The “pickers and grinners” were out in the field Thursday morning before it got “really hot” – a unique feat when you consider the gang was a bunch of young teenagers.

And just like the “pickers and grinners” of old Hee-Haw fame, this group was out in a country cornfield.

It’s not any old cornfield – it’s a field of sweet corn that is grown specifically for the youth at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter.

The corn is grown by church ember Jimmy Putnam for the youth – who pick and sell the sweet corn as an annual summer fund raising project.

Youth leader Tim Holder said the picking crew was larger than he had anticipated Thursday morning – with some high school athletes joining the picking crew after finishing their morning workout in the weight room.

“We picked for two hours,” Holder said. The heat was getting intense by 9:30 a.m., the trailer was full of sweet corn, and the “pickers and grinners” headed back to town.

The youth are now selling the corner at the corner of Mulberry and Stoddard streets on the Cleo’s Sinclair station lot. Sweet corn is $4 a dozen while it lasts. Holder says the youth will pick Thursday night one last time for Friday’s stand.

The youth will use the proceeds of their sweet corn stand for on-going youth activities at the church and for sponsorship of a child in India through the denomination’s mission outreach.

Photo Above: A group of the "pickers and grinners" were on hand Thursday afternoon to sell sweet corn at the Christian Youth Fellowship booth. Working the booth were (from left) Addie Kruse, Katie Cecil, Shyann Jines and Kelsey Holder. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

When the announcement was made, they were surprised - even a bit shocked.

But the shock didn’t last long before the celebration began!

For the first time in many years the DHS Competition Cheer Squad won first place at Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association Southeast Regional competition, earning the opportunity to go on to state competition this fall. The regional competition was held Monday, July 18 at Perryville.

“They were shocked,” said Coach Michelle Kirkley. Kirkley and Laura Stone are coaches for the squad. “We’ve never gotten first place at regionals, so the girls were shocked when the announcement was made. They just looked at each other for a moment before it all soaked in! Their reaction was almost kind of funny.”

Competition classes are based on a school’s basketball classification, plus the number of squad members, said Kirkley. So the Dexter squad was Class 4-Small. Squads that include up to 14 members are classified Small; more than 14 Large.

“It’s a small division, but it’s a strong division,” Kirkley said.

The Dexter girls were head-to-head against Festus and Perryville squads to win the regional competition. Other area schools competition at the regional competition include Sikeston, Holcomb, Cooter, Jackson, Park Hills, Kelley, Van Buren and Southland.

Judges have a number of criteria to consider in rating a performance. Included are crowd appeal, showmanship, skills with jumps, stunts, motions and tumbling, cheer execution, overall effectiveness and incorporation of music.

Girls on the squad include seniors McKenzie Mitchell, Taylor Martin, Miranda Warner, Sydnie Rinehart, and Rilee Jones, juniors Sydney Graves, Brooke Duckworth, Brooke Stoker, and Jessica Norman, and sophomores Alyssa Spear, Madison McGowen, and Tayler Allen.

There are many reason to return home but Casey (Hyten) Sluder returned to Dexter with her husband, Jacob, to simply say "thanks" to those in the community that continue to support their ministry through Campus Outreach.

Local Supporters and family of Casey's gathered at the 1st General Baptist Church in Dexter for a dinner and a ministry update by the couple. The enthusiasm of their work with college students was evident throughout the evening.

"I was fortunate to grow up in a home with two wonderful Christian parents", noted Jacob. "But it wasn't until my freshman year in High School that I really understood the meaning of a true relationship with Jesus Christ."

As a freshman at Tennessee Tech, Jacob walked on to the football team as a linebacker. He highlighted a friend that was the kicker on the football team that was very active in the Campus Ministries and his passion began at that point to serve God on university campuses.

Jacob was inspired throughout his college career to work with other students promoting events and working closely with other sharing the love of Christ. During his junior year, he joined a campus missionary team on a 9 weeks trip to Brazil. This is where he met his future wife, Casey.

"It only took me one and a half years to finally get the nerve up to call Casey and say 'do you remember me'", recalled Jacob. But as the old cliche goes, it was a match made in heaven.

Casey has worked with Campus Ministries for over six years. As a graduate from Arkansas State University, she was actively involved throughout her undergrad years. Upon graduation, she took a job at Butler University near Indianapolis, Indiana.

The couple shared story after story of the times their ministry allows them to pour the love of Christ into these students. "I just wish you (supporters) could be there at those moments when the lights go on for these students and they realize that Jesus died for the sins of the world", said Casey. "It's not something we work to receive but a free gift from God".

