Stories from Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Orval Payton, son of the late Crit Payton and Mary Martha Malin Payton, was born on Jan. 31, 1933, in Aid, Mo., and died on Jan. 19, 2013, at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., at the age of 79. Mr. Payton worked in the shipping department of Purolator Filter Company in Dexter. He was of the General Baptist faith, and he was resident of Dexter...

Nadine Joyce Ford, daughter of the late Harold James Carter and Beatrice Perry Carter, was born on Dec. 1, 1939, in Avert, Mo., and died on Jan. 20, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo., at the age of 73. Mrs. Ford was a member of the First Methodist Church in Bell City, Mo., and a resident of rural Advance. She worked as a cook at the Bell City Schools, and was a former employee of Elder Manufacturing in Bloomfield and Paramount Hat Company in Advance...

Barbara Ann Blocker, daughter of the late John and Mintie Chumley Rodgers, was born in Malden, Mo., on Jan. 23, 1950, and died at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Mo., on Jan. 20, 2013, at the age of 62. She had lived in Kennett before moving to the Bloomfield area in 1980...

Michael T. Harlan, son of Michael M. and Debra A. Dougherty Harlan, was born in St. Louis, Mo., on March 31, 1985, and died in Hawaii on Jan. 13, 2013, at the age of 27. He had lived in Grayridge all his life. He graduated from Richland High School and Southeast Missouri State University. He was an active member of the U.S. Army and had just enlisted for the second time...

B.J. Edwards, son of Calvin Edwards of Bloomfield, Mo., and Billie Kaye Edwards of Park Hills, Mo., was born on Dec. 6, 1982, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and died on Jan. 20, 2013, in Park Hills, Mo., at the age of 30 years. B.J. served his country in the United States Marine Corp. ...

The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) is cautioning all seniors and disabled Missourians to be aware of possible scams involving the filing of a Property Tax Credit (PTC) claim. Scams involving the PTC, formerly known as the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, frequently target seniors and the disabled. Scam artists often pose as trustworthy helpers and can be friends, family members or caregivers...

The Dexter Rotary Club will hold its annual Chili Day this Friday, Jan. 25, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish Hall. Serving will begin at 11 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m. Carryouts will also be available. The Dexter Rotary Club is one of Dexter's oldest service organizations, with proceeds from events such as the Chili Day given back to the community. ...

NOREEN HYSLOP photo Dexter Elks Lodge No. 2439 Exalted Ruler Davy Crockett surprised an Essex veteran Monday by installing a handicap ramp at the veteran's home. Crocket was assisted by Elks Veterans Committee Chairperson, Shirley Alexander, in making the presentation. ...

Associated Press PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The men who died in a reported murder-suicide Sunday morning have been identified by Park Hills Police. One is a Stoddard County native, B.J. Edwards, 20. According to Park Hills Police, an altercation began inside a residence on Rivermines Street in Park Hills about 2 a.m. Once outside, Joseph Lee Gilliam, 22, of Park Hills, shot Billy Jo Edwards, 30, of rural Park Hills, before turning the gun on himself...

Purchase this photo at dailystatesman.com NOREEN HYSLOP-hyslop@dailystatesmancom Local residents have witnessed an unusual influx of snow geese in recent days. ...

Dexter Police Jan. 20-21, 2013 Police arrested four individuals at 909 W. Business 60 at 12:05 a.m. Saturday for being minors in possession of alcohol. Charged were Cody Jacob Tylor Allen, 19, of Dexter and Jamie Lee Rasberry, 18, Chase A. Chrisman, 17, and John H. Rohan, 18, all of Puxico...

Ed Boyt, a resident of Dexter, Mo., died on Jan. 22, 2013, at the age of 80. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer State Representative Dennis Fowler (R) completed his first full week as representative of the 151st District last week. He spent the week getting settled and meeting the people with whom he will be working in the coming legislative session. He was one of 34 new Republican state representatives to take the oath of office at the beginning of the year...

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two Democrats considering a bid for a nomination to run in a special election for Missouri's 8th Congressional District are banking on conservative values, connections in the party and ties to the region's agricultural community for support...