Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2015

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission unanimously passed a resolution to be a participating member of the Missouri Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Act at their meeting Monday. The resolution will allow property owners in the county to obtain financing for making energy efficiency improvements through a special assessment against the property by the Missouri Clean Energy District...

Longtime local auctioneer, Kenny Carney, is shown during Saturday's 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction at the Stoddard County Fairgrounds. Grand Champions and others are pictured inside today's Daily Statesman, along with a special thanks to buyers and participants who make the auction an annual success. See pages 10 and 11, and view a gallery of photos online at www.dailystatesman.com or by scanning the QR code herein with any smart phone...

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer BERNIE, Mo. -- The annual Bernie Fall Fest will feature well-known country musician Paul Wayne Pierce and lots of activities for the whole family on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Bernie City Park. The traditional start to the festivities is the Fall Fest Parade beginning at 10 a.m. The parade will begin organizing at 9:30 a.m. at the east parking lot on Main Street. The parade will be down Main to the Bernie Schools...

By JONATHON DAWE Statesman Staff Writer Many who attended this year's Stoddard County Fair were stunned to learn they would have to pay more to enter the fair. And while it may be understandable to not want to pay more, fair board member Sam Huey explained that it was necessary...

By PAT PRATT SEMO News Service POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff has never "balked" at bringing awesome guest speakers to its annual Steak and Burger event. This year promises yet another ace appearance. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will highlight this year's event, which begins 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Black River Coliseum. The annual Steak and Burger event features dinner, auctions and guest speakers and is the club's biggest fundraiser of the year...

Chandler Sluder, two-year-old daughter of Jacob and Casey Sluder, is shown enjoying Story Hour at Keller Public Library on Tuesday. Parents as Teachers Director Melanie Stoelting was Tuesday's guest reader, treating youngsters to snake tales before taking part in a craft project. Additional photos may be viewed in Photo Galleries at www.dailystatesman.com...

Stoddard County Sept. 29, 2015 Quincy Murphy III, 29, of Bernie, was arrested for failure to obey judge's orders and for possession of a controlled substance. No bond was set, and he remains in jail at this time. Doyle McDowell, 36, of Essex, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear (misdemeanor), and felony failure to appear. No bond is set, and he remains in jail at this time...

BERNIE, Mo. - Cole Nichols secured a complete-game victory on the hill as the second-seeded Bell City Cubs outscored the sixth-seeded Campbell Camels 3-1 in a championship semifinal of the September Showdown at Bernie Tuesday evening. Bell City never trailed the contest as it plated a run in the bottom of the first inning and two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to build a 3-0 lead...

BERNIE, Mo. - Bernie baseball coach Darrin Shipman didn't hesitate to give the ball to Brock Beacham with the Bloomfield Wildcats as the scheduled opponent in a championship semifinal of the September Showdown Tuesday afternoon...

From Staff Reports CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The second-seeded host Notre Dame Bulldogs only dropped one doubles match at it eliminated the third-seeded Dexter Bearcats 5-1 in a semifinal of the Class 1 District 1 girls tennis tournament Tuesday. Notre Dame (13-2) advanced to today's district championship match with top-seeded Kennett (13-2). ...

Helen Louise Becking, daughter of the late Orville Mickey and Pearl Zimmerman Mickey was born in Bernie on June 4, 1931, and died at her residence on Sept. 29, 2015 at the age of 84. Mrs. Becking was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and oil painting. She was a member of the Bernie Church of Christ for many years where 30 years ago she painted the mural in the church baptistery...