After the couples marriage on January 8th of this year, Casey joined Jacob in his ministry on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Jacob has served students there for the past two years.

"It was difficult coming in mid-year to get to know the girls", added Casey. "I am looking forward to this Fall when relationships are much easier to make with the girls on campus."

The couple gave the attenders a prayer card and asked the group to continue to pray for them throughout the year. Their prayer request are:

* New and deep friendships with freshmen.
* Boldness in leading them toward a relationship with Christ.
* To end the year with several students who will be ready to impact others.
* Our personal walk with God and marriage.

The couple plans to continue their adjustments to married life while they work to see lives on the Bradley campus transformed through Christ.

If you would like to learn more about Sluder's ministry or receive their newsletter "The Sluder Source", SMT readers can contact Casey at her email address ... chyten@campusoutreach.org.

The vision of Campus Outreach is "Glorifying God by Building Laborers on the Campus for the Lost World." Campus Outreach seeks to build laborers with a commitment to the Great Commission through evangelism and discipleship. They are passionately reaching students with the gospel and training them to become mature followers of Christ. Their desire is then to see students leave college fully equipped to labor in the harvest field for the glory of God.

A SMT Report

A couple of Dexter men are looking for some mud.

Patrick Barbour and Jeff Jarrell of Dexter just opened their sixth Mud Magnet car wash in Southeast Missouri. The newest location is at 224 E. Business Highway 60 (next door to Faye’s Bakery) in Dexter.

This new car wash has all the latest features for keeping cars and trucks sparkling clean, but has a new feature to help keep the furry friends at home clean, too. This newest Mud Magnet features a Doggie Wash.

“We’ve seen the Doggie Wash for several years at industry shows, and decided to add it to this new facility,” Barbour said.

The Doggie Wash features a small room and a specially designed work area where the dog can rest while its owner uses the wash. The machine features cash, rinse and even conditioner, disinfectant, flea and tick control and odor control rinses. The owner can use the dryer to complete the dog wash experience.

“Everybody says that the odor control works really well,” Barbour said. “It really lasts and has a minty smell to it.”

The new Doggie Wash has already become a popular feature, Barbour said.

Barbour and Jarrell own and operate Mud Magnet Car Washes in Bloomfield, two in Malden, Chaffee, and now two in Dexter.

The car wash features self-service car wash bays, vacuums, and an automatic car wash. All systems accept credit, debit and Mud Magnet loyalty cards.

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

A favorite spot in Southeast Missouri for many girls and generations of women will open its gates once again this summer.

Activities at the Latonka Program Center (known to many as Girl Scout Camp Latonka) will resume on Aug. 1. The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland announced Monday that while events were “temporarily suspended” due to the aftermath of this spring’s historic flood, the camp will open its gates next month.

“Activities had been suspended during the restoration process from the historic flooding that affected the Lake Wappapello area in May. All facilities at the program center – including the waterfront, challenge course and camping units - will be available to Girl Scout groups and community groups,” the statement said.

To help get the facility “back into shape,” a special clean-up day is planned for Saturday, Aug. 13. Among the “chores” that need to be completed include raking leaves, clearing trails, cleaning cabins and shower houses and other tasks around the property. Volunteers, girl and adults members who would like to participate are invited to become involved in the effort.

The Latonka Program Center Clean-Up Day will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 13.

Volunteers may want to bring work gloves and tools such as rakes and pruning shears if they have them.

Volunteers may bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the clean up is finished and Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland will provide beverages, watermelon and ice cream for dessert. It is stressed registration is required for the clean-up day so that the council can anticipate the number of people participating.

In addition, adults will need to attend with girls in order to provide adult supervision.

To register for the event, please contact Sandy Vaughn, Property/Risk Manager, at svaughn@girlscoutsmoheartland.org or call 1-877-312-4764 ext. 1514 no later than Wednesday August 10.

Girl Scout Camp Latonka is celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer. The gates at the camp were opened for the first time to greet girls in July 1951.

Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland was created in through the merger of Cotton Boll and four other Missouri Girl Scout Councils. The new council includes all of the former Cotton Boll area, and stretches to the Oklahoma and Kansas borders and north past Columbia and Fulton. Its headquarters is in Springfield, with service centers in Dexter, Joplin, Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau.

Photos Above: Top Photo – The campfire circle near the shore of Lake Wappapello at the Latonka Program Center; Bottom Photo – the Dining Hall at Latonka. (File photos by Annabeth Miller)