By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

August 27, 2010. It was just another ordinary day.

It was just before noon on that hot day. Kids had been in school classrooms for about a week. The first home football game of the season was that night.

And Jerry Kiger was doing his job – installing new bulbs in the stadium lighting at Charles Bland Stadium. He was climbing the southeastern-most pole when his life changed.

"There's a piece of angle iron welded onto that pole because there used to be a junction box there. So, when you climb or descend that pole, you have to take your harness off to get past it," he said. Kiger removed his harness and was maneuvering around the extension.

He'd been climbing the poles at the football stadium since he was 19. This time, however, something went wrong.

“I got up there and I don’t know – dehydration set in and probably old age, and I didn’t have the strength I used to have, I guess,” he said. His gear was caught as he made his descent. He fell 40 feet, managing to not hit a concrete pad by inches.

The inventory of injuries is mind-boggling. Shattered right heel. Broken left leg. Three vertebrae broken in his back. Broken sternum.

Despite the injuries, Kiger said he’s “pretty okay.”

“By the end of the day you’re hurting,” he explained. “It’s getting better. In the past month or two I’ve noticed lots of improvement. It’s amazing.”

He says he’s noticed that it’s easier to climb into the back of the truck, even though he’s not jumping out with the ease he once did.

“Things are coming back,” he said. It’s going to take just a little bit longer, but when there’s 11 screws and a plate in your foot --- you’re not supposed to have steel inside your bone.”

All-in-all, Kiger said things are getting back to what would be ‘normal’ for a guy with his own business, and a family that includes his wife Karen, daughter Jackie who’s in seventh grade and a high school sophomore Wyatt.

He’s looking forward to being on hand for the Bearcats Jamboree Friday night, and to watching Wyatt play football, and to those volleyball games and other school activities he missed last year.

One memory that stands out during his recovery was about month after the accident and he attended his daughter Jackie’s volleyball game at T.S. Hill Middle School.

“I was in a wheelchair,” he recalled. “They stopped the game and everybody stood up and clapped when I came into the gym,” he said. “That kinda puts things in check. No one had seen me in three weeks, and I go in there to see my daughter play volleyball. The game stopped.”

Kiger also credits good friends and good customers to helping the family make it through a unique year. He says “good, loyal customers” stood by his company while he was out of pocket, and he’s very appreciative of their support.

“It’s been a life-changing experience,” he said. “There are a lot of things that just aren’t as important as they used to be. As long as you’ve got family then everything else can go on down the road. Friends and family.”

“Life is good.”

It was a great night to be outside for a while, and a great night for parents, faculty and students to gather at Richland Schools for its annual Open House.

Parents had the opportunity to visit the classrooms and speak to their students' teachers as the new academic year begins. Hotdogs were grilled outside and everyone got the chance to enjoy being together.

The first meeting of the Richland PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23 in the school cafeteria.

Organizers report that at the first meeting officers will be elected and the group's agenda for the upcoming school year will be discussed. Membership fee if $5 and all parents are invited and encouragaged to participate.

Photo Above: Everyone had a good time Tuesday evening at the annual Richland School Open House. Hanging out together were (from left) Ashland Wheeler, Abigail Wheeler, Richland Music Teacher Amber Duley, and Alesia Eaton . (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)

By Joe Schneider, ShowMe Times Contributing Writer

Independent filmmaker Brittney Greer of Dexter, Missouri has been working to create a film entitled Left Alone. Greer studied at Missouri State University where she claims to have met like-minded people that wanted to make movies without Hollywood's unfriendly costs.

The film is about Annabelle (played by Brittney's cousin, Gabrielle Greer) who is asked to house-sit for a weekend. When she starts to hear strange noises and things begin disappearing, Annabelle realizes that she might not have been as alone as she thought.

Brittney describes the film as being a B horror movie reminiscent of horrors of the 80s and 90s. The film does feature violence and blood, but is not devoted to gore. Brittney hopes that Left Alone is something that everyone can enjoy.

