Stories from Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The roadwork of milling and grinding on Stoddard street in downtown Dexter will begin on Thursday, Aug. 2. Until further otice, there will be no on-street parking or traffic permitted on Stoddard St. from Catalpa (Harps end) to Highway 25 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. City officials ask that residents use alternate routes during these hours. Failure to comply, they state, may result in vehicles being towed...

Billy Jay McClain, 48, of Fenton, Mo., died Sunday, July 29, 2012, at St. Clair Health Center in Fenton, Mo. Mr. McClain was born June 29, 1964, in Hammond, Ind. He had lived in Fenton for the past 10 years. He formerly lived in the Poplar Bluff and Dexter areas most of his life. He was a member of the Local Laborers Union #916 in Farmington...

NOREEN HYSLOP-nhyslop@dailystatesman.com Individuals, churches, or organizations interested in joining the Festival of Sharing are encouraged to join with volunteers from across the region on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Wesley Hall at the Dexter United Methodist Church. ...

Free physicals will be offered to middle school and high school students in Stoddard County on Thursday, Aug. 2 at Dexter High School. The physicals are provided by area physicians through a cooperative effort with the local schools and Missouri Southern Healthcare...

SEMO News Service The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recently announced a proposed 60-day duck hunting season and six-duck daily bag limit for the upcoming 2012-13 late waterfowl season in the Mississippi Flyway, which extends across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The Service also proposed geese hunting season lengths and bag limits that vary by state and area...

By DAVID LIEB Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Supreme Court cleared the way Tuesday for voters to potentially get a say on initiatives to raise tobacco taxes, increase the minimum wage and limit interest rates on payday loans...

SHANNON PUTNAM photo Morgan Cliff is The Daily Statesman's August Calendar Girl. The Dexter High School junior is the daughter of Steve and Cherie Cliff and participates in FCA, FCCLA, STUCO, Dance Team, Varsity Football Cheerleader, and Track. Calendar Girls are comprised of the 12 finalists in the Miss Dexter competition, sponsored annually by the DHS Vocal Music Program...

Iraqi chef realizes dream with restaurant in Dexter