By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
One year after the intentional breach of the Birds Point levee flooded thousands of prime Missouri farm land, Sen. Roy Blunt is criticizing the Army Corps of Engineers for the slow pace of efforts to rebuild the levee.
On Tuesday Blunt sent a letter to the acting commander of the Corps of Engineers, urging fast restoration of the levee to, its original height. Blunt calls the pace of the rebuilding effort “unacceptable.”
“As communities across Missouri attempt to rebuild after a year of unprecedented flooding, it’s critical that the Corps prioritizes its limited resources to protect local farmers, families, and job creators that have been impacted by disaster,” Blunt said today.
“One year after the Birds Point Levee breach, it is simply unacceptable that full restoration still remains months away. Flood protection for people and property should always be the primary goal in river policy. Our communities cannot return to normal until we fully restore what was lost and rebuild stronger,” he said.
Blunt introduced an amendment to the FY2013 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill that would move $40 million from the Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery Program (MRRP) to emergency streambank and flood control projects. Unfortunately, the amendment failed by a vote of 14-15 in last week’s Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the bill.
The corps has temporarily rebuilt the levee to 55 feet and plans to get it back to 62.5 feet by the end of the year. Spokesman Bob Anderson says the corps is also rebuilding many other levees at the same time.
Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh of the Corps of Engineers announced on May 1, 2011 that the Corps would “activate the project” and would begin on May 2 to blow three holes in more than 30 miles of levee system near Birds Point. The actions flooded more than 130,000 acres of land, mostly in Mississippi and New Madrid counties.
Letter From Senator Blunt
ShowMe Time Editor
They have been looking forward to this weekend all school year, and for a group of talented Dexter students, Saturday is “the day”
“The day” is a chance of a lifetime for the Songmakers chorus of fifth grade students. Because on Saturday the Songmaker members will walk out onto the field at Busch Stadium. They will be on the same field as Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, David Freese, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay. And they will stand tall and full of Bearcat Pride, wear their Bearcat – and Cardinal – red shirts, and sing with all their hearts an All-American favorite – “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”
The Songmakers chorus is a select choir of fifth grade students at Central Elementary. The chorus is under the direction of Delisa Sitze.
On Friday afternoon they had one final rehearsal before their journey to St. Louis. After rehearsing inside the school cafeteria, Sitze had the singers file in order outside to the lawn in front of the school. There they went through their song like seasoned pros.
“Now – do you hear the difference in singing outside,” Sitze asked the students. Heads nodded in agreement – they could hear the difference.
“It really echoes inside,” one student commented.
“That’s what it will be like tomorrow,” the direction cautioned. They’ll be ready!
This is the 12th year for the Songmakers to perform at Busch Stadium. The tradition began with former teacher Jean Rahm – a big Cardinals fan. And Sitze – another Cardinals fan – has continued the tradition. There have been some interesting journeys, including the time in 2002 the Songmakers were slated to perform and it was the same day of the funeral of famed Cardinal broadcaster Jack Buck. Following the memorial to Buck, the Songmakers entered the stadium and performed their hearts out!
The Dexter students have always been wonderful ambassadors of the community and school system, have always given tip-top performances, and have always received high praise from the Cardinal organization.
“They're a fantastic group of kids who can sing well and their conduct is excellent,” said Sitze. "I'm very proud of this group."
The Dexter Songmakers will be performing during the traditional seventh inning stretch when the Cardinals take on the Brewers. Start time for the Saturday afternoon game is 12:05 p.m. Kyle Lohse is expected to by on the pitcher’s mound for the Cardinals; Marco Estrado for the Brewers.
The ShowMe Times will accompany the Songmakers on their incredible journey to Busch Stadium. Watch the ShowMe Times for photos!
Good luck, Songmakers!
ShowMe Times Editor
It’s an incredibly big world out there – and what’s a worm to do!
The story of one young worm – and his daily chronicles - was the topic of the day Tuesday morning for the youngsters at Story Hour at Dexter’s Keller Public Library. Hosted this week by Tracy Horton and Christy Dorton, the children heard all about the life of a worm through the children’s book, “Diary of a Worm.”
The book, by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, centers on the worm and his daily life. He lives with his parents and plays and goes to school. But as the youngsters learned, he doesn’t have to take a bath, he eats his homework, and he can’t dance and do the hokey pokey.
The youngsters sat on the colorful carpet in the Community Room at the library – with just a little wiggling – as Dorton read the delightful book. The worm has one misadventure after another and he learns the hard way that a sidewalk is not the place for a worm during a game of hopscotch.
Following story time, Dorton and Horton helped the children with a couple of craft projects to take home. And of course everyone had a few gummy worms for a snack!
Story Hour is a program of the Keller Public Library in Dexter and is free. Story Hour is held each Tuesday morning at 10:15 a.m. through the end of May.
ShowMe Times Photo Gallery
'Diary of a Worm'
ShowMe Times Editor
Few events are more anticipated, better planned, orchestrated, and arranged. There are dresses to shop for and buy, shoes to select, tuxedoes to order, flowers to ponder over and purchase, decisions made concerning the meal, transportation arranged, photo sessions organized.
This. Is. Serious. Business.
It’s prom.
All that doesn’t even count the actual day of the event. There are photo to be taken at parents’ houses and the homes of grandparents, photos at school by veteran prom photographer Joe Craig. Some teens even have “location” pictures around town – near the railroad tracks, the depot, old buildings.
All in anticipation of the evening. It’s a springtime tradition that is an important rite of passage for teenagers – and their family and friends.
Dexter’s annual Prom was held Saturday evening at the high school, beginning with the Grand March and the presentation of the couples. Family and friends packed the DHS Auditorium for the Grand March. Couples were introduced and promenaded across the stage.
Traditionally, the prom is the most formal dance of the school year, with girls wearing short cocktail dresses or floor-length gowns with shoes and accessories to match. Bright colors (orange seemed to be a favorite) and sleek black gowns, and the “front-back” look all were popular for the girls.
For the guys – everything from western styled tuxedos and cowboy hats, to tuxedos that coordinated with the date’s dress, to top hats and canes were popular Saturday evening.
The theme for the DHS Prom this year was “Enchantment Under the Sea” with nautical decorations in the auditorum, gym, and even in the cafeteria. Refreshment tables in the cafeteria were loaded with treats made by moms helping this year.
Following the Grand March presentations, parents and friends were allowed into the transformed gym for another round of photo-taking and to see the decorations. But once the music began for the dance, it was very clear that the time for family had come to the end and it was time for the prom revelry to begin.
Photo Above: Erika Mouser and Josh Overall pose near the boat in the center of the dance floor at Saturday's Prom at Dexter High School. (ShowMe Times photo by Annabeth Miller)
ShowMe Time Photo Gallery
Dexter High School Prom, April 21, 2012
