Stories from Thursday, April 19, 2012

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - After considerable discussion and input from a teacher representative, the Bloomfield School Board approved the standard step increases for teachers without adding to the salary base at the regular meeting of the board this week. The board also granted a 26-cent per hour step increase for classified staff in the district...

Dexter School Board members voted at their regular monthly meeting this week to grant their certified staff both the vertical and horizontal movement on the district's salary schedule and to keep that salary schedule as it has been for the past three years...

Businessman Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff, a republican candidate for the State Senate District 25 seat, led the candidates in campaign contributions for the quarter ending April 10 with contributions of $117,750. District 162 State Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville, a Democrat, was second in money raised for the quarter with $93,154. District 159 State Rep. Billy Pat Wright of Dexter, a Republican, reported $22,840 in donations for the quarter...

Several Bootheel emergency responders converged upon Dexter recently as the local fire department, under the direction of Fire Chief Don Seymore, hosted a School Bus Rescue Class, with instructors from the University of Missouri's Fire Rescue Training Institute. Local firefighters, along with units from Mississippi County, Bloomfield and Essex received two days of classroom and hands-on instruction from the university...