Stories from Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Neal Ivan Mansfield, son of the late Ira Gustave Mansfield and Sallie Jane Hicks Mansfield, was born on Oct. 23, 1921, at Danville, Ill., and died at his residence near Dudley on March 15, 2013, at the age of 91. Mr. Mansfield was a farmer, a former agent and adjuster with the Federal Crop Insurance Program, a veteran of the United States Army Air Corp serving in World War ll and a resident of rural Dudley...

Karen Lynn Maslinski, the daughter of Linda Lash Darling, was born in Joliet, Ill., on Oct. 6, 1960, and died at her home in Dexter, Mo., on March 16, 2013, at the age of 52. Karen had lived in Bruceton,Tenn., before moving to Dexter in 2003. She had worked for Westat based in Maryland as a supervisor in telemarketing services...

Harold Frank Robinson I, son of the late Otis Melton and Zelma McElwrath Robinson, was born in Holcomb, Mo., on Sept. 28, 1929, and died at the John J Pershing VA Medical Center Poplar Bluff, Mo., on March 16, 2013, at the age of 83. Frank lived in the Kennett and Malden areas for many years, before moving to Dexter in 1977. He had been a business owner, was a member of the Church of Christ and was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

Doris Gean Darby formerly of Dexter, died at St. John's Place in Overland, Mo., on March 16, 2013, at the age of 75. Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Dexter is in charge of arrangements.

Daina Cagle Brents, 57, of Dexter, Mo., formerly of Knoxville, Tenn., died Saturday, March 16, 2013, in the St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo., surrounded by her family. The daughter of William and Wanda J. Crowson Cagle, she was born Oct. 8, 1955, in Clarksville, Tenn...

By FRANCIS SKALICKY, MDC SPRINGIELD, Mo. --- For many years, Missouri's black bears have been elusive to biologists wanting to learn more about them. Now, thanks to data being gleaned from a research study that began in 2010, hunches are beginning to be replaced with hard facts. Information collected from live-trapping, radio collars and hair snaring is taking away much of the mystery that has surrounded black bears in Missouri...

Dexter Police March 16-18, 2013 A wooden box containing personal property was found on Bain St. and turned in at the local police station at 7:35 p.m. Saturday. Police investigated property damage to a 2013 GMC Sierra at 724 W. Business Hwy. 60 at 7:41 a.m. Sunday...

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said Castor Township officials are still waiting to hear from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) about disaster aid to rebuild a bridge on County Road 410. The bridge is located northwest of the Aid community and was washed away in the 2011 flood. The commission had a short agenda for their March 18 meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY SEMO News Service POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- About 500 area families are reeling from the announcement Thursday that Butler County's seventh largest employer will close in 2014, moving all jobs to plants in Mexico and Tennessee. NORDYNE gathered employees Thursday afternoon to announce it will gradually relocate its split system and furnace manufacturing lines to Saltillo, Mexico. ...

JILL BOCK- SEMO News KRCC Telethon The public once again showed their support for the Kenny Rogers Children's Center over the recent weekend. The two-day telethon brought in $401,180, surpassing the $400,000 goal. The money is used to continue to provide a variety of therapy services to the more than 400 children served by the Center at no charge to their families. ...

SEMO News Service KENNETT, Mo. - The election for the 150th District House of Representatives which was scheduled for Tuesday has been stayed. The Court of Appeals ordered a stay of election March 12. On March 1, a notice of appeal was filed by Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff, who is representing County Clerk Carol Hinesly...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor At only seven years old, Emma Kate Worley has raised well over $20,000 for cancer research. She is quick to say that she hopes some day people won't have to die of cancer, and so she continually works for a cure. Emma Kate's parents, Ben and Belinda Worley of Dexter, have been heavily involved in the Stoddard County Relay for Life, the largest area fundraising event to benefit the American Cancer Society, since its inception nine years ago. ...