Stories from Wednesday, February 27, 2013

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM) has created a Consumer Fraud Task Force to assist in the prevention of consumer fraud by enhancing awareness and prevention in the Springfield metropolitan area. The Task Force will also share information and coordinate activities on consumer fraud cases...

Dr. Jerry W. Rhodes died on Feb. 24, 2013, at the age of 88. Dr. Rhodes was born in Puxico, Mo., on Jan. 21, 1925. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. J.C. and Cora Rhodes. He attended Puxico Public Schools and graduated from Puxico High School as the class valedictorian in 1942...

DEXTER, Mo. - Kennett's quest to end four-time defending champion Sikeston's reign as district champs came up a few points shy in a Class 4, District 1, boys semifinal at Dexter High School Tuesday night. The top-seeded Sikeston Bulldogs opened up a 44-29 lead against the fourth seeded Kennett Indians by halftime. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- The fourth and final installment of the Central vs. Notre Dame boys basketball season series may have been the most exciting and certainly had the most at stake. Regardless of the circumstances, it was the same result. The second-seeded Tigers outlasted third-seeded Notre Dame 61-55 in overtime Tuesday night for their fourth victory over the Bulldogs this year, this one earning them a spot in the Class 4 District 1 tournament championship game against top-seeded Sikeston...

Baylee Taylor, a senior at Richland High School, recently signed her Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Crowley's Ridge College. Crowley Ridge College head volleyball coach Cindy Henry (back row left), along with Principal Cindy Rhodes (back row center), Superintendent Frank Killian (back row right) and Baylee's parents, John and Lisa Taylor, were in attendance to witness the signing. ...

As members of the Major Case Squad were gathered Monday evening to conclude their investigation of the Feb. 19 murder of Sean Crow, they got called out again. Authorities were called to a residence on County Rd. 612 in Dexter on Monday evening to investigate a death...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Last Thursday it was decided that, after nearly four months of determining who will be the State Representative of the 150th Legislative District, the new election will be held on March 19, 2013. This election, however, will not include the entire district. The election will only take in the Campbell Ward II and the portion of Campbell Rural Precinct and Cotton Hill Rural Precinct...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri could lose $95 million in federal funding for schools and state programs, and even more in defense spending, if government-wide spending cuts take effect later this week, according to a group that assesses how policy decisions affect states...

When Richland Elementary Principal Cara Merritt saw a news story recently that involved the use of exercise balls in the classroom in place of desk chairs for students, she was intrigued. "I thought it was an interesting idea, so I began to do some research. I found several reports about the benefits which included helping kids to stay focused, improving their posture, and engaging their core muscles," she says...

Jump Rope For Heart is a national fundraising program that promotes physical activity, heart healthy living, and community service to children. The program is targeted at students in elementary schools, but anyone can hold a program at their school, child care center, community center...

Jennifer "Jenny" Lynn Mayberry, daughter of Brian Oxley of Muscatine, Iowa, and the late Terri Heath Oxley, was born on May 19, 1979, in Fort Pendle-ton, Calif., and died on Feb. 25, 2013, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter at the age of 33...