More than 135 years ago, Dexter was founded, centered around the old railroad track that eventually ran through the heart of the town. Now more than 40 trains a day travel through the community, and the relationship between railroad and community remains strong.
Officials from the Union Pacific Railroad were in Dexter on Wednesday morning, to recognize that relationship and to honor two Dexter city departments for their hard work and efforts.
Robert W. Turner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations for Union Pacific, traveled to Dexter to present Golden Spike Awards to the Dexter police and fire departments for their continued cooperation and work with the railroad.
The presentations were made at a ceremony at the Dexter City Administration Building. Accepting the recognition for the Police Department was Police Chief Sammy Stone; for the Fire Department Chief Al Banken.
“There are 7,296 communities in the United States that have Union Pacific tracks running through them,” Turner said at the presentation. “We want to be a good neighbor in every one of them.”
Turner, from the Union Pacific headquarters in Omaha, said part of being a good neighbor involves good trains, UP employees who live in the towns, and the relationship between the rail company public safety officials in communities.
“Our relationship with public safety, with first responders, really is unique because of the things you’re often called on to do because we have trains coming through,” he said. Turner said the Golden Spike Award is to honor those community folks who put their lives on the line and are concerned about public safety and railroads.
“This is to thank you for all you do. When that call comes through at 2 o’clock in the morning or 2 o’clock in the afternoon – you folks are out there,” he said. “Thank you for what you do; thank you for your continued work.“'
Turner noted that Union Pacific turns 150 years old in 2012.
“We are saying that the best years are ahead of us. We are going to keep being a part of your town and want to keep working with you on projects that matter and things are important to the community. You have our pledge that we’re going to keep trying to be a good citizen,” he commented.
Joining Turner on Wednesday morning was Dan Witthaus, Superintendent Transportation Services from the UP unit in St. Louis.
“I just want to say thank you,” Witthaus said to Stone and Banken. “We had a few opportunities to work together, unfortunately, on some incidents.”
Witthaus said that some year back Stoddard County had a number of crossing incidents and other situations.
“We’ve been able to get that (incident rate) down to almost nothing. I really appreciate all you have given and everything you’ve done to get that taken care of,” Witthaus said.
Also attending the presentation Wednesday morning were Dexter Mayor Joe Weber and City Administrator Mark Stidham, and assistant fire chief Don Seymore.
Photo Above: Union Pacific Senior Vice President Robert W. Turner, left, speaks at a presentation of Golden Spike Awards to tthe Dexter Fire Department and Dexter Police Department on Wednesday morning. With Turner are (from left) Police Chief Sammy Stone, Dan Witthaus from UP's St. Louis Service Unit, and Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)
By Annabeeth Miller, SMT Editor
They scrubbed and cleaned and swept and they joined more than 3 million other Americans recently in helping to make a difference in the lives of others.
The students from Mingo Job Corp recently gave back to others by participating in the annual Make A Difference Day. In a wave of volunteerism that swept the nation, the Job Corps students rolled up their sleeves and helped to make a difference.
In what has become an annual project, the students brought their energy to Dexter where they spent the morning at the Dexter Public Schools bus garage. There the young men and women cleaned, swept, washed, scrubbed s every bus in the district’s fleet. By the end of the morning the buses gleamed from the front seat all the way to the back; windows shined, seats and floors cleaned and the buses had been given a thorough scrubbing.
“We want to give back to the community,” said group leader Bob Waldner. So every year Waldner brings the students to Dexter to complete this project.
Students armed with window cleaner, rags, brooms and dust pans cleaned the interiors, while another crew of students washed the exteriors of the buses. Working together as a team, the students were able to complete the task of cleaning the entire fleet in short order.
“I’ve never been in a school bus that smelled so clean,” was heard as the students worked.
Make a Difference Day is the large national day of community service in America. Held each fall, the day is a day of neighbors helping neighbors and when Americans can unite in a common mission to improve the lives others.
Thank you, Job Corps students, for showing us how to be good neighbors and to Make A Difference in our community!
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Dexter’s Chamber of Commerce has announced that applications are being accepted for the second Leadership Dexter community program to be held during 2012.
Leadership Dexter is a proactive leadership development program in the Dexter community. The program includes a series of forums, seminars, and field trips that have been custom designed to explore the many challenges and opportunities facing the community leaders of tomorrow.
“Under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Dexter has been formed to develop year after year a pool of leaders that share a common knowledge and vision for the city into the 21st century,” said Chamber President Ed Gargas. “Our goal is that upon graduation, each leader will be more informed about the Dexter area and choose to serve the community in a way to make the most optimal impact.”
The Dexter Chamber of Commerce has designed the program to educate and motivate a diverse group of up-and-coming leaders in our community. Individuals who have a genuine interest in leadership, a desire to learn, and who want to become more involved in the future of the community are encouraged to participate in the Leadership Dexter Program.
Beginning in January 2012 the Leadership Dexter Program will consist of seven monthly sessions. The groups will meet on the third Thursday of every other month with the morning sessions being spent focusing on different areas of interest of the month’s chosen program. The trips/meetings will consist of informational speakers, panel discussions, touring facilities, and time for questions and answers. The sessions will end with a luncheon at which individuals met during the morning session tours will be invited. The informal luncheon time will allow for greater dialogue and discussion.
The seventh session will be held in December and will focus on the Chamber’s programs and also to review the six previous sessions. The Graduates will be recognized and will be recognized at the Chamber Annual Awards Event in January 2013.
Participants will be selected from applications submitted by interested and committed individuals. The tuition fee is $200 for Dexter Chamber of Commerce members or $250 for non-Chamber members. Tuition covers supplies, meals, transportation, and speakers during the sessions. Applications are available at the Chamber office. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Nov. 18, 2011 to be considered. Only ten individuals will be selected for the program.
For additional information contact Janet Coleman at 573-624-7458 or email to [email=info@dexterchamber.com.
Photo Above: The first Leadership Dexter class met in 2011. Class members included (seated, from right) Kyle Christian, Amy Ellinghouse, Tyler Wager, and (standing) Ken Harris, Chamber President Ed Gargas, and Robert Greer. (SMT Archive photo)
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
Bearcats are many things - students, athletes, musicians; they are talented in the classroom and in the ag shop; they bring home awards and they have great dreams for the future.
And Bearcats also care.
That was evident Friday with the Future Teachers of America (FTA) organization at Dexter High School hosted its annual fall blood drive with the American Red Cross.
Throughout the busy day student FTA members worked with Red Cross staff in helping donors complete paperwork and assist in a wide variety of ways. From offering moral support to those giving blood to helping serve the snacks after donating, the Bearcat FTA members were ready to help wherever needed.
And that Bearcat spirit was visible in lines of students, faculty and staff who lined up to donate blood.
Ann Polsgrove, faculty sponsor of FTA said it was a productive and successful day.
“We had 124 people presented to donate,” she reported. There were 78 productive units were collected.”
It was a difficult summer for the American Red Cross. Natural disasters, record high temperatures, and outrageous gas prices all contributed to a low blood supply. While thousands of generous blood donors rolled up a sleeve to donate during this time of need, the Red Cross blood supply remains critical as we enter autumn.
Photo Above: Senior Cody Stevens says that Bearcats are "Number One" - on the football field and in other ways, as well. Cody donated blood during the DHS Blood Drive on Friday, and teammate Josh Overall was hand to offer support. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
ShowMe Times Photo
Bearcat Blood Drive, October 28, 2011
Special to the ShowMe Times
By Tim Krakowiak, Editor
SEMO Times
POPLAR BLUFF – Two Poplar Bluff natives have dropped out of the Senate race, clearing the way for another local candidate who has proven his commitment to a first run at office, raising $180,000 in just over a month.
Having celebrated his 40th year as a self-made businessman this summer, Doug Libla, co-owner of Mid Continent Nail Corp., is grooming his successor for his position at the manufacturing plant, in hopes of filling the seat of Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, who is terming out in 2012.
But first Libla must vie in the Republican primary against state Rep. Billy Pat Wright out of Dexter, who is completing his fourth two-year term in the House. The victor will face the only Democrat thus far who has announced his candidacy for the 25th District next November, Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville, also serving his final term.
“I’m at a point in my career where I’ve been such a critic of politics for 20, 30 years, I’m ready for public service,” said Libla, who was born in Greenville and resides in Poplar Bluff. “The direction of our state and federal government is stunting the growth of our young people, killing the American dream, and I feel compelled to step out and put 100 percent of my effort into representing the 25th District and all it entails.”
TRADE WAR
One of the largest manufacturers of nails in the United States, Mid Continent has been on the frontlines of the trade war against China, having won a lawsuit in 2008 through the U.S. International Trade Commission that required the Commerce Department to impose a tariff on Chinese companies “dumping” cheaply made nails in our country in an attempt to kill competition.
While the family owned business spent more than $1 million to win the unfair trade case, the nails kept coming in, so Mid Continent invested another $75,000 to hire a private detective who discovered that Chinese manufacturers were simply exporting their nails through Korea and Taiwan to avoid paying the duties, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“We’ve lost several domestic competitors over the last 10 years because they couldn’t compete with the government of China, where they don’t have to pay workers comp, [provide] benefits and decent salaries,” Libla pointed out.
Before he announced his candidacy Aug. 22 in the SEMO Times, Libla said he spent time in Jefferson City visiting each chamber, meeting legislators and doing his “due diligence.” His strength, he said, will be his “negotiation skills on both sides of the aisle” and he is not looking to “garner the spotlight.”
“This isn’t part-time work; it’s a tremendous responsibility that should not be taken lightly,” Libla said. “I’ve traveled all over the country, and have seen big employers taxed to death, so I do think I can make a difference, getting in there with other like-minded senators and reps, making Missouri a more business-friendly state, and improving our self-perception.”
Libla has received large campaign donations from regional business leaders of varying backgrounds, not surprisingly including the medical community, which is poised for major growth.
Last month, Libla flew community members to the state Capitol in his company airplane for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center’s relocation hearing on its $173 million replacement hospital, which broke ground Oct. 6. One member of the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee said the overpowering in-person support is what led to her approval.
Libla has already opened a very visible office in the heart of Poplar Bluff’s retail district at Mansion Mall, which he said he would staff full time in January. He also plans to organize policy advisory teams representing multiple groups of constituents including agriculture, education, health care, industry, municipality and senior citizens.
“It’s important to me to keep up with everybody’s needs, because you can’t know everything,” Libla said. “I feel like we’ve lost the way to what we’re trying to get accomplished within government in the state of Missouri.”
A key to Libla’s early success in fundraising has been his committed campaign team, led by treasurer Herman Styles Jr., a successful businessman who co-owns Colton’s Steak House & Grill in Poplar Bluff, as well as restaurants in Farmington, Jefferson City, Sedalia and Springfield, with more expansion plans slated for next year.
“I’m at the tail end of my career—no more seven-day work weeks for me—so I’m helping Doug contact people for money and votes, or both,” Styles commented. “We’re all enthusiastic, running around like a bunch of 18 year olds.”
This is Styles’ first time being heavily involved in a political campaign, he noted, and he is not alone. Deputy campaign treasurer Brent Davis, who had a 31-year career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and now conducts compliance training for Gamma HealthCare, explained how he admires what Libla stands for.
“Doug won’t be bought,” Davis stated. He recalled in the mid-1970s meeting Libla through the businessman’s lead role with the Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society, which provides funeral expenses for fallen troopers killed in the line of duty, and guarantees a college education for any surviving children.
‘SETTING THE TABLE’
Publicly endorsing Libla a month ago, Jeff Shawan, a leader of Poplar Bluff’s nonprofit sector, announced in March he was running for the senatorial seat, but since then he has gracefully bowed out.
Shawan described how he was involved in Rep. Todd Richardson’s successful campaign last year for District 154, and was working to find a business-oriented candidate for Mayer’s seat, originally concluding he would enter the political arena himself.
“Why I got out really came down the reason why I got into the race—I thought it would be counterproductive to compete against someone with very similar Conservative views as me, thereby splitting the Butler County vote and setting the table for what I would consider a Jefferson City insider going back to office,” Shawan said. “It’s my belief with the recession in our economy that we need representation from the business sector to streamline what I consider to be an overreach of the government, both on the federal and state levels.”
The first Poplar Bluff candidate to announce his intent to file was Gayle Kingery, Richardson’s eight-year predecessor, who dropped out of the Senate race in June. Unlike Shawan, Kingery said he would not endorse a candidate until after the primary in August 2012.
“I got to thinking, at my tender age, which is 72, that ‘Hey, I probably got another 10 good years in me of traveling and enjoying the country and my grandkids,’” Kingery said. “I certainly will miss the public service. For what it’s worth, I was told I was the candidate to beat.”
Having just returned from a trip to Colorado earlier this month, Kingery said he has not followed who is running at this early stage, but when asked, admitted his initial thought was that it would be nice to bring the seven-county senatorial seat to Poplar Bluff.
“Poplar Bluff is the largest community in the 25th District, and we have the infrastructure in place with Highways 60 and 67 divided, to put us on the map to be the capital of Southeast Missouri,” Kingery said. “Having the seat here would be a good thing, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be, as we were well served from Dexter for eight years by Rob Mayer, who I will continue to support in whatever he does.”
Tim Krakowiak can be contacted by emailing tim@semotimes.com, or follow him on Twitter @timkrakowiak.
