Southeast Missouri has a white Christmas … just a few days late!
Folks woke Tuesday morning to find a layer of wet white stuff blanketed the area overnight. The snow was pretty on the trees and shrubs, but made a wet, soggy mess of roadways.
The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a “hazardous weather outlook” for Southeast Missouri and portions of Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. The forecast calls for an area of widespread rain and rain/snow mix today for the region
The snow has slowed little down – especially the 55th Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Drivers headed to the tournament – and elsewhere – should use caution, however, as NWS predicts the temperature will hover at or near freezing today.
The forecast for Tuesday night calls for temperatures around 27 degrees. Wednesday should be sunny, with a high near 45 degrees.
Photo Above: A snow-covered statue of Lt. Ken Sisler on the grounds of the Keller Public Library looks out on a winter scene Tuesday morning as an overnight snow blanketed the region. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
All members of the Montgomery Bank Kid's Club are encouraged to attend and to bring a guest. The party will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Dexter branch, located at 140 South Walnut Street.
The Kid's Club is a great opportunity for young people to earn 5% on their savings throughout the year. Come and celebrate with other members of the Kid's Club!!!
Dexter’s Board of Education took steps Monday to fill the positions of retiring teachers in the district.
During the executive session the board approved the hiring of two new educators and the in-district transfer request of two teachers to help fill the positions of four retiring teachers. Hired for the 2012-2013 school year Tuesday night were:
- Josh Dowdy to fill the position of retiring Vicky Jarrell. Dowdy will teach elementary physical education at Southwest Elementary;
- James Eldreth to fill the position of retiring music educator Maria Chamberlain. Eldreth teach elementary music at Southwest Elementary;
The board also approved the transfer request of teacher Connie Heil to fill the position of retiring teacher Betty Huffman, and the request of Chris Bolin to fill the position of retiring teacher Carolyn Carroll.
Heil will teach English at T.S. Hill Middle School and Bolin will teach business education at the middle school during the 2012-2013 school year.
The board also approved in executive session:
- The resignation/retirement of middle school cook Carol E. Myers;
- Approved the employment of Pat Blair as Southwest Elementary nurse;
- Approved the employment of Mr. Stacey Hendrick as custodian and Central Elementary;
- Approved the advertising of two elementary teaching positions in the district.
Photo Above: School Board President Herman Morse (left) and Supt. Dr. Thomas Sharp during a discussion at Tuesday's board meeting. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
CAPE GIRARDEAU - Clyde Vaughn was just a kid from Dexter who wanted to play a little football and decided to attend Southeast Missouri State in the 1960s. He attended classes, met the love of his life, and he sat with fellow graduates and walked across the stage to receive his degree from the then-state college in 1968.
On Saturday, the situation was a little reversed, as Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, Ret., returned to his alma mater as the keynote speaker at Southeast’s Commencement.
Vaughn told the graduates he was “just a kid from Dexter” when he attend Southeast in the 1960s, and that the best thing about his years at the university was meeting his wife Carol his sophomore year.
“I figured out I wasn’t going to play a lot of football,” Vaughn told the graduates. But he offered a bit of advice. “Marry well … that’s really key.”
Vaughn spoke to the graduates about leadership and developing the skills necessary to be an effective leader. He told the graduates they needed to be smart leaders – more efficient and effective as leaders and to have a framework of understanding the situation.
“As you move along and you move into higher levels of leadership I can tell you that in conflict you don’t have worry about motivation,” he said. “Get out there and master the field you are getting ready to go into,” he commented. “Leadership is about leading change at the highest levels. Nothing is more important than leading change. If you stand still, everybody else has passed you. See things through the eyes of others.”
He said that good leaders use humor when they can and “not to be afraid to be the butt of jokes.”
Vaughn retired in July 2009 as the Director of the Army National Guard after nearly 40 years of service to the Guard and the Army. As director, the Dexter native was over 350,000 soldiers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and territories. He guided the formulation, development of all policies and programs of the Army Guard.
“I grew up here with a great military hero who went to Southeast,” Vaughn said. General James T. Conway attended Southeast and became in the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“He was a great warrior; very humble. It was a really incredible knowing him and knowing that he came from Southeast Missouri,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn recalled sitting next to Conway at daily briefings with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
“Now, can you feature a couple of Southeast Missouri graduates sitting next to each other at a forum like that,” Vaughn asked.
Vaughn said he was proud of the graduates – that he saw “the kind of energy” to accomplish great things.
“You come from a magnificent university,” he concluded.
At A Glance
Southeast Missouri State University Commencement
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011
- Place: Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau
- Total number of degrees: 656
- Undergraduate: 543
- Graduate: 113
- Graduates With 4.0 – 11
Photos Above: Top Photo - Dexter Native Clyde Vaughn address the graduates at commencement ceremonies at Southeast Missouri State University. Bottom Photo - Graduate Andrew Boone of Dexter is all smiles during the recessional at the conclusion of ceremonies. (SMT photos by Annabeth Miller)
LifeWay is a leading research organization on the state of churches in America. Their president, Ed Stetzer has written dozens of books with his research helping churches around the globe. Each year, Stetzer and Lifeway reveal the largest and fastest growing churches in America in Outreach Magazine, which includes all denominational and non-denominational churches combined. Lifeway has been in contact with First Untied Methodist of Sikeston since March, according to Brad Aycock, worship coordinator at the church.
On Stetzer’s December 14th blog, he released the list of some of the fastest growing churches in America that have under 1000 in worship. First UMC Sikeston is the most rural and oldest (years in existence) church on the list - founded in 1867.
"To be considered on this list is quite an honor, especially when you compare our location and years in existence to the other churches," says Aycock. Three Missouri churches made the top 100 list of churches that have over 1000 in worship - The Journey in St. Louis, Faith Church in St. Louis, and Element Church in Wentzville. Two Missouri churches also made the "Under 1000" list - Restore Church in Kansas City and First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. Sikeston showed a growth percentage of just over 39% over 2010 and ranked 8th on the list.
"The reason this is important to us is because we believe the local church is the hope of the world. These numbers mean that more people are beginning a relationship with Jesus, in turn they are positively impacting their families, their communities, and our world by putting their faith in action," adds Aycock. According to Stetzer, over 8 out of 10 churches in America are either declining or dying. "Where there is an absence of a vibrant church in a community, there could be an absence of hope for the people there. Everyone needs hope," concludes Aycock.
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