Stories from Saturday, September 2, 2017

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff will lead three guided hikes to the top of Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, Sept. 23. Hikes will take place at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. These guided hikes are taking place in conjunction with other events during the reenactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob. ...

Dorothy Stilts, 88, of St. Peters, Mo, formerly of Puxico, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2017 at Saint Peters Manor. Services were held Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. Rev. Ray Placher officiated. Burial followed in the Puxico City Cemetery...

Cynthia Clara Ogles, 58, of Poplar Bluff, Mo, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 in Puxico, Mo. She was born Dec. 26, 1958 in Doniphan, Mo. to the late William Richardson and Kathy Kelly Richardson. She was a 2011 graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Chef School, with expertise in pastries. ...

FISK, Mo. -- Thomas H. Collier, 80, of Hazelwood, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 at his residence. Visitation was Thursday, Aug. 31, at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Graveside services with military honors was Friday, Sept. 1, at Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley with Rev. Kevin Causey officiating...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted 2-1 at it regular meeting Monday, Aug. 28 to put a use tax on the Nov. 7 Special Election ballot. The tax would levy a one percent county tax on internet sales and the purchase of new vehicles from out-of-state dealerships. Associate Commissioners Carol Jarrell and Steve Jordan voted to put the issue on the ballot, while Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis voted against it...

The judges had a challenge choosing the best of the entries in the 12th Annual Mingo Swamp Friends Flora and Fauna Photo Contest. Photos in four categories highlight native wildlife, native plants, people in nature and Mingo landscapes. Photos were entered by youth and adults from Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Jackson, Dexter, East Prairie, Benton, Essex and Harviell. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission approved advertising for bids for restoration of the courthouse cupola with a bid opening Sept. 28 at its regular meeting Aug. 28. The county received a $60,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Heritage Properties Program for further renovations at the historic courthouse. The grant is a 70/30 matching grant, so the county will provide $18,000 in funding...

Mark your calendars for one of the newest fall festivals in the area. This year the Stars and Stripes Museum and Library will be hosting their Second Annual Liberty Days Event. This is event which is expected to be much bigger than last year's event will be held on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21. The museum is located off of Highway US 60 and MO 25, just north of Bloomfield...

The Puxico Indians Baseball Team hit the ground running this fall baseball season. With four games underway they have a score of 1-4 as of Sept. 1. With coaches Jay Pierce and Larry Clements by their side the Varsity team is hoping to continue to improve their statistics while having fun on the field throughout the season...

Puxico High School Senior Faith Oliver currently is preparing to attend the Miss Missouri Teen USA Pageant. With only one competition left, The SEMO District Fair, before the final pageant, Oliver mentioned she is, "starting to get a little nervous but also majorly excited."...

The Berry Glenn Historical Museum board voted Aug. 28 to test new hours of operation during September. The museum will change its hours of operation to Thursdays, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Board members have agreed to rotate working days during the monthly meeting. There were four members present; Shirley Linson, Nettie Ward, Pat Holloway and Pam Parsley...

BROSELEY, Mo. -- Mary Jane Kathleen (Ladyman) Wagster, 89, of Broseley, died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 at Cedargate Healthcare, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation was Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Funeral services were Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Sanders and Rev. Danny Collins officiating. Burial will be in Brown Chapel Cemetery at Broseley...