Dexter, Missouri - Southwest Elementary honors first grade students with Positive Office Referral certificates.

This award is presented to students who consistently show the 3R's RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY TO LEARN.

Each student received a certificate and a FREE Taco from Taco Bell.

Pictured from left to right are: Aiden Smith, Zoey Smith, BA Templemire, and Marcus Rios.

Dexter, Missouri - Southwest Elementary honors kindergarten students with Positive Office Referral certificates and Bus Referrals.

This award is presented to students who consistently show the 3R's RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY TO LEARN.

Each student received a certificate and a FREE Taco from Taco Bell.

Front row from left to right: Daniel Crotts, Zayvon Cassell, Kiah Thompson, and Axel Angel-Moguel.

Back row from left to right:  Sophia Shoemaker, Jocelyne Young, James Rice, Leevi Slavings, Tristan Russell, and Marcus Magarian.

Bernie, Missouri - Through the Walmart Community Grant Program, the Malden Walmart recently awarded Bernie School District’s Parents as Teachers program with a $1000 grant.

Gary Eaton, Malden Walmart manager, is shown here presenting Casey Arnold and Courtney McGarity, Bernie Parents as Teachers’ Parent Educators, with the check. 

The grant money is being used towards the purchase of an Otoacoustic Emissions Hearing Screener. 

This OAE Screener rapidly screens infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with minimal cooperation required for those too young to respond. 

If a child does not pass the hearing screening, s/he is referred to a health care provider or audiologist to determine the cause of the problem and work towards the appropriate intervention.

Ultimately, with the assistance of the Walmart Community Grant Program, the Parents as Teachers program will reach more families with early hearing interventions and positively impact more children’s lives in the Bernie community.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Several area students have earned scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University - Cape Girardeau for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Matthew Chesser of Dexter has received the Residence Life Leadership Award.  Chesser is the son of Scott and Cynthia Chesser and will graduate in May 2018.

Kaitlyn Fincher of Bloomfield has earned the Residence Life Leadership Award.  She is the daughter of Melinda Roberts of Bloomfield and will a May 2018 graduate.

Bryson Huggins of Dexter has received the Residence Life Leadership Award.  He is the son of Brian and Carrie Huggins and will be a May 2018 graduate.

Malia LeGrand of Oran has received the Regents Scholarship.  She is the daughter of Lary and Christy LeGrand and will be a 2018 graduate of Oran High School.

Columbia, Missouri -  Tim Fox, a Bloomfield high school graduate, was named recently to the list of students at Columbia College on the college's Fall Semester Dean's List.

To be named to the list, a student must have completed 12 semester hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Tim is a 2014 graduate of Bloomfield High School.  He is the son of Bill and Kim Fox. He has three brothers: Curt, Brad, and Paul. He plans on majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Sport Management.

Class Valedictorian…Was an Academic All-State selection in 2013 and 2014... Was named the 2014 Bill Harris Scholar-Athlete of the Year...Was two-time All-State Infielder…Was a three-time All-Conference Baseball Team selection…Was the 2014 SCAA Baseball Co-Player of the Year…Also played basketball...Played club baseball for the Charleston Fighting Squirrels...Participated in the 2013 and 2014 Sr. Babe Ruth World Series.

2014-2016: Attended Mineral Area College…Had a 4.0 GPA…Was named the 2014-2015 Scholar-Athlete of the Year...Earned MCCAC Distinguished Academic All-Conference recognition.

2017: Appeared in 23 games for the Cougars getting the start in 21 as a junior… Finished the season with a 0.380 batting average while accumulating 27 hits… Had a 0.549 slugging percentage and a 0.450 on base percentage… Stole one base on one attempt and scored 10 runs… Hit two home runs and six doubles while tallying 11 RBI’s… Finished with 38 defensive assists and a 0.985 fielding percentage… Named to the AMC All-Academic Team.