Stories from Tuesday, April 3, 2012

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The results are in and County Clerk Joe Watson, along with his staff and volunteers, was putting the finishing touches on the Tuesday, April 3, 2012 municipal election. A total of 1,596 ballots were cast Tuesday at 24 precincts in the county...

Ralph "Eugene" Hessling, Sr., son of the late Edward Hessling and Polly Ann Brockwell Hessling, was born June 30, 1917, in Lilbourn, Mo., and died March 31, 2012, at his residence in Dexter at the age of 94. Mr. Hessling was a heavy equipment operator and a resident of Dexter...

Marzella Catherine Skelton, daughter of the late John Franklin and Mary Catherine Smith Heldermon, was born in Bridgeport, Okla., on Sept. 14, 1914, and died at the Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center in Puxico, Mo., on April 1, 2012, at the age of 97...

From staff reports The Stoddard County Democratic Central Committee held its caucus on March 29 at the Justice Center in Bloomfield to select delegates to the district and state conventions. Mike Moroni chaired the meeting and was elected Caucus Chairman...

By MIKE McCOY Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - The Stoddard County Commission appointed Debbie McKay to the Stoddard County Sheltered Facilities SB 40 Board of Directors and discussed funding in the Off-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (BRO) account at its regular meeting Monday at the Government Building...

Noreen Hyslop photo Casting an early morning vote An early morning voter Tuesday was Jackie McKuin of Dexter, who cast her vote for two school board members and for three individuals to fill positions on the Stoddard County Health Board. Handing McKuin her "I Voted" sticker is Virginia Reed, a longtime volunteer at the polling place for rural voters at Sacred Heart Church. The polls will remain open until 7 p.m. tonight...

By MADELINE DeJOURNETT SEMO News Service The Advance Board of Aldermen met in special session on Monday, April 2, 2012, to consider the fate of Charley Brown's Bar and Grill, located on Highway 25 at the south edge of Advance. The meeting was originally scheduled as a hearing to listen to testimony concerning the horrific events of Saturday, March 17, 2012, during which the bar was the scene of an abduction that led to the brutalization and rape of an Advance woman...

AMY ELLINGHOUSE photo Easter kisses are granted the big bunny at West City Park Saturday by Walker Jarrell, son of Brad and Sarah Jarrell of Dexter. The first Strollerthon, which promises to be an annual event, benefited the local Parents as Teachers program and was followed by the PAT Easter Egg Hunt at the park with over 100 youngsters participating. ...