
ShowMe Times Staff Writer
ESSEX - In December of 2010, Betty Wheeler of Essex passed away from Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). She battled the disease for many years and because of her positive attitude you never would have known she was sick. After her passing her family wanted to honor her and try to help others with the disease.
PKD is one of the most common causes of kidney failure of adults around the world. More than 6 million PKD patients have family history to the disease. There is no cure. The only treatment is to offer patients dialysis and a kidney transplants is the final choice.

Last year was the first “Walk for Polycystic Kidney Disease” in St. Louis. The Wheeler family and friends raised $11,000 last year and went to St. Louis for the event. They are going again this year on Sunday, October 14, and they are selling T-shirts, cake pan designs, and taking donations to help find the cure for PKD.
Because of their outstanding results last year, they will be receiving an award this year at the event.
This family has been through a lot over the years trying to fight this disease. Betty’s sons have PKD and two of her grandchildren do also. They want to help not only their family, but also others that have this disease. They want to find a cure.
If you would like to buy a T-shirt or have any questions you may call Ashley Wheeler at (573)-380-4517 or message her on Facebook. T-shirts have the design shown on the back and they come in Teal, Black, and White. They are $15 a piece.

Enjoy the nicer summer weather!

Anna & Andrew Ellinghouse, along with friend Cameron Bell, braved the triple-digit heat to work a lemonade stand in front of Hubbard's Jewelry, with proceeds going to benefit Give Kids The World, a charity sponsored by McKenzie Mitchell - also Anna & Andrew's cousin - in support of a national pageant.
According to the organization's website, Give Kids The World village is a 70-acre, nonprofit 'storybook' resort, located near Central Florida's most beloved attractions, where kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families are treated to weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacations at the world-famous attractions.
Mitchell was crowned Missouri Teen and a pageant held in March; she graduated this spring from Dexter High School and is the daughter of Dr. Kevin and Ann Marie Mitchell. She is scheduled to compete in the National Teen Pageant in Orlando, Fla., on July 17-21.
Photo above (from left): Dexter youth Anna Ellinghouse, McKenzie Mitchell, Cameron Bell, and Andrew Ellinghouse take a break during their lemonade sales on Friday afternoon (photo submitted by Ann-Marie Mitchell).

Your computer may not be infected. Far more computers are not infected than are actually infected. In fact, many popular websites have been working with the FBI behind the scenes to check computers to notify customers of a potential problem. Facebook, Apple, and other popular sites have been running diagnostic checks to help identify and notify customers that may have a problem with the computer.
The FBI has encouraged everyone to take a brief moment and check their computers to make sure their computers are not infected with this particular virus.
Website to check your computers quickly today:
Check My Computer Now!
Technically, this virus was built to steal Domain Name Systems (DNS) — the Internet service that changes the URLs (such as AOL.com or Yahoo.com) into numerical addresses that computers can read. Last November, FBI officials arrested creators of the virus after a two-year investigation called Operation Ghost Click.
Government officials temporarily took over the gained computer authorizations to deploy clean DNS servers, allowing