Stories from Thursday, June 20, 2013

Magician Marty Hahne was the guest at Wednesday's Summer "Dig Into Reading" series at Keller Public Library. Hahne entertained youngsters with storytelling, humor and magic during the second part of the summer reading program, "The Magic Underground." The series will continue on Wednesday at 11 a.m. through July 17. Additional photos may be found in Photo Galleries...

CAPE GIRAERDEAU, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center has added a rare opportunity to view endangered Pallid sturgeon and the unique Western lesser siren up close. Dave Herzog, Resource Science Supervisor at MDC's Big Rivers and Wetlands Field Station, said this is a very exciting development...

Dexter's football Bearcats will be taking part in a seven-on-seven scrimmage Saturday at Metz Cherry Stadium in Kennett. Host Kennett and Dexter will be joined by the Chaffee and Caruthersville teams for the scrimmage. It will be the first competition for the Bearcats under new head coach Justin Peden. Peden comes to Dexter from Hayti and will be taking over for long-time Bearcats coach Aaron Pixley, who is now the head coach at Kennett...

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler completed his coaching staff Wednesday with the hiring of LaToya Howell as an assistant. Howell, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Texas-Pan American, will primarily coach the Redhawks' perimeter players. She will also be involved in recruiting...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- More than two years after resigning as Carter County sheriff, Tommy Adams on Monday pleaded guilty to drug possession and distribution charges in a Jefferson County courtroom. Adams pleaded guilty to felony distribution of a controlled substance and felony possession of a controlled substance, according to Nanci Gonder, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Attorney General's Office...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Several weeks before his arrest on murder charges, George Joseph told a Scott County detective he was running an "investment club" with about 60 members. Joseph, 48, is accused of killing his wife, Mary, and 18-year-old son, Matthew, before turning the gun on himself in an apparent suicide attempt May 30 at their home on West Cape Rock Drive, court records show...

WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Visitors to Lake Wappapello State Park this summer will find the familiar quiet coves for crappie fishing amid many park facilities that are brand new. "The park looks better than ever," said Wanda Doolen, natural resource manager of the park in southeast Missouri. "There were a lot of silver linings to what happened."...

William Bryant "Willie" Nelson of Dexter, Mo. died Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at the age of 92. He was born in Dunklin County, Mo. on May 7, 1921, son of Sally (Lowery) Nelson and C. Douglass Nelson. A former farmer, Mr. Nelson retired from the Swift Poultry Plant in Dexter after 30 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening and was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Dexter...

The Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD) Board of Directors voted to put a rebuilt engine in one of their old units at an approximate cost of $13,000 and keep it during their regular meeting Wednesday night. The ambulance was to be traded toward the cost of the new ambulance that should be delivered within the next two weeks...

ADVANCE, Mo. - An Advance teen was injured in an ATV accident Wednesday afternoon. The crash occurred at 4:53 p.m. at the intersection of County Roads 303 and 306 approximately one mile east of Toga. According to the Highway Patrol crash report, the accident occurred when the individual lost control of his four-wheeler while trying to negotiate a turn and overturned...

The Regional Healthcare Foundation (RHF) is looking to clear the air in Dexter. Following behind other area communities, the organization is looking to ban smoking at public places within the City of Dexter. RHF Executive Director Lisa Thrower and Aaron Darnell of the American Lung Association addressed members of the Dexter Board of Aldermen this week regarding the issue...