAK RIDGE, Mo. -- The Class 1 state boys basketball championship still runs through Scott County Central. The Braves reminded any doubters of that on Tuesday night. The three-time defending state champions started their title defense with a 85-41 dismantling of Richland in the Class 1 District 2 semifinals...

Tiny Louise Smith, daughter of the late Richard Sadler and Lillie Ramsey Sadler, was born on Oct. 18, 1928 in Dexter, Mo., and died Feb. 26, 2012, at her residence in Dexter at the age of 83. On April 8,1950, she was united in marriage to Gene Barney Smith in Piggott, Ark. Mr. Smith preceded her in death on Nov. 16, 1967...

David Rendleman, former resident of Dexter, Mo., died in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 27, 2012. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be anoouced by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.