Stories from Wednesday, October 24, 2018

By JOSH AYERS Staff Writer Twenty-one years after it opened, Dexter city officials gathered at Keller Public Library last Wednesday to break ground on a new addition to the building - an addition made possible by a donation from Bud Keller.City Administrator Mark Stidham introduced the Dexter Board of Aldermen and Dexter Mayor Jason Banken."Thank you to Mr. ...

By Michael jensen It's hard to get an exact number, but Josh Hawley and Claire McCaskill - along with ample "dark money" - will spend upwards of $90 million to entice your vote come Nov. 6. Out of that massive war chest, the 232 newspapers in Missouri will get zip...

Reba C. Crofford passed away on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018 at the age of 95. A native of Pollard, Ark., Mrs. Crofford served as a Secretary for the VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. for 38 years and had many friends. Upon her retirement, she continued to volunteer there until her move to Georgia in 2015. ...

"It is two hours of letting go of your troubles and worries," says Sheila Alsup, referring to the community dance in Dexter hosted by American Legion Kenady-Hanks Post 59. The dance is a joint effort between the Legion and Legion Auxiliary as a community service...

Our mainstream media remain consumed with the grisly killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and how President Donald Trump will deal with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Understandably so, for this is the most riveting murder story since O.J. Simpson and has strategic implications across the Middle East...

It seems like just yesterday that Democrats were telling us that under Obamacare, "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan." That was a nice sales pitch to voters -- even though it turned out to be a lie. ...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- The Ste. Genevieve Dragons ended Dexter's two-year reign as Class 3 District 1 champion Tuesday. The second-seeded Dragons beat the third-seeded Bearcats 20-25, 25-15, 25-17 in the semifinals at Ste. Genevieve High School. The Bearcats failed to reach the district championship game for the first time since 2013, finishing the season 17-9-3. They had won three of the past four district titles...

Stoddard County officials heard from Gilmore & Bell and Stifel, Nicholaus & Company of St. Louis, Mo., Monday morning regarding two financing options to move forward with the voter approved county jail expansion. Mark Spykerman, a lawyer with Gilmore & Bell, told officials counties normally choose one of two lease options: a direct lease or certificates of participation...

Alex Ebersole, 18, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Monday, Oct. 22, 2018 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held from 9 - 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 11 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel with Byron Beck officiating...

A St. Louis company will help Dexter schools plan for a possible $15 million bond measure that could go before voters in April and might touch a variety of projects district wide. A letter of intent was approved by the board Oct. 16 with the CTS Group, according to Superintendent C.A. Counts...

Robert O. McGath, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service and will be announced when complete.

PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Carl Hughes, 89, formerly of Piedmont, died Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at the Evelyn's House Hospice in Creve Coeur, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worey Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

Bud Letassy, 90, a long-time resident of Poplar Bluff, died Sept. 16, 2018. Born in Joliet, Ill. to Joseph and Cecilia Gonda Letassy, immigrants from present day Slovak Republic, Bud was the youngest of four sons. He attended Saint Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Grade School, graduated from Joliet Township High School, 1947 and Joliet Junior College, 1949. ...

A veteran journalist and newspaper businessman has been named publisher of the Daily American Republic. Chris Pruett will begin his new leadership role in Poplar Bluff on Nov. 1. Pruett will also serve as publisher of the Dexter Statesman, Puxico Press and Doniphan's Prospect-News...

Shirley Dean Brown, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was ushered into Heaven Monday, Oct. 22, 2018 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Shirley, the daughter of the late Harry and Clara Featherstone Dobbs, was born Nov. 21, 1930 in Poplar Bluff. ...

PIEDMONT -- Bloomfield can't seem to stop winning when it matters. Aided by a triple double from senior Bailey Below and 15 kills from sophomore Melanie Phillips -- including three in a row to win the match -- the second-seeded Wildcats staved off every run from top seed Saxony Lutheran on its way to a 2-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-19) win to claim its fifth consecutive MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 Tournament Championship on Tuesday...

BELL CITY, Mo. -- The Bernie Mules have a slew of offensive weapons at the net. "I think it helps us," Bernie coach Jason Long said of his squad's offensive depth. "When we pass the ball well and get teams back on their toes it makes it easier for us to move the ball around."...

A veteran journalist and newspaper businessman has been named publisher of the Daily American Republic. Chris Pruett will begin his new leadership role in Poplar Bluff on Nov. 1. Pruett will also serve as publisher of the Dexter Statesman, Puxico Press and Doniphan's Prospect News...

The Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education revised the type of fencing to be used for a project approved last month for the front of the high school and a walking trail in Broseley. "When we approved this last time we probably overlooked the small detail of this because the large part is what they are doing at Qulin," Superintendent Jeremy Siebert said during Tuesday evening's meeting...

MOUNTAIN GROVE -- Like a whisper, the first of the fall leaves crunched beneath the car's tires as it drove down Route 76. Half an hour passed without a person in sight. The tires grew louder as the smooth blacktop crumbled into a rough gravel road...

GREENVILLE, Mo.-- Rev. Richard Brosseau, 77, of Missionary Acres died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 at the Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Greenville.