Stories from Friday, May 16, 2014

The SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County's Auxiliary will be hosting their Spring Luncheon on Friday, May 23. Tickets for the luncheon are $7 and may be purchased at the door. Proceeds from the auxiliary's annual event to toward improving patient stays at the local hospital...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Department of Economic Development is providing nearly $900,000 in tax credits to the makers of a movie filmed partly in Cape Girardeau. The Southeast Missourian (http://bit.ly/1iJa1Yp ) reports that 20th Century Fox, maker of "Gone Girl," spent nearly $3 million while filming in Missouri last fall. ...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. (AP) -- A southeast Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder for killing her husband. The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Missouri reports that 50-year-old Cheryl Long entered the plea Thursday. She was originally charged with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of 56-year-old Alan Long of Fredericktown...

Police Chief Sammy Stone, commanding officer of the Dexter Police Department, has announced the results of a DWI checkpoint conducted in Dexter beginning at 10 p.m. on May 10th, 2014, and ending at 2 a.m. on May 11, 2014. During the operation, officers were assigned to conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Missouri State Highway 25 at the intersection of Business Highway 60. ...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- A Bernie woman sustained moderate injuries in a Tuesday wreck on Highway 53 at Highway J, seven miles north of Campbell. According to the Highway Patrol, 63-year-old Sandra K. Depew, of Malden was westbound on Hwy. J when her 2005 Volkswagon Beetle ran a stop sign, causing the car to cross Highway 53 and run off into a field...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- It's a bad idea to mail marijuana to the county jail, but the deputies appreciate it when you provide the evidence needed to arrest you. Lenard La'troy Duncan, 30, of Mound City, Illinois, is charged with distribution of a controlled substance after deputies say he mailed marijuana to the Mississippi County Detention Center...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An early voting measure Missouri lawmakers endorsed Wednesday could wind up competing on the ballot with a more expansive version proposed through a petition drive. The constitutional amendment passed by the Legislature would allow ballots to be cast on six business days ending the Wednesday before an election. ...

STEELVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- An eastern Missouri jury has found a 59-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the July 2013 death of a float trip participant who was urinating near his property. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (bit.ly/1gp0Die ) reports that a Crawford County jury delivered its verdict Wednesday against Robert Crocker of Cuba, who lives along the Meramec River...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers have passed a measure intended to block business arrangements in which public employees sign over their future pension rights to get quick cash. State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY'-ful) says the bill would make Missouri the first state to prohibit pension advances targeting public employees...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Retired investment executive Rex Sinquefield (SIHNK'-feeld) has given an additional $1.5 million to a political group that has backed efforts to cut Missouri's income tax. Grow Missouri Treasurer Aaron Willard says the latest donation from Sinquefield will help the group develop a new round of issues to support now that the Republican-led Legislature has enacted an income tax cut...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri voters will decide later this year whether to raise the state sales tax to generate more than $500 million annually for roads and other transportation projects. The House gave final approval Wednesday to a proposed constitutional amendment that would impose a three-quarters-of-a-cent sales tax for transportation. The Senate approved the measure previously. That means it will go before voters in November, unless Gov. Jay Nixon sets an earlier election date...

The Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD) Board of Directors discussed installing storm shelters at the three outlying District Stations (Bernie, Advance and Puxico) and equipping them with generators at their regular meeting Wednesday night. The board took no action following the discussion...

As SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County CEO Adam Bracks concluded his presentation Wednesday to the Chamber of Commerce gathering, he announced the establishment of a Regional Board of Directors, serving over not only the local hospital, but also SoutheastHEALTH's holdings in Poplar Bluff, Doniphan and Ellington...

PUXICO, Mo. -- After nearly five years of planning and construction, with innumerable delays along the way, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge's new, 11,500-square-foot visitor center is open for business. Doors officially opened on Monday, May 12. "It's been a long, drawn out process," said refuge manager Ben Mense. "We're excited about it opening and excited to bring new opportunities to folks from Puxico and other surrounding areas."...

Bloomfield High School has announced the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the graduating class of 2014. This year's Valedictorian is Tim Fox son of Bill and Kim Fox of rural Bloomfield. Tim accumulated a 3.97 GPA while in high school. His activities include baseball, basketball, Beta, Student Council, Future Business Leaders of American, and Fellowship of Christian Students...

It's been exactly one year since Adam Bracks stood before the Annual Full Membership Meeting of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and made a host of promises regarding improved healthcare options for the local community through SoutheastHEALTH. On that May day in 2013, SoutheastHEALTH had had a presence in the community for all of five months, and Adam Bracks had been in his new position as the hospital's administrator for all of five days...

Confirmation came late Thursday that Jacob Robinson and Kelsey Holder would serve as the Dexter High School's valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2014. Both are lifelong Dexter residents. Robinson is the son of Mark and Rhonda Robinson, and has consistently been among the top 10 percent of the student body all four years of high school. ...

Dexter High School honored its high school baseball, softball, golf, boys tennis and track athletes Thursday night at its Spring Sports Program. Dexter Bearcat Booster Club scholarships were presented to Kendra Stevenson and Jacob Robinson. Ethan Stevens received the Season Medalist Award in boys golf...

Dorothy Louise Rowland of Dexter died on May 16, 2014, at Crowley Ridge Care Center at the age of 85. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter and are incomplete at this time.

BERNIE, Mo. -- The Bernie Masonic Lodge # 573 will be hosting a food booth in the Bernie Park on Saturday, May 24, during the 100 mile yard sale The Masons will be serving their Event. They will be serving their grilled bologna burgers, grilled hamburgers, grilled cheeseburgers, and grilled bologna...

Dexter Police May 16, 2014 Tommy Walker, 56, of Dexter was arrested at 314 Thrower St. at 3:20 p.m. Thursday for stealing. Jeffrey Dobbelare, 40, of Dexter was issued a summons for animal restraint at 6:18 p.m. on Thursday. Stoddard County May 16, 2014...