By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor
Most every kid has done it. Just admit it and move on! Sure, you fiddled around with a guitar, a drum set, maybe thought you were the next great singer to take the stage.
Sure, you “practiced” on the carport, in the garage, in a basement. Maybe you and your “group” were chased out into the ‘back 40’ to practice.
Then you realized you were never going to be the Beach Boys, or Bon Jovi, Billy Joel or Sting. So you hung up the guitar, whittled down the drumsticks into toothpicks and went on your merry way.
But not this group!
Nope, these guys still think they are good. They still play gigs, they still have that rock ‘n roll music in their hearts.They still have fun - probably more fun than when they were teenagers!!
Guitarist John Steward, bassist Kip Musgrave, drummer Scott Kruse and vocalist/keyboardist Bobbi Kay Wooley Parker still play that “good ‘ol rock and roll”, still have a good time, and still can chase the cows out of the ‘back 40’’.
It started out just a guy thing. John, Kip and Scott all stalked the halls at DHS and thought they could make music. They practice the two – count ‘em one, two – songs in John’s basement. They called themselves Sittin' Pretty. And they made the momentous decision to head to the Talent Show at the Stoddard County Fair.
Good thing these guys recruited Jim Elledge and Arlen Pixley to sing backup and work as bodyguards. On the positive side, they also recruited classmate Candy Coburn to sing vocals.
“A second place finish (or creative differences?) plus high school athletics and graduation sent Sittin' Pretty heading in different directions,” Steward recalls.
Candy has gone on to greater and grander things. Thank goodness. But they had an incredible cute young lady named Addie Kruse who helped with vocals and Bobbi Kay Wooley (she’s cute too!) joined the team as well.
“BK also immediately showed she not only could sing beautifully and powerfully, but she also was a true talent on the keyboard,” said Kruse. She should play that keyboard well … her momma and daddy paid enough for piano lessons!!! Jean Rahm and MaryRuth Boone are proud!!!
The name. Let’s discuss this name thing.
The group started their musical career at the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Charity Golf Event Banquet. Well, Ben had this nickname - Buzzard, or just Buzz for short. So, logically speaking, since the group started on the path to musical greatness at the event which bore Ben’s name, they assumed his nickname.
“We simply put his name on our band,” big brother Scott said. “The BUZZ was born and has been playing music together ever since, getting people together for fun and good times.”
Not many bands can boast a lawyer, accountant, school principal and a beer distributer. BUZZ can, by golly. Which can be good - they have a lawyer to keep them on the straight and narrow, an accountant to make sure there's a nickel in the piggy bank, an principal to keep them out of after-school-detention, and a beer distributor ... well, for refreshment!
Which leads us to the present; this week to be exact. After the band’s World Tour (Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, Dunklin, Cape and Dunklin counties) and headlining the Second Annual Bearcat Homecoming Tailgate Party this fall, the band has decided to blast away the old year and greet the new one.
This New Year’s Eve the band will have guitars, drumsticks, keyboard and vocal cords all ready for a BUZZ BASH at the Hidden Trails Country Club. They now have 75 whole songs on their music list and promise a fantastically great time for all.
Table reservations are being taken, so call 573.624.3638 to save a table with your name. The cost is just $15 per person and there will be drink specials throughout the night.
“It’s just a fun time and great way to get together with friends and ring in a new year,” Kruse said.
With a crew like the BUZZ playing the music, it’s bound to be a heck of a fun year!
By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor
Just in time for the winter travel conditions, the Missouri Department of Transportation has launched a smartphone application that will allow users to check state road conditions from the palm of their hands.
The Traveler Information Map App is available at both the iPhone App Store (for iPhone 3GS and above) and Android Marketplace (2.2 and above) and provides the latest information on road conditions, work zones, flooding and incidents. The app is free.
The app offers the same information as its online big brother, the Traveler Information Map, but with the convenience people have come to expect with the mobile revolution.
When the map loads, users see the entire state at a glance and can zoom in for a better view by tapping the screen on iPhones or using the pan and zoom buttons on the Android version. Weather-related road conditions are loaded as a default, but users can view work zones and incidents by tapping the "Conditions" button and choosing their display options. Even still shots of traffic are a viewable option for some routes.
Radar images supplied by the National Weather Service are also available so travelers can keep an eye on continuously changing weather conditions and plan their trips accordingly.
Information is updated continuously throughout snow and ice events. For incidents, work zones and flooding, visitors can tap on icons for more information on delays. And if drivers want more information not offered on the map, MoDOT's customer service phone number (888-275-6636) is just a tap away.
The Traveler Information Map is only one tool Missouri travelers should use for travel information. Local weather reports and law enforcement alerts should also be a part of any travel plan, especially during the winter months.
And MoDOT officials urge people to not use a mobile device while driving.
A Cape Girardeau businessman has been appointed to the university's board of regents by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.
