Stories from Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing in Dexter tonight, Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Dexter High School auditorium beginning at 6 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to gain input from the public on a proposed rate increase by Ameren Missouri...

The Bloomfield R-XIV School District welcomed back students on Thursday, Aug. 16. Along with the students, they also welcomed four new staff members. Pictured from left are Brian Hukel, who serves as middle school English teacher as well as assistant basketball and baseball coach; Lindsey Horton, who is the new high school business teacher and also serves as the FBLA and Pep Club sponsor; and Dustin Hicks, who is the new principal for grades 7-12. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Three local convenience store owners will be issued a total of $70,000, with a fourth settlement amount yet undecided, a result of suits brought against Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver and Sheriff Carl Hefner following the July 14, 2011, confiscation of hundreds of packets that county authorities contended contained imitation controlled substances...

Doyle Gene Worley, son of Calvin Doyle and Daisy (Crutcher) Worley, was born Aug. 9, 1938, in Dexter, Mo., and died Aug. 14, 2012, at his residence in Van Buren, Mo., at the age of 75. Gene had resided in Van Buren for the past five years and was formerly of Dexter, Mo., where he operated a John Deere dealership...

Roberto Espada-Morales, son of the late Juan Espada-Rios and Isabell Espada-Morales, was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, on Feb. 25, 1927, and died at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo., on Aug. 18, 2012, at the age of 85. He had lived in Puerto Rico and New York before moving to the Dexter area in 1967. He had worked for 25 years at the Mingo Job Corps as a supervisor. He was a member of Risen Church in Dexter and was a veteran of the U. S. Army...

Catherine M. Barber, daughter of the late Earl Clark and Flavie Cornman Clark, was born on June 11, 1920, in Puxico, Mo., and died at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston on Aug. 19, 2012, at the age of 92. Mrs. Barber was a member of the Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church in Dexter, a former employee of International Hat Company in Dexter, a farmer, home-maker, and a resident of Dexter...

Brittlyn Dawn Scott, age 9, of Portageville, Mo., formerly of Clarkton Mo., died Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in Holcomb, Mo. She was born June 18, 2003, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Scottie and Jamie Vires. Survivors include her parents, Scottie and Jamie Vires; a sister, Braelyn Vires; her maternal grandparents, Brett and Janet Scott of Clarkton, Mo.; her paternal grandparents, Scott Vires of Portageville, Mo., and Christine Vires, also of Portageville, Mo.; her aunts, Elizabeth Scott of Clarkton, Mo., and Tabatha Crow and husband Jeremy of Clarkton; and cousins, Breana and Kamdym Scott of Clarkton, Mo. ...

Brooklyn Leann Scott, age 6, of Portageville, Mo., formerly of Clarkton Mo., died Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in Holcomb, Mo. She was born March 8, 2006, in Kennett, Mo., to Scottie and Jamie Vires. Survivors include her parents, Scottie and Jamie Vires; a sister, Braelyn Vires; her maternal grandparents, Brett and Janet Scott of Clarkton, Mo.; her paternal grandparents, Scott Vires of Portageville, Mo., and Christine Vires, also of Portageville, Mo.; her aunts, Elizabeth Scott of Clarkton, Mo., and Tabatha Crow and husband Jeremy of Clarkton; and cousins, Breana and Kamdym Scott of Clarkton, Mo. ...

Helen Elizabeth "Liz" Long, 54, of Oak Ridge, Mo., formerly of Dexter, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born Dec. 4, 1957, in Little Rock, Ark., daughter of Donald A. St. Martin (Major USAF) and Helen M. McClendon St. Martin. She and James E. Long, Jr. were married Sept. 29, 1979...