Stories from Tuesday, September 23, 2014

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission approved the purchase of a phone system at a cost of $2,863.17 for the Stoddard County Public Administrator's offices in the courthouse at their regular meeting Monday. Lightning struck the courthouse in August and did damage to the electrical systems in the building, including the phones in the Public Administrator's and University of Missouri's Extension offices...

"Take what you learn here and use it in the real world." Such was the message from Wade Boyer delivered to members of the Mingo Job Corps at their leadership awards dinner Monday afternoon. Boyer, who works for the Job Corps, lauded different leaders from within the program and encouraged them to not give in to pressures that are inherent with leadership roles...

The 2014 Stoddard County Fair concluded on Saturday with the 4-H and FFA livestock auction in the morning, the youth pageant. 4-H/FFA Public Speaking competition in the afternoon, more Youth Games and then fun on the midway. According to Sammy Huey of the Stoddard County Fair Board, overall attendance at this year's fair totaled 14,623...

Several classroom settings at Dexter High School are operating this year with ample, updated, and state of the art equipment that for teachers have only been items on a wish list until now. The renovations and purchases are the result of a grant from the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) -- a grant similar to the one procured by Richland Schools for the purchase of camera equipment and computers at the high school level...

Note: A photo gallery of Monday's girls tennis match between Dexter and Kennett is available at this link: View Photos Here DEXTER, Mo. - The Dexter varsity girls tennis team played Kennett until after sunset but came up short in its quest to secure a team win in a match that lasted over three hours Monday...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Engineer Jeremy Manning reviewed requirements for the construction of a new bridge over a creek on County Road 410 at the pre-construction conference held Monday. The conference included the Stoddard County Commission, Smith & Company representatives and Keith Simpson, owner of Keith Simpson Contracting, LLC...

How do you write an obituary for your mother? No one ever thinks they will be doing that. Today this became our reality---Jeff, Kenny and Janis---today our mother left this world. Are we sad? Of course. But then we remember where and who she is with now and know that our tears are only going to last for a very short time. Our joy for her "trumps" everything...

Students at Southwest Elementary are selling colored durable trash bags as their annual PTO fundraiser. Friday, Sept. 26 will be the final day for the sales. Money raised will come back to both Southwest and Central Elementary students, along with T.S. ...