Thomas M. Meyer was announced as the board's newest appointed member recently. Meyer, a Democrat, is a longtime Cape Girardeau businessman, owner of Thomas M. Meyer Realty and recent former president of the university's alumni association. Meyer will replace Al Spradling, whose term expired in January.
The seven-member board of regents appoints the university's president, employs faculty and staff and makes decisions on the university's budget and policies.
Members are allowed to continue to serve until they are reappointed or another nominee is appointed. Spradling reapplied for his seat in August 2010.
Meyer's appointment requires confirmation by the Senate in January.
In addition to Meyer, Nixon announced appointments to seven other boards and commissions recently. The appointees will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate, with the exception of the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Blind.
The appointees, along with their boards and hometowns, are:
- Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners - Lori L. Glasscock of Jefferson City
- Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners -Timothy D. Cudd of St. Charles; Charles R. Giessing of Farmington
- Credit Union Commission - John C. Hanneke of St. Charles; Richard D. Orr of Warrensburg; Susan L. Venable of Kansas City
- Missouri Assistive Technology Advisory Council - Mervin E. Blunt of Columbia
- Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee - Marsha M. Campbell of Kansas City
- Missouri State Board of Accountancy - Ryan S. Cook of Clinton)
- State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Blind - Dr. Paul Ajuwon of Springfield; Donna K. Borgmeyer of Jefferson City; Brady Clevenger of Republic; Betty K. Farley of Jefferson City; Gene Fleeman of Dixon; Rita Galbraith of Webb City; Nia Ray of Jefferson City; John W. Thompson of St. Louis; Sheila Wright of Kansas City; Patricia L. Yokum of St. Louis
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
Four young Dexter men looking forward to graduating, also look back to last summer and an experience that helped shaped their lives.
Tyler Miller, Zane Olsen, Dylan Heflin, and Owen Flowers represented Dexter last summer at Missouri Boys State. The four young men were selected based on leadership, citizenship, academics and character during their junior year at DHS for the honor.
Boys State is a week of democracy, with the young men participating in their communities in activities, working together as good citizens, and becoming involved in Boy State government.
“It was a fun experience,” said Zane. Boys State programs have time and time again led young men to do great things. Zane is the son of John and Jo Olsen.
“You don’t know what it all about until you go, and you learn a lot,” said Flowers.
Flowers is the son of Kim and Tim Flowers and was elected Presiding Commission of Benton County.
Dylan was elected to the City Council in Meyer City while at Boys State. Elected leadership at Boy State offers opportunities for the young men. Leadership skills learned at Boys State strengthens lessons and offers a chance to meet a variety of new people.
“You meet a whole lot of people and you learn to look at things from a whole different perspective,” said Dylan. He is the son of Jay and Lizzie Heflin.
Tyler was elected as a State Representative from Blair City, an opportunity that helped provide leadership opportunities and broaden his Boy State experience. Tyler is the son of Travis and Tracy Miller.
“Boys State prepares you for your future,” he said.
Boys State staff member are volunteers from a variety of professions and leaders in the state, including education, legal professionals and civic leaders.
Missouri’s Boys State has been an important part of the lives of hundreds of young men in the ShowMe State. Juniors in high school who are interested in participating in Boys State should contact their high school counselor or visit the Missouri Boys State website. Missouri Boys State for 2012 is set for June 16-23 on the campus of University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
Photo Above: Dylan Heflin, Tyler Miller, Zane Olson and Owen Flowers - Dexter's 2011 representatives to Missouri Boys State. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
Two teenagers – the driver of the truck that crashed into the back of a tractor truck and a teen on a school bus involved into the pileup were killed; 38 other indivudals were injured in the crash in August 2010. It was a tragic day.
A father with a a growing family and a penchant for technology has developed a way to protect them in today’s increasing dangerous and increasingly technological world.
“My wife and I have five wonderful children. They are, of course, the most delightful, intelligent, and creative kids any parent has ever seen, obviously the top of their class and destined to be great at whatever they do,” said Adam Kotter, president and CEO of Kotter Group. “Not that we are biased in any way, but I do think our kids are pretty special, which presents me with a dilemma as a parent.”
Kotter said he wants his kids to use social media and to function in today’s world. But at the same time, as a father, he wanted to protect them from the dangers.
So, Kotter developed is a new app – Teen Check-In. Teen Check-In enables you to keep an eye on your child's activities. It's not a secret app, or a hidden app, but a very clear reminder that you, as a parent, care enough to know what's going on.
Teen Check-In is not a secret or hidden app – it is a very clear reminder that parents should care enough to know what’s going on. Teen Check-In enables a parents the keep an eye on a child’s activities.
Do you want to know –
- If your teen is texting while driving?
- If your teen is in a speeding vehicle?
- Which websites your teen surfs?
- If your teen texts during school hours?
- Where your teen is and has been?
Parents are encouraged to check out Teen Check-In at www.teencheckin.com
Photo Above: Adam Kotter and his family. (provided photo)
