Stories from Friday, October 18, 2013

Students at DAEOC Dexter Head Start participated in Safety Day Thursday morning by getting an up-close look at various emergency vehicles and hearing about EMS agencies that serve the county. Representatives from the Dexter Fire Department, Dexter Police Department, Stoddard County 911 Services and the Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD) gave presentations and provided the students with a close look at emergency response vehicles and their purpose. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The operators of a Columbia retail store, one of whom was named in charges that were later dropped regarding the July 14, 2011 confiscation of synthetic or "analogue" drugs on display in convenience stores within Stoddard County, pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges alleging a $2 million scheme to distribute synthetic marijuana...

The Dexter Police Department is asking for the public's help as they continue to investigate a rash of recent vandalism in the city. According to Det. Cory Mills of the local department, more than $7,000 in property damage to businesses and vehicles has occurred over the past several weeks, with 10 instances discovered early Saturday morning, Oct. 12, and more continuing as recent as Thursday when two vehicles on S. Sassafras Street were found to have windows broken out...

BERNIE, Mo. - Nearby rivals will square off in the SCAA varsity volleyball tournament championship Friday night after securing semifinal victories in their respective matches Thursday. The top-seeded Dexter Bearcats extended its winning streak to a baker's dozen with a 25-17, 25-19, semifinal win against the fourth-seeded Advance Hornets in the first varsity semifinal Thursday...

A look into the history of our southeast Missouri libraries reveals a story of incredible service and self-sacrifice by a few dedicated volunteers who struggled for years against enormous odds. From Bernie in south Stoddard County, to Advance in north Stoddard County, and all the way to Bollinger County, each of these libraries began with little more than an idea...

Jewell Bell, a resident of Dexter, died on Oct. 18, 2013, in the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Facility in Dexter at the age of 81. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Lorene Kennett, a resident of Dexter, died on Oct. 18, 2013, in the Close To Home Nursing Facility at Matthews at the age of 82. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver has known since Dec. 2010 that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was pursuing charges against Kevin Bay and John Hawkins--he just couldn't talk about it. When charges were dropped in the state case that grabbed headlines throughout Missouri, some scratched their heads regarding why a case so hotly-pursued would be dropped...

Lorene Kennett, daughter of the late Charles Phillips and Lissie Cox Phillips, was born on Nov. 8, 1930, in Bloomfield, Mo., and died at the Close To Home Nursing in Matthews, Mo., on Oct. 18, 2013, at the age of 82. Mrs. Kennett was a member of the Risen Church in Dexter, Gardening Club, P.E.O. in Hardin, Mo., and a resident of Dexter...

Jewell Bell was the oldest of nine children, born July 23, 1932, in Parma, Mo. to the late Lester Marion and Rachel Cardella (Barton) Stephens. She died on Oct. 18, 2013 at the age of 81. She was the granddaughter of the late James Pendleton and Sarah Jane (Shaw) Barton and Henry Lee and Alpha Adeline (Gwaltney) Stephens...