Butler County Publishing is changing the way Puxico-area residents will receive their news.
In an effort to strengthen overall coverage of Stoddard County, starting with the Jan. 2 issue, Puxico Press subscribers will begin receiving The Dexter Statesman.
The final edition of the Press will be published and delivered to subscribers Dec. 26, according to Butler County Publishing Publisher Chris Pruett. After that, Press readers will continue receiving their Puxico and Stoddard County news with the Statesman.
"Our goal is to strengthen the news Puxico-area readers receive each week," Pruett emphasized. "Puxico, Dexter and many other fine communities make up Stoddard County, and the Statesman will be the leader in bringing news, sports and advertising to the county.
"By combining the two newspapers, it will provide additional Stoddard County news for both Statesman and Press subscribers. It will make for an overall stronger newspaper."
The Statesman's newsroom is made up of editor Josh Ayers and sports editor Kyle Smith.
"Josh and Kyle are both Stoddard County natives and know the communities like the back of their hands," Pruett said. "They have a deep understanding of what makes the community tick, and they bring that enthusiasm to their work every day."
Caleb Swallows, a Puxico High School graduate and current Southeast Missouri State University student, will continue to write feature stories and take photographs for the Statesman.
Contributing writer Nancy Nelson Vines, a retired Stoddard County teacher, also provides stories for the Statesman along with reporters from the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff.
The Statesman is full of local news from the area each week and that will continue.
A huge part of the Puxico community is Bill's Grocery store. Bill's weekly ad will continue to be published in the Statesman each Wednesday.
The Puxico Press office will close at the end of the year, though readers can continue to mail and email their news items for publication to Ayers. His email is jayers@dexterstatesman.com and the mailing address is 909 Mallory St., Dexter, MO, 63841. Sports news can be emailed to Smith at ksmith@dexterstatesman.com.
"We thank our loyal readers and advertisers over the years," Pruett said. "The Statesman will continue to serve Puxico and Stoddard County well."