Although there was no major funding, a crew of five has managed to nearly complete a feature length film. Greer says that the film is currently being edited. She expects the film to premiere in Springfield some time in the fall.

She says that movie-making is rewarding, if difficult work. Since Gabrielle Greer lives in St. Louis and could only shoot in Springfield on weekends, the production was crammed into long sessions including a marathon thirteen hour shoot. Brittney says that the stress and long hours are worth being on set, where she feels in her element.

While she is not a professional filmmaker yet, she aspires to make movies full time--Brittney has been "obsessed" with television and film her entire life.

Greer says that everything started when a friend approached her with script ideas. The same friend, Jason Brasier of Willow Springs, MO, then helped Greer start the production company American Wasteland Entertainment which is responsible for producing Left Alone. Brittney says that they hope to "give people like us a chance to have their work seen and to be paid for doing what they love."

Brittney Greer is the daughter of Debbie Snider and Stacy Greer both of Dexter. She is a 2004 graduate of Dexter High School. Gabrielle Greer is a former student of Dexter schools and is a 2009 graduate of MICDS in St. Louis and is the daughter of Matt and Lisa Greer, formerly of Dexter now living in St. Louis.

Check out American Wasteland Entertainment and Left Alone on Facebook and go to www.leftalonefilm.com in order to see the film's progress. Greer says that after the premiere and a few showings, the film will be released online. Look out for Left Alone this fall to support local art.

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Facebook Page: Left/Alone Film

TRAILER VIDEO OF LEFT/ALONE Film

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Please take a moment and show Brittney that "Hometown" support by clicking this icon and going to their Facebook page and clicking "LIKE". It's a real way we can show her that we are proud her success in chasing her dream.

Every morning this week they have been diligently learning – learning the music, learning the formations, learning how many steps to take between point A and point B.

The Dexter High School Marching Bearcat Band has been working hard this week to prepare for the fall field show. Band instructors Scott Rybolt and Jim Wade, and drum majors Kendra Stevenson, Joseph Greer, and Lauren Dudley are ready to lead the Marching Bearcats onto the field.

The music this fall will come from the hit rock band Chicago and will feature some of the group’s hit songs. Included will be “25 or 6 to 4,” "Make Me Smile," and more. Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in five decades.

As a culmination on their pre-start of school rehearsals and to unveil the 2011 field show, the Marching Bearcats will perform at 6 p.m. Friday night on the Band Practice Field.

The Band Practice Field is near T. S. Hill Middle School, behind the school tennis court. It is suggested that those wishing to see the show arrive by 5:45 p.m. to allow time to walk back to the practice field before the 6 p.m. performance.

The Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Foundation continues bring a caring impact to our community and surrounding area.

As a group that has always impacted new technologies, 18 FORE Life is nearing a milestone in the area of Twitter followers. Many of you may be unfamiliar with a "Tweet", however the concept of social media promotion is continually becoming more and more common within organizations and clubs worldwide.

"We are less than 50 followers to go and 18FORELife reaches 1,000 followers on Twitter!" commented Scott Kruse on his Facebook page. "Now that is crazy!"

This group has a very special way of building excitement. The list of events sponsored by 18 FORE Life continues to grow. The greatest part is that the purpose purely exists for fun and raising money for those in need of help.

"And when you see who all follows us (on Twitter), it gets even crazier!" Kruse also posted.

The coming year is full of events for you to become involved. It doesn't matter if you golf, fish, bowl or run, 18 FORE Life has something to fit you. Plus, you will always find something on the drawing board of Scott Kruse and his team.

"We are looking forward to a Fall Run, Fishing Tournament, and another Dig Pink Event at the BEC (Bearcat Event Center)", says Kruse. "Details will be coming soon."

Be sure to keep your eyes on the website and become a follower today of the 18 FORE Life Twitter account. Join in the fun today and be first to be informed of all 18 FORE Life events by following 18 FORE Life on Twitter.