The Stoddard County Transit System officially opened the doors to its new facility in Dexter. A Ribbon-cutting celebration was hosted by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning at the new facility on Wildwood Drive, just north of the North Outer Road. On hand for the presentation were (front row, from left): City Councilman Jerry Corder; SCTS board member David Fleming; Board president Myra Jines; SCTS Adinistration Sandra Harty; Blanch Dinsmore, board member; Colleen Moore, SCTS board member; Dexter Mayor Joe Weber; Chamber of Commerce board member Mendy Bell; State Rep. Billy Pat Wright, SCTS board member Morris Gregg and Dexter Chamber executive director Janet Coleman.

On hand for the special day was Mokhtee Ahmad,(photo right) regional administrator of the Federal Transit Administration office in Kansas City. Ahmad presented Sandra Harty a plaque marking the completion of the new facility. Funds for the new facility were from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Federal Transit Administration. Ahmad commended the local transit service and praised the Stoddard County office for completing the construction project on time and within budget this year. (ShowMe Times photos by Annabeth Miller)

The Dexter Ministerial Alliance will host its Baccalaureate Service at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the First Assembly of God on Brown Pilot Road in Dexter.

The address will be given by the Rev. Mike Kohlbaker of the First Assembly of God. A number of local pastors will also be participating in the Baccalaureate service. Kohlbaker also reports that a number of the member of the DHS Class of 2011 will be participating in the traditional service marking the end of the students' careers at Dexter High School.

All 2011 Dexter High School graduates and their families are to attend the service in celebration of their achievements and future. All seniors, their families and the community are invited to participate and attend.

It is a joyous occasion for the entire community: a time to rejoice, to praise, to honor and to celebrate with each other the life of learning.

WHAT: Baccalaureate Service
WHEN: Sunday, May 15
TIME: 6 p.m.
WHERE: First Assembly of God Church, One Mile & Brown Pilot
SPONSOR: Dexter Ministerial Alliance

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri’s transportation agency is going ‘on the road’ to fill Missourians in on its “bolder” five year plan.

Dexter will host one of 80 briefings hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation recently announced plan to reduce staff, facilities and equipment. The local briefing will be held a 4p.m., Tuesday, May 17 at the Dexter High School Auditorium.

The briefing is designed to explain the Missouri Department of Transportation's plan to reduce staff, facilities and equipment. The right-sizing actions will save $512 million that will be used for vital road and bridge projects.

The “Bolder Five-Year Direction”, was presented by MoDOT Director Kevin Keith to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission last week. It includes reducing the department's staff by 1,200, closing 135 facilities (including district offices in Joplin, Macon and Willow Springs) and selling more than 740 pieces of equipment.

The briefings will be held throughout Missouri this month, leading up to June 8 when MHTC commissioners are expected to take final action on the plan.

The new MoDOT plan has received critism from U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who says the plan could shortchange reidents in southern Missouri.

“I’m highly concerned about any plan to reduce the attention given to our rural state roads and highways, and I am dead set against the proposal on the table to do just that with MoDoT. Eliminating MoDoT District 9 means other regions must absorb nearly 10,000 square miles of our state containing 3,744 road miles,” Emerson said Wednesday morning.

Emerson said that between Sikeston and Springfield, Jefferson City to the Arkansas state line would all be under the jurisdiction of one office. MoDOT’s District 9 already covers an area that is larger than nine U.S. states.

“I think it is irresponsible to look the other way on our state’s rural transportation priorities, and it is foolish to expect MoDoT to have good information about roads located some 200 miles from the nearest office,” she commented.

People who are unable to attend a community briefing may participate in the discussion through an online community briefing at http://www.modot.org/ The online meeting will run through June 3.

Interested individuals can also comment through the online comment form located at http://www.modot.org/, send an e-mail to MHTC@modot.mo.gov, call 1-888-ASK MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or write to MoDOT, Central Office, 105 W. Capitol Ave., P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270.

All comments from the public received during this month-long process will be shared with MoDOT leadership and commission members prior to June 8.

Photo Above: MoDOT Director Kevin Keith.

A SMT News Report

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - School districts serving communities in Southeast Missouri impacted by massive flooding in recent weeks will not have to make up school days missed due to the flooding, according to information provided by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Three Southeast Missouri state legislators told DESE today they support the decision to forgive school days in a number of schools in their districts.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, and Reps. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and Kent Hampton, R-Malden, told state education officals they support the action.

“The intense weather conditions we experienced led to breached levees, covered roads, and destroyed property,” said Mayer. “Many of my constituents have even been forced to evacuate their homes. In light of these extreme circumstances, I believe our local schools that were forced to close should not have to make up that lost time.”

The lawmakers noted several schools in the districts in the region were forced to close for several school days due to severe flood conditions. They added that on April 25, the governor issued Executive Order 11-08, authorizing the National Guard to assist the state in providing relief to affected areas as a result of flash floods and other weather conditions.

The schools that requested the DESE authorize a reduction of the required number of hours and days their students must attend school this school year include Doniphan (6 days), Greenville R-2 (9 days), Naylor R-II (7 days), Neelyville (7 days), New Madrid (1 day), Poplar Bluff R-1 (7 days), Puxico R-III (9 days), and Twin Rivers R-X (9 days).

“The people of Butler County have suffered through some of the most severe weather in recent memory with thousands displaced from their homes,” said Richardson. “The schools in our district have been out of session as a result and with the end of the school year drawing near, I believe it would place an undue burden on the district to make up those lost days. I am glad Commissioner Nicastro did the right thing for our area by forgiving the days lost due to the flooding.”

“Our school districts have been put in a difficult situation because of the extreme weather conditions and we must do all we can to help them in this time of need,” said Hampton. “It’s in the best interest of the districts and the students to forgive these days. I appreciate the commissioner’s quick action to resolve this issue.”

Missouri has an inclement weather policy that has been in place since 2009 authorizing the department to make decisions regarding school attendance requirements in the face of inclement weather. Information regarding the state’s school make up policy in regard to inclement weather can be found online here.

Related Link:
http://dese.mo.gov/schoollaw/freqaskques/InclementWeather.htm

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

The sunshine was beaming down, there was a cool breeze, and all-in-all it was a beautiful spring day – a great day for the annual Goodwill Games in Dexter!

The Goodwill Games is an annual springtime tradition for special needs students from the Dexter, Bloomfield and Bernie schools. In its 16th year, the games offers students with special needs the fun, adventure and friendships from athletic competition. Teachers help prepare the students for the day at the Charles Bland Stadium at Dexter High School, but it is a special group of DHS students who but the extra special touch to the Stoddard County event.

“The Cadet Teachers are the ones that help make this happen,” Dr. Kim Flowers, assistant superintendent of Dexter Schools and the coordinator of the event said. The high school students work one-on-one with the student athletes, serves as run with the athletes – and encourage, “pump them up,” help and celebrate with the special needs students.

The thrill of crossing the finish line is evident in the smiles on both the student athlete and the high school Cadet Teachers. A unique bond develops between the athletes and the high school seniors.

The folks in the stands get into the thrill of the Goodwill Games, too, encouraging and praising the student athletes for a job well done.

After all the races have been won and all the ribbons distributed, everyone climbs onto school buses for the short drive to the Dexter Elks Lodge. Every year the Elks host the Special Olympians, teachers, aides and Cadet Teachers for a picnic lunch – complete with hot dogs, hamburgers and all the “fixins.”

Flowers introduced the Elks members on hand to the Goodwill Games crew, and the Elks received a rousing ovation from all for their loyalty, dedication – and good cooking!

ShowMe Times Photo Gallery