By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
While many thought State Senator Rob Mayer’s remarks at the Stoddard County Lincoln Day Banquet would be a farewell of sorts. Yet after serving for 12 years in the Missouri General Assembly, he still had a few surprises up his sleeve.
Mayer closed his keynote remarks by announcing he would run this fall for another office, but this time a bit closer to home. Mayer announced he would be seeing a judgeship, serving in Stoddard and Dunklin counties.
“I am looking forward to coming home to Stoddard County in a few short months,” he said. “As we all know, there’s no place like home. Southeast Missouri is my home and I look forward to the next chapter of my life right here at home along with you. So I officially announce to you my candidacy for judge of the 35th judicial district in Stoddard and Dunklin counties. If elected I promise to provide fair and impartial justice to the citizens I serve.”
Mayer received a standing ovation from the crowd on his announcement.
“When I went to Jefferson City there were some principles that I wanted to live by,” he said. Mayer then quoted the late President Ronald Reagan: “Let us be sure that those that come after us will say of us in our time that we did everything that could be done. We have finished the race, we kept them free, we kept the faith.”
“That is what we have done the last 12 years. I look forward to serving you again,” he concluded.
Mayer noted that throughout his career as legislator he has been able to work with a number of leaders, including U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and members of her staff.
Mayer was first elected in 2000 to the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2004, and was selected as the Missouri Senate Leader in 2011. Mayer represents Stoddard, Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley and Wayne counties in the Senate.
Mayer is a fourth-generation resident of Stoddard County, a graduate of Dexter High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University and his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
He is married to his high school sweetheart, Nancy, and they have three sons – Jason, Dustin and Daniel.
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
It’s amazing how a little bit of effort will net big payoffs for two good causes.
The staffs at County Wide Insurance, the ShowMe Times joined together recently and rounded up old and unused electronics for a recycling program at Southeast Elementary School in Dexter.
The kindergarten students and teachers are participating in a recycling project with two good purposes – to teach the students more about saving the earth’s resources and earning funds for classroom supplies in the kindergarten. By sending the recycled items – from cameras to laptop computers to printer ink cartridges and more – the school can earn credit to be used for the purchase of needed classroom supplies.
“We knew we had some old cameras that were out-of-date or needing repair, so we rounded up what we had for the recycling project,” said Dave Ellinghouse of County Wide Insurance. Ellinghouse's daughter, Anna, is a student in the kindergarten, so he knows how important this project is and the enthusiasm of the students.
By checking cabinets and storage areas, they rounded up more than 10 old cameras and other devices for the program.
“We are glad to be able to help the kindergarten students and the environment,” said Andrew Cato of the ShowMe Times. As a senior at Dexter High School, Cato was a Cadet Teacher in Amy Pixley’s kindergarten classroom. The ShowMe Times sports editor knows first-hand the need for classroom supplies for the youngest Bearcats.
Pixley and the other kindergarten teachers are working with the Funding Factory, which takes recycled items and gives programs credit for supplies and items.
“We are asking the businesses and people in town to help out, and are excited that County Wide, the ShowMe Times and MediaLink are helping. We will be recycling old cell phones, print cartridges, mp3 players, GPS devices, and digital cameras,” Mrs. Pixley said. She added she hoped that more local businesses and families would join in the project.
Businesses may signed up with Funding Factory’s Business Support Program to get free prepaid shipping labels sent free of charge. When a business needs to recycle something they can simply load boxes and ship using the prepaid label that has a code for Southwest Elementary.
Businesses wishing to participate are asked to call FundingFactory at 1.888.883.8237. The school identification code to use is 308602.
Photo Above: County Wide Insurance and the ShowMe Times joined together Thursday to donate a dozen old digital cameras and other devices to the recycling program in the kindergarten at Dexter's Southwest Elementary School. On hand for the presentation were (from left) Peyton Jarrell, Dave Ellinghouse of County Wide Insurance, Aubrey Seiter, Anna Ellinghouse, Mia Holden, Tracy Horton of County Wide Insurance, Zachary Parrish, Aiden Medlin, kindergarten teacher Amy Pixley and Andrew Cato, sports editor of the ShowMe Times. (ShowMe Times photo by Annabeth Miller)
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
When Mary Ann Taylor first started on the Dexter Park Board, the “old” Dexter swimming pool was in operation, the many opportunities for team sports for young people were limited, and there was not a walking trail at the West City Park.
Things have changed drastically in the last 33 years – with a new Aquatic Center, improvements and growth in programs and parks, and the addition of a new gym at the East City Park and more. And Mary Ann Taylor was a leader and influential voice that helped the city programs grow and expand and succeed.
Taylor was honored Tuesday night at the regular meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen on her retirement from the Dexter Parks and Recreation Board after serve 33 years as a volunteer member of the board.
“Words cannot really express our gratitude,” Mayor Joe Weber said to Taylor. “We certainly cannot express the thanks for the things you have done. It’s been great. We certainly appreciate it.”
Taylor told the aldermen that she thought they should be proud of how the members work together for the community. She praised the city’s departments for working together to accomplish a task and work together.
“With the first swimming pool that we had when I first came on the board, the Water Department virtually ran the pool,” Taylor commented. “It was to their credit that it was able to stay in operation as long as it did. I thank you for all of that cooperation.”
She added that the city board of aldermen have always been cooperative, especially with the Parks and Recreation Board would make requests before the parks sales tax was passed in the city.
“You were willing to support us with our programming,” she said to the current aldermen. “It has been a pleasure working with all the people on the board. I’m grateful to have been a part of it,” she concluded.
In other business Tuesday evening, Auditor Eddie Cato delivered his report for January 2012.
City Administrator Mark Stidham reported he has been working for officials of the Missouri Department of Transportation concerning the enclosing of the ditches on Business Highway 60 in two sections - from Cooper Street to Highway 25, and from One Mile Road to Route AD.
“We’re getting closer,” Stidham said at least one phase of the project – from Cooper Street east – could take at least 18 months to be completed. Stidham explained that changes within MoDOT, in addition to the logistics of such a project, would completion of the project difficult.
The state agency is now looking at expanding Business Highway 60 from One Mile Road west toward Route AD into a five-lane roadway.
“So for that to happen it will take MoDOT to acquire property to put five lanes,” Stidham said. There would be a center turn lane in the center of the five-lane roadway. “That will happen. But it’s going to take a little longer.”
Stidham also reported the new Dexter welcome sign facing east near the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 25 has been completed.
In other business Tuesday evening,
- Stidham reported he is currently taking bids for mowing the city right-of-way along Highway 60.
- The mayor recommended and the board approved issuing a plumber’s lives to Coomer’s Plumbing Heating and AC
- The mayor recommended and on a motion by Alderman Kent Essner the board unanimously confirmed the following appointments on city boards:
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- Marty Thomson, City Housing Board (3-year term)
- Rick Miller, Library Board (3-year term)
- Richard Hodder. Planning & Zoning Commission (4-year term)
- Clifford T. Manlove, Airport Board (5-year term)
- Hannah LeBeau, Parks and Recreation Board (unexpired term, 2-year term)
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times editor
EAST PRAIRIE - The earth moved Tuesday morning under Southeast Missouri.
A 4.0 earthquake was reported in the early morning hours Tuesday with an epicenter near East Prairie in Mississippi County.
The U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center report the earthquake occurred at 3:58 a.m.. The quake was centered 5 miles NNW of East Prairie, 12 miles ENE of Matthews, 13 miles SSE of Blodgett and 92 miles NNW of Jackson, Tenn.
Reports of feeling the tremor were reported to the USGS from throughout Southeast Missouri, including Dexter, East Prairie, Gideon, Kennett, Cape Girardeau, Martson, and across the Mississippi River from Dyersburg, Union City, and Troy in Tennessee and Paducah, Bardwell, Hickman and Fulton in Kentucky. USGS reports the depth of the quake was 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).
The Center For Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis there have been no significant reports of damage from the earthquake.
Link Of Interest
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
A long-time member of a city board will be recognized for her service at Tuesday’s meeting of the Dexter Board of Alderman.
Mary Ann Taylor, who has served on the City Park and Recreation Board for more than 30 years, will be recognized in Tuesday’s meeting. Taylor is retiring as a member of the Park board. The Board of Alderman and Mayor Joe Weber will recognize her for her many years of dedicated service.
In other business, City Auditor Eddie Cato will deliver the monthly report for January, and representatives from Jean & Company are expected to be on hand to present information on the audit report. The auditors at Jean and Company have been compiling the audits from FYE 2008-2010 and will be able to present their findings to the board.
This week’s meeting of the board will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21 due to the President’s Day holiday on regular Monday meeting date. The board will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Dexter Municipal Building on Vine Street.
