Stories from Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The list of families in Stoddard County who are in need of help this holiday season continues to grow. Newly received families are listed below. If a family previously listed no longer appears in the paper, that is an indication that the family has been adopted...

Billie J. "Catfish" McClure, son of the late Luther McClure and Thelma Shipley McClure, was born Dec. 6, 1931, in Clinton, Ark., and died at his residence in Bloomfield, Mo., on Nov. 18, 2012, at the age of 80. Mr. McClure was a former employee with the St. Louis Shipyards and had also worked as a farmer...

Noreen Hyslop photo Lexi Silvey and Addison Rutledge were two of several visitors to the children's section of Keller Public Library Saturday morning. The two were part of a large crowd attending the library's annual book sale to purge outdated and duplicate publications...

A free Thanksgiving dinner will be provided on Thursday, Nov. 22, Thanksgiving Day, at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. Organizers say anyone in need of a hot Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings is welcome. The meal will be served at the church beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until about 2 p.m...

The Highway Patrol arrested three individuals for DWI and other charges over the recent weekend. On Friday at 9:16 p.m., Billy R. Vanlue, 49, of Bloomfield was arrested for DWI and for felony unlawful use of a weapon, driving while suspended and for having no insurance and no seatbelt. He was taken to the Stoddard County Jail...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Effective immediately, the Missouri Poplar Bluff Social Security office will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. -- a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday. In addition, beginning Jan. 2, 2013, the office will close to the public at noon every Wednesday...

Route 51 in Stoddard County will be closed as contractor crews perform bridge repairs. This section of roadway is located between County Road 279 and Route K (bridge over drain ditch #5). Work will take place beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 3 and reopening Monday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m., weather permitting...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor A collective sigh of relief filled the air when personnel at the Dexter Girl Scout office were told Monday a decision had finally been reached regarding the possible sale of the local Girl Scout facility. A news release Monday morning confirmed that the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland's Board of Directors had voted to retain the local building...

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission awarded a contract for construction of a new electrical station and generator at the County Jail to Sides Construction of Cape Girardeau, Mo., at a cost of $168,343. The commission met Monday and awarded the bid to Sides Construction after opening five bids on the project. Sides Construction was the lowest of the five bids...

By COREY NOLES Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- An Advance, Mo., woman is behind bars today following allegations of elderly abuse. Patricia Ann Page, 58, was arrested on Wednesday Nov. 14, 2012, charged with the Class B felony of elderly abuse in the second degree...

Purchase this photo at dailystatesman.com NOREEN HYSLOP photos-nhyslop@dailystatesmanc.om A small but enthusiastic group of bird watchers joined members of the Swamp Candle Birders Saturday afternoon at Otter Slough to take advantage of witnessing some migratory birds stopping over in the area and to sight some of the regulars at the Conservation Area. ...