ShowMe Times Editor
Dexter’s Mayor appointed a new assistant city water superintendent at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
Upon the recommendation of longtime Water/Wastewater Supt. Tom Espey, Mayor Joe Weber appointed Brody Roper as the new assistant superintendent.
“In 2010, my assistant superintendent retired,” Espey said to the aldermen. Espey said that being without an assistant in the department, it could be somewhat of a problem if Espey is out of town or “out of pocket.” Therefore, he recommended the appointment of department employee Roper as the assistant superintendent.
“He can do a lot of things,” Weber commented. “He’s a good man. I believe he will be a very good asset.”
“He’s got the City’s best interests at heart,” Espey added.
City Administrator Mark Stidham noted that Roper is fully licensed to hold the position in the Water/Waste Water Department.
Weber also made a trio of appointments to the park and Recreation Board on Monday evening. Weber appointed to new terms Jim LaBrott, Ron Lovelady and Hannah LeBeau on the board, and appointed Megan Agey Steuver to fill the unexpired term of Tracy Elfrink. Elfrink recently resigned from the parks board.
The board of aldermen unanimously approved Weber’s appointments.
The aldermen also unanimously approved an ordinance to install new stop signs on the northbound and southbound lanes of East Park Avenue at the intersection of Ray Street in Ward III.
“The aldermen from the ward have requested this,” said City Attorney Bud Lawrence, referring to Ward III aldermen Kirby Taylor and Jerry Corder.
Alderman also gave their stamp of approval to an ordinance for a temporary winery caterer’s permit. The ordinance would allow the city to issued a permit for a business to have a wine-tasting event at the business.
Lawrence reported a downtown business has requested a permit to have a wine tasting event occasionally.
The ordinance was unanimously approved.
The board approved two other ordinances. One is at the request of the Missouri Department of Transportation and sets uniform speed limits on three sections of city roadway. The final ordinance certifies the April 3 municipal election.
In other business Monday evening
- Parks and Recreation Superintendent Lawson Metcalf report that lifeguard training/certification will be held soon and that water is in the pool in preparation for the lifeguard classes.
- Library Director Pam Trammell report that three weekly Story Hour events are scheduled in May before the Summer Reading Summer begins in June.
- Fire Chief Seymore thanked city departments for help on the expansion of the park lot at the fire station.
- Ordinance 4669: stop signs on East Park Avenue
Voting yes: Corder, Battles, Aslin, Essner, Taylor, Pixley
- Ordinance 4670: speed limits
Voting yes: Corder, Battles, Aslin, Essner, Taylor, Pixley
- Ordinance 4671: certify election results
Voting yes: Corder, Battles, Aslin, Essner, Taylor, Pixley
- Ordinance 4672: temporary winery caterer’s permit
Voting yes: Corder, Battles, Aslin, Essner, Taylor, Pixley
Photo Above: Police Chief Sammy Stone answers questions concerning a proposed ordinance on East Park Avenue in the city. (ShowMe Times photo by Annabeth Miller)
ShowMe Times Editor
It’s storm and severe weather season in the Bootheel, and Dexter has a critical siren near the schools not working and needing to be replaced, and two others in need of upgrade. So the Dexter Board of Aldermen unanimously agreed Monday night to spend the funds necessary needed to replaced a trio of emergency sirens.
Fire Chief Don Seymore reported at Monday’s meeting of the Board that with the one emergency siren near T.S. Middle School not working, he was working on information to replace the siren and upgrade to current technology. Seymore and the city’s Public Safety Committee met prior to the Board meeting, and the sirens were on the agenda.
“I am seeking information and pricing on these,” Seymore told aldermen. “We are within an $80,000 range to replace three sirens in town.”
Seymore and City Administrator Mark Stidham reported the Public Safety Committee recommended "swift action" on the siren replacement/upgrade.
“We felt the urgency that we don’t need to wait with current conditions and the weather forecasts we have as of late. That was the recommendation at our prior meeting (Public Safety Committee),” Stidham said.
The aldermen jumped quickly and without hesitation on the matter.
“The City would have a hard time explaining why we don’t buy those immediately,” said Ward III Alderman Kirby Taylor. “I think we should buy those pronto – immediately.”
Ward II Alderman Tim Aslin echoed Taylor’s sentiments, quickly giving a second to Taylor's motion to purchase the equipment.
Mayor Joe Weber also chimed in, reporting the Public Safety Committee felt the replacement/upgrade was a “vital concern”.
The motion to proceed with the project was unanimously approved by the board. All aldermen were present at Monday night's meeting.
Seymore assured the board he would continue with getting bids for the new sirens and that the project would, indeed, by a top priority for the new fire chief.
Stidham assured the board – and citizens – that plans are in place in the event of severe weather. He reported Seymore has been working with Dr. Roger Alsup, assistant superintendent with the Dexter Public Schools, with notification of the district in the event of an emergency. A “storm watcher” has also been assigned to the school in case of severe weather.
"I want to assure the public that the schools will be taken care of," Seymore said. The chief said when severe weather conditions develop in the area, a member of the Fire Department will personally visit the school to be sure they are fully aware of conditions.
“The call-out system is working, so we will call every house in the city that we have phone numbers for,” Stidham.
He stressed that persons with cell-only phone service or who are not currently in the call-out system may contact the Dexter Fire Department at 573-624-3425 or City Administration at 573-624-5959 to be placed in the program.
Local residents who do receive a call in the citywide call-out system do not need to return missed calls, Seymore said. The call is for information purposes and does not necessitate a call-back for missed calls.
A celebration was held Friday morning marking the Grand Opening of USADrug in Dexter. Those on hand for the ribbon-cutting included (front row, from left) Dexter Alderman Jerry Corder, Kevin Bishop, Sikeston Super D manager Susan Hampton, Doug Gambo of USADrug, Pharmacist Brandy Haasbroek, Store Floor Manger Donna King, Dexter Mayor Joe Weber, Store Manager Leslie Rounsville, Pharmacy Manager Westley Simmons, Dexter Chamber 2nd Vice President Jackie McKuin, Chamber Director Scott Nelson, and Chamber Executive Director Janet Coleman. (ShowMe Times photo by Annabeth Miller)
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
It was a day for celebrating!
The newest member of the Dexter retail community celebrated its Grand Opening Friday with a barbecue, games for youngsters, and a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark its arrival in the community.
Mayor Joe Weber, ceremonial over-sized scissors in hand, sliced the ribbon marking the official opening of USADrug at the One Mile Road-Business Highway 60 intersection. Joining Weber were company and local store staff, as well as city and business partners in town.
The new store is staffed by several familiar local faces associated with the former Overfurf and David’s Pharmacy. Leslie Rousaville is the store manager and Westley Simmons the pharmacy manager.
The barbecue and promotions inside the store were all to benefit the American Cancer Society.
The store features complete pharmacy services, include a double drive-through feature. In addition, the store features gifts, greeting cards, snacks, household goods and other items as well as cosmetic and health care needs,”
USADrug, a Little Rock-based drug chain, purchased two Dexter pharmacies – Overturf Drug and David’s Pharmacy – in 2011 and combined the Dexter retailers' businesses . Work on the new facility began last summer and the store opened for business prior to Christmas. Following parking lot and landscaping work earlier this spring, the new Dexter USADrug is marking its Grand Opening this weekend.
The new store contains 15,000 square feet on a 2.2-acre site.
In 1984, the first USA Drug store opened in Pine Bluff, Ark. Over the past 20 years, the USA Drug family, which includes USA Drug, Super D Drugs, May's Drug Stores, Drug Warehouse, and Med-X Drugs has grown to more than 150 stores with retail outlets in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.
The ribbon-cutting on Friday morning was the #5 for 2012 for the Dexter Chamber of Commerce; the second for a new business.
Link Of Interest
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMeTimes Editor
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt has burned a lot of roadway in the ShowMe State in the last year.
From Atchison County in the far northwest corner to Pemiscot County in the Bootheel, Blunt has visited every one of Missouri 114 counties and the City of St. Louis since being sworn into the U.S. Senate in January 2011.
In September 2011, Blunt visited Stoddard County, touring the Star and Stripes Museum and Library in Bloomfield as well as the Three Rivers College Center in Dexter. At Three Rivers, Blunt joined in a “round table” discussion with college president Dr. Devin Stephenson, Dexter Mayor Joe Weber and other community and college leaders on the education and economic needs of the Dexter area.
“Missouri truly reflects a snapshot of America,” said Blunt. “Over the last 15 months, I’ve been honored to visit each of our 114 counties and the City of St. Louis.”
And Blunt’s journeys across the state have been documented, and a new video of the senator’s travels produced. The video shows Blunt in schools, factories, and at community events around the state.
“From skyrocketing gas prices to lagging job growth and disaster recovery efforts, families and job creators are facing real problems in our state today,” Blunt continued. “I’m very thankful for the chance to represent Missourians in the U.S. Senate, and I’ll continue to do all that I can to ensure that our state’s needs are met.”
Senator Blunt Visits Every Missouri County
Photo Above: U.S. Senator Roy Blunt visited the Three Rivers College Center in Dexter in September 2011, one of his many visits throughout the state. Blunt spoke with (from left) college president Dr. Devin Stephenson, Blunt, State Rep. Billy Pat Wright of Dexter, and Center Coordinator Bill Hampton. (ShowMe Times archive photo by Annbeth Miller)
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
Area seniors currently have the opportunity to become involved in a statewide program to promote Missouri's older adults.
The Silver Haired Legislature (SHL) is a formally elected body of citizens 60 years of age or older that promote conscientious legislative advocacy for Missouri’s older adults.
According to Ruth Dockins, the SHL Coordintor for Southeast Missouri, members are volunteers who serve without pay.
"Currently there are no term limits so a delegate may be re-elected to an unlimited number of terms. The elected delegates participate in a mock legislative session patterned after the Missouri General Assembly. The session is held in Jefferson City in the fall of each year. Many of the activities take place in the Senate and House chambers of the Capitol building." she explained.
Dockins said SHL delegates work all year as advocates for senior issues. They are kept abreast of proposed legislation and stay in touch with the legislators. Many of the legislators contact the SHL delegates asking for their input on proposed legislation.
There are 10 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in Missouri and SHL delegates are elected from each AAA area. This brings about 150 seniors together in Jefferson City to present bills, debate issues, and choose the top five for which they will advocate during the year.
Dockins said persons interested in becoming a SHL delegate should file a Declaration of Candidacy with the SEMO Area Agency on Aging office.
"This statement must arrive in the office by close of business on April 23," she said A declaration may be obtained by contacting the SEMO AAA office at 1-800-392-8771 or locally at 335-3331 or pick one up at your local senior center.
The counties of Southeast Missouri are divided into three regions for purposes of SHL representation. The Bootheel region is made up of the counties of Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot and Dunklin. This region has only one seat open this year. This is for one Representative.
The May 8 election will be held at the area senior centers during regular business hours.
