The students at Southwest Elementary School learned about "Cool Careers" last week, and capped off the week by a visit from a "cool" professional, Todd Odell of the Dexter Fire Department. He showed the youngsters all his gear for fighting fires, answered all their questions, and even demonstrated some of the features of his fire truck -- including the aerial spray. It was a hot day in the summer so kids did what just comes naturally, and ran through the fine mist from the spray and had a good time. At the end Fire Department employee Garrett Wray passed out junior fireman stick-on badges - just the added treat for the afternoon! (SMT photos by Annabeth Miller)

ShowMe Times Photo Gallery

This week the students in first grade in summer school in Dexter celebrated the American Flag as the nation observed Flag Day on Tuesday. The youngsters in Shannon Putnam's class celebrated with an All-American Flag Day Treat - special "sparklers" - pretzels dipped in white chocolate and then covered in red and blue sparklers. It was an All-American day! Throughout the week the students have also learned some of the finer points of flag etiquette - including when to salute the flag and how to care for the American flag. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)

Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean’s list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during the spring semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale).

Stoddard County students earning Dean's List honors for the Spring 2011 semester include:

Rachel D. Spears, Bell City

Ethan D. Jackson, Dexter

Hannah E. Keathley, Dexter

Courtney H. Birdwell, Dudley

Missouri State University in Springfield is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons.

COLUMBIA – The University of Missouri – Columbia has released the names of students who achieved Dean’s List honors for the Spring 2011 semester. Stoddard County students included on the lists include:

Advance
· Rebecca Suzanne Cox, Junior, Health Professions

Bloomfield
· Megan B Bischof, Senior, Arts & Science

Dexter
· Sarah Elizabeth Jackson, Sophomore, Arts & Science
· Garrett Colin McKuin, Junior, Arts & Science
· Leigh Alexandra Yorke, Junior, Arts & Science

Essex
· Leah Diane Wheeler, Senior, Health Professions

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – Summertime is not a quiet time at Three Rivers, with the college reporting students are taking more summer classes than ever before at the Southeast Missouri community college.

The Three Rivers Office of Student Success reports a more than 20 percent increase in credit hour enrollment over summer session 2010, from 9,061 to 10,947 credit hours. Over 1,600 students are currently enrolled in summer classes, an increase of several hundred over previous years.

Registration is still open for the summer B session, which begins July 5.

“Students are staying in school during the summer partially because they have more money to use for their education,” said Vice President for Student Success Jason Hoseney.

“This is the last summer that students can take advantage of the law President Obama signed that allows students to apply for Pell grants during the summer semester, just as they would in fall and spring. Students are basically getting 150 percent more money than they would before the law went into effect. “

Hoseney said that in addition, students from other colleges have come home to Southeast Missouri and are taking the opportunity to complete additional credits at a lower cost, and transferring them back to their regular institutions.

“More and more students are discovering that we offer many of the same classes here as most universities, at a fraction of the cost,” said Hoseney. “I think we will continue to see many more students take advantage of enrolling at their local community college during the summer.”

Summer headcount has also increased, by almost 15 percent. Since 2009, summer credit hour enrollment has increased by over half.

Registration is also currently open for the regular Fall 2011 semester, as well as the new “Augmester” period. Like “Maymester,” “Augmester” is an abbreviated academic session that will allow students to complete up to five credit hours online and in the classroom over approximately a week and a half in early August.

Students interested in classes at TRC may call (573) 840-9665 for more information, or visit trcc.edu.