Stories from Friday, December 7, 2012

Roger Kent Wright, son of Norma Jean Jackson Wright and the late John Allen Wright, was born in Parma, Mo., on Nov. 10, 1959, and died at Missouri Southern Health Care in Dexter on Dec. 3, 2012, at the age of 53. He had lived most all of his life in the Malden and Parma areas...

Work Investment Board of Southeast Missouri President June O'Dell spoke to a gathering of local Chamber of Commerce members at a noon luncheon on Thursday. O'Dell encouraged Chamber members to commit to the Missouri Work Ready Community Initiative, a program developed to help acquire experienced workers in the community and to encourage business and industry to be drawn to Southeast Missouri when considering a move or expansion project...

Just a handful of families remain on The Daily Statesman's Operation Santa list this holiday season. A total of 50 families have been listed this year. Those who have an interest in adopting one of the remaining families are asked to call The Daily Statesman at 624-4545 or come into the newspaper office at 133 S. Walnut St. in Dexter to obtain the names and further information on the family of choice. The following families remain on the list to be adopted. Included are recent adoptions...

"Not knowing for certain, I can't say for sure." These words were uttered by Commissioner Frank Sifford on more than one occasion over the years as he was asked a question about county business. It was his way of bringing a little levity to a situation. Sifford's years in office made him an authority on many issues, and he wasn't afraid to express his opinion -- often quite colorfully...

It's Charleston, Sikeston in championship rematch

Dexter's wrestling team earned a split at home Thursday night as the Bearcats hosted Poplar Bluff and Notre Dame Regional High School. Poplar Bluff was the big winner, going 2-0 after edging past a young Dexter squad, 42-33 in the finale. Both Dexter and Poplar Bluff scored wins over Notre Dame, the 'Cats taking down the Bulldogs, 63-18, while the Mules notched a 58-22 victory...

PARAGOULD, Ark. -- Down 10 in the closing seconds of the first quarter, the Dexter Lady Bearcats hurried upcourt and found junior Alison Jarrell open in the corner. Her 3-pointer at the buzzer was the start of a furious finish as Dexter beat Valley View (Ark.) 64-32 in the opening round of the McDonald's Shootout...