Stories from Tuesday, August 20, 2013

DEXTER, Mo. - The Dexter girls tennis program will return ample experience to its varsity squad in the 2013 season. Four of the six projected starters on the 2013 squad were starters on varsity last season. "Everyone I foresee to be on varsity played last year," Dexter tennis coach Kurt Lovelady said. "I only have one or two...

Dexter Police Aug. 17-19, 2013 The theft of three air conditioning units were reported at 8:02 p.m. Friday. The units were reportedly taken from 714 N. Elm St., 414 N. Elm St., and from 633 N. Sassafras St. Police are investigating. On Saturday at 10:07 a.m., police arrested Jason L. ...

Marguerite R. Burke, daughter of the late William B. Layton and Elsie Tuttle Layton, was born on April 23, 1929, in East Prairie, Mo., and died on Aug. 19, 2013, at Golden Living Center in Dexter at the age of 84. Mrs. Burke was affiliated with the First Church of the Nazarene of Dexter and the Second General Baptist Church of Dexter. She had worked as a sales clerk at Lois' Dress Shop, formerly Nina's Dress Shop in Dexter for 30 years, and she was a resident of Dexter...

Georgia M. Simpson, daughter of the late Ray and Ethel Wimbeley Wood, was born in Jefferson, Texas on Oct. 19, 1930, and died at her home near Puxico, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2013, at the age of 82. Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Puxico is in charge of all arrangements...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor PUXICO, Mo. -- Tina S. Womack, 29, of Puxico faces several charges after being arrested Saturday night. According to the Highway Patorl, at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Womack was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), felony possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while intoxicated (drugs), possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for failure to drive on therighthalf of the roadway...

By COREY NOLES Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Matthew Cook will not stand trial in Stoddard County for his role in a Feb. 19, 2013 murder at McDonald's in Advance. Earlier in August, attorneys for Cook filed a request for a change of venue and judge in the case...

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - The Stoddard County Commission received five qualification packages from engineering firms interested in designing a new bridge on County Road 307 in Pike Township. The old bridge on CR 307 is being replaced using off-system road and bridge (BRO) program funds. ...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- The 52nd Annual Fisher Delta Research Center Field Day is slated for Thursday, Aug. 29 in Portageville. This is a chance to find out what is going on at the local research center and for landowners, agriculture producers, field scouts and those involved with agribusiness to learn better management practices from educational tours...

Photo by McKENZIE HILLIS Several new staff members are at work at Richland Schools. New Richland Rebels include, from left, Stefanie Dennison, Math; Kyle Carter, Business/Computers; Stephanie Raymer, Special Education Assistant; Beverly Hampton, Counselor; Adam Touchette, Technology Director; Ginny Janson, Secretary; Candy Harper, Cook; Amanda King, ISS and Hannah Gregory, Math/Science...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor Dustin Whitaker of rural Dexter seems to have a way with words - at least when they're spoken to one of his British Labrador Retrievers. Whitaker is a full-time employee at a local car dealership, but at home a good deal of his time is spent with Benelli or Nova, his own two labs, or with resident labs whose owners have left them to learn the basics all good hunting retrievers need to know. ...