By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
Dexter’s fifth-graders pledged Wednesday afternoon to make good decisions and not get involved with alcohol, tobacco or drugs during their DARE graduation at Central Elementary School.
For the past 12 weeks, the students have been working with Dexter Police Office Lori O’Dell and taking Drug Abuse Resistance Education classes that have prepared them to live a life free of drugs and alcohol.
The classes use role-playing and other activities to show effective ways to resist peer pressure. Using their own personal experiences working with drug abusers on the street, officers are able to provide students with accurate information about alcohol and drugs, teach good decision-making skills, show them how to resist peer pressure and give them different ideas for alternatives to drug use and violence
At the program Wednesday O’Dell recognized Essay contest winners and runner-ups from each fifth grade classroom at Central. Students recognized include:
- Jill Allen’s Class: Jerrica Porter, winner; Brooke Hessling, medalist
- Jennifer Collin’s Class: Natalie Sitze, winner; Gabe Rimel, medalist
- Jessica Dement’s Class: Joe Rice, winner; Coby Powers, medalist;
- Nicole Guethle’s Class: Adi Schumer, winner; Hannah Copeland, medalist
- Sandy Stone’s Class: Madison Bryant, winner; Arianna Carter, medalist
- Kimmy Moore’s Class: Chris Graves, winner; Hallie Keathley, medalist
- Kara Lummukka’s Class: Emily Grobe, winner; Kelby Hill, medalist
O’Dell announced the overall winner was Adi Schumer and a special essay award given to Joslyn Walker. All classroom winners and Walker read their winning essay’s to the students and parents attending the graduation.
Recipients of the Daren Award for good spirit and participation were awarded to Malia Cook and Macy Roper. Dement’s class received the Attendance Award and Bolin’s class received the Milk Dance Award.
Guest speaker for the graduation was Mrs. Missouri, Rachel Watson. Joining Watson on the platform was Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham, Assistant Police Chief Charles Sanders. Bernie DARE Office Andrew Johnson, former Dexter DARE office Danny Gentles, Sept. of Schools Dr. Thomas Sharp and Central Principal Cindy Bowman.
Each student completing the DARE program walked across the stage and received their DARE certificate from O’Dell and shook the hand of platform dignitaries.
The ceremony concluded with the premiere of a special video presentation created by Dement.
Jessica's Dement's DARE Presentation
ShowMe Times Photo Gallery
Reading is Fun!
Surrounded by a big group of enthusiastic readers, Dexter Mayor Joe Weber on Tuesday officially declared this week as Missouri Reading Week in Dexter. Weber gathered with the young students in the lobby at Central Elementary School and told one student that his favorite book was about flying and airplanes. The students all have 200 percent of their Accelerated Reading goal for the first quarter. Reading Teachers April Aldridge of Central Elementary(back on left) and Katy Tarbutton of Southwest Elementary joined in the Proclamation Signing ceremony. Students at both Dexter elementary schools are observing the week with special guest readers who share their enthusiasm for reading with the students. On Friday, Roawdy the Redhawk from Southeast Missouri State University is scheduled to drum up reading enthusiasm at Southwest Elementary.
Link of Interest
BRANSON - Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff received the Missouri Community College Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award at the association’s annual convention in Branson.
Libla is a business owner who got his start at Three Rivers College in 1971. Born and raised in Greenville, Libla began his business career as the owner/operator of Doug’s Sinclair & Tire. Since 1977, he and his brother David have been involved in many startup companies, including operations in manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, heavy construction, automotive products, and industrial and commercial real estate. Today, Libla is the co-owner of Mid Continent Nail, an industry leader with a national reputation.
Libla has used his business acumen and connections to support the college he attended over 40 years ago. He was one of the first people to join the college’s new endowment trust in 2009, and he has used his business background and contacts to make the endowment’s first years a success. He also used his connections to bring former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to speak at TRC’s 2011 commencement. Huckabee’s appearance at the college brought considerable attention, and the proceeds of a reception with him provided seed money for a $16 million capital campaign. Libla was a major sponsor of the reception, and he plans to remain actively engaged in the capital campaign throughout its duration.
In addition to Libla’s service to Three Rivers, he and his wife Elaine are involved in many community organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, and Ozarks Foothills Regional Planning Commission, Haven House, Boys and Girls Club, the Baptist Children’s Home. The Liblas have one daughter, Cassie; son-in-law Daniel; and two grandsons, Noah and Joseph.
The Missouri Community College Association is a statewide organization through which Missouri’s community colleges work together to advance common agendas.
MCCA provides advocacy, education, information, and networking opportunities in service of the state’s 5,700 community college faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees.
Photo Above: Doug and Elaine Libla (center) at the Missouri Community College Association convention. With them are Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College (left) and Zora Milligan (right), executive director of MCCA. (Three Rivers photo)
