Stories from Sunday, December 25, 2016

From Staff Reports Finalizing activities for the Festival of Lights at Redman Creek Campground East and planning upcoming projects kept Wappapello Lake Area Association members busy Tuesday, Dec. 13. The group learned there had been 11,364 people tour the Festival of Lights by Dec. 13, but Andrew Jefferson reminded them "we had 15,000 at the event last year."...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted to purchase its building and liability insurance with Missouri Rural Services (Meadowbrook Insurance) at a cost of $124,605 at the regular meeting Dec. 19. County Clerk Joe Watson said only one provider, CountyWide Insurance, submitted proposals for the insurance after advertisements for bids were published. ...

By DONNA FARLEY SEMO News Service POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- At a time when independent health care providers are becoming an endangered species, Woods Medical Clinic in Puxico is a bit of rarity. Remaining independent under current government regulation is becoming increasingly difficult, Buffy Woods said Thursday at a health care round table meeting held by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith in Poplar Bluff...

From Staff Reports Three of the four officers elected at the 14th annual Missouri Junior Beta Convention Dec. 8-9 at the Black River Coliseum, Poplar Bluff, Mo. are students at Stoddard County schools. The officers include President Dawson Hill (Bloomfield Middle School), Secretary Abigail Dement (T. S. Hill Middle School - Dexter) and Chaplain John Nimmo (Bernie Junior High School) with the fourth being Vice-President Piper Schoemehl (Malden Junior High School).-...