Stories from Friday, January 23, 2015

Patricia L. Shipman Elmore of Dexter died at her residence on Jan. 22, 2015 at the age of 80. Arrangements are pending at this time and are being handled by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

It looked like an ordinary camp site -- much like any other that is used by numerous deer hunters in the area. It appeared that someone had simply been there and then left, with no indications of foul play. This is one of the puzzling pieces of information surrounding the disappearance of a St. Francois County man from Stoddard County...

The Dexter varsity wrestling squad experienced little letdown a few days after taking home the top prize at the 14-team Owensville Wrestling Tournament. Dexter continued its midseason dominance with victories against Notre County and Potosi Tuesday...

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association released its latest state rankings Jan. 21. Three boys basketball teams and two girls basketball teams from the semoball.com coverage area are state-ranked. The Scott County Central boys are ranked sixth in Class 2, the New Madrid County Central boys are ranked fourth in Class 3 and the Cape Central boys are ranked sixth in Class 4...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor The Dexter School District stands to lose more than $87,000 in state funding, unless the General Assembly appropriates approximately $125 million more toward the foundation formula than was utilized for the 2014-15 fiscal year, it was learned at the Jan. 20 meeting of the local Board of Education. (A portion of that funding was proposed by Gov. Jay Nixon in his State of the State address. See story at right)...

By NOREEN HYSLOP Managing Editor Dexter Schools Board of Education voted at their monthly meeting Tuesday night to purchase 70 computers from VIG Solutions to be utilized in both the T.S. Hill Middle School and high school computer labs. The new systems will replace outdated units at both locations and will come at a cost of $28,539...

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer Voters in Bloomfield, Puxico and Advance will decide who will represent them for several key positions in the April 7, 2015, Municipal Election. The filing period closed Jan. 20. Bloomfield voters will choose between three candidates for the North Ward position on the board of aldermen and three candidates for the South Ward position. ...

Free tax returns will be once again provided this year by volunteers working through the University of Missouri Extension Service in conjunction with the IRS VITA/TCE program. Local volunteers, Jack Norman and Earl Young, will be on hand every Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. beginning on Monday, Jan. 26 through mid-April, to prepare both Federal and State 1040s. Returns will be filed the same day they are completed in all possible cases...

NOREEN HYSLOP-nhyslopl @dailystatesman.com Cleaning up and cleaning out Crews have been busy this week along a stretch of Market Street from Catalpa to the Fire Station, cleaning brush and debris from the ditch. The ditch is being cleared to prepare for rip rap to be put into place in the near future. The project is similar to the one recently completed on Business 60 in front of the Ambulance District facility...

Fred Wethington, son of the late Hudson and Bertha Condict Wethington, was born on Nov. 9, 1932, in Clines Island and died on Jan. 21, 2015, at his residence in Bloomfield at the age of 82. Mr. Wethington was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving in the Korean War. ...

Eddie Dwain Holman, 55, of Hurst, Texas died Jan. 16, 2015, at his home. Mr. Holman was born May 27, 1959, in Festus, Mo. He worked in construction and enjoyed fishing, playing guitar and visiting with friends and family. He was of the Pentecostal faith...

Martha Louella McCamish Reynolds, 84, of Bernie, was born Sept. 1, 1930, in Bernie to the late Richard H. McCamish and Effie Adeline Jerls McCamish, died Jan. 20, 2015, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was a longtime funeral home office manager and Funeral Director for Rainey Funeral Home in Bernie. ...

Dexter Police Jan. 21-22, 2015 At 1:05 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20, Dexter Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Business Highway 60 and Smith Street. According to the report, the accident occurred as a 2014 GMC, driven by Phillip E. Fleeman, of Puxico, was pulling into the driving lane from a private drive and struck a 2004 Nissan, which was driven by Jolean R. Duer, of Dexter...

Proposes $50M increase to pubic school funding formula