Stories from Friday, April 20, 2012

Missouri's fourth Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday started Thursday and will run through Wednesday, April 25. People who purchase new ENERGY STARŪ qualified appliances in Missouri during the holiday will save at least 4.225 percent off their purchase. Those shopping in Dexter will receive an additional one percent off their purchase. The reduced price represents the elimination of the state's sales tax from the purchase, as well as the one-cent sales tax in Dexter...

Last year was the first year for the Amateur Photography Contest at the Stoddard County Fair. While organizers were happy with the turnout, they learned several lessons from last year's contest. First, the topic didn't get to the public early enough. Janet Coleman, executive director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, said from now on they plan to announce the topic for the following year during the fair...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Stoddard County will be among 277 delegates from 29 counties attending the Republican Congressional District 8 Convention at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Gamma Conference Center behind Gamma Lab on West Maud Street in Poplar Bluff. They will select three delegates to attend the National Republican Convention in Tampa, Fla., Aug. 27-31. Three alternate delegates and one presidential elector also will be selected...

His trip began in early April, "the day before Passover," says 64-year-old Thomas Moore from Paragould, Ark., who has been seen in recent days walking through Dexter with a 12-foot cross on his shoulder. Its weight is eased somewhat by the leverage of two wheels that, combined with a little manpower, make about an eight-to-10 mile trek of highway daily...

BLOOMFIELD, MO. -- Advance left little doubt about who is the best softball team in the Stoddard County Activities Association (SCAA) this season. After blanking Bernie 9-0 in the semifinals, the Lady Hornets run-ruled Dexter 15-1 in the championship game to claim the league's tournament title Thursday at Bloomfield...

Helen Beatress Zuck, daughter of the late Benjamin Thomas and Eva May Schumpert Sanders, was born in Parma, Mo., on July 4, 1929, and died at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center on April 20, 2012, at the age of 82. Mrs. Zuck had grown up in Parma, and had lived the past 20 years in Dexter...

Wilma Jean Craft, daughter of the late Emery Stroder and Beulah Kynion Stroder, was born Aug. 26, 1936, in Crump, Mo., and died April 19, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo., at the age of 75. Mrs. Craft had worked at the International Hat Factory and was a home-maker...

William Eli Pogue Jr., son of the late William Eli Pogue Sr. and Wilma Sweat Pogue, was born in Osceola, Ark., on June 24, 1934, and died at his daughter's home in Cape Girardeau, Mo., on April 19, 2012, at the age of 77. Mr. Pogue made his career in education. ...