Stories from Tuesday, December 3, 2024

DEXTER — The hulking building that sits at 1207 Arvin Road in Dexter is not so busy with activity right now — at least not inside the building — as workers for the first time ever in the history of that location have taken to the picket line. Previously known as Faurecia (and before that, Arvin Meritor), the Forvia plant in Dexter currently employs fewer than 100 laborers — all of whom are members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) local Post 1930. ...

The community gathered up and gathered around the fire to spread holiday cheer Sunday at Dexter’s Christmas Reading. The evening began with Crowley Ridge Mennonite Church’s choir performing “Joy to the World.” The crowd sipped on hot chocolate and Lulu’s fermented cider while enjoying homemade cookies by Phyllis Menley...

Local deer harvested during the November portion of the firearms season were down by nearly a third compared to last year, according to data from the Missouri Department of Conservation. As of Dec. 3, the seven-county region had seen a total of 6,713 deer harvested in 2024 compared to 9,903 in 2023...

Donald “Eli” Wilson of Bloomfield, Missouri, son of the late Jesse and Eva (Martin) Wilson was born Dec.16, 1947 in Bloomfield, Missouri and passed away November 28, 2024 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at the age of 76. The visitation will be held beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri with the funeral service beginning at noon...

Marjean Green, 87 years old, of Festus, Missouri died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at home in Festus. She was born July 19, 1937 in Parma, Missouri. Marjean enjoyed traveling, reading, bowling and Wheel of Fortune. She is survived by a brother, Kenny Hendrix; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews...

Frank Thomas Cook, 89, of Malden passed away Nov. 24, 2024.  Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until noon Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at Mathis Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will then be conducted at noon Wednesday, Dec.4, 2024 in the Mathis Funeral Chapel.  Interment will follow in Bernie Cemetery. ...

Debbie Rodgers, daughter of Doris Harkness Thompson of Dexter, Missouri, and the late Gilbert Thompson, was born Oct. 24, 1959, in Dexter and departed this life Nov. 24, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 65. Funeral services were held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. Interment followed in Chalk Bluff Cemetery...

Bryan Crowley, son of Jerry and Janice “Jan” Crowley of Dexter, Missouri was born Feb. 14, 1968, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and departed this life Dec. 2, 2024, in Dexter, at the age of 56. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will then be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery...

Shirley “Jean” Pickett, daughter of the late Claude Pickett and Shirley Teel Pickett, was born Nov. 5, 1958, in Gideon, Missouri, and departed this life Nov. 28, 2024, in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 66. Funeral services were conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Interment followed in Bernie Cemetery...

Members of United Autoworkers Post 1930 went on strike this morning in Dexter at the Faurecia auto parts factory. Members of the group have said the strike is over issues related to safety. Officials with Faurecia have not returned messages seeking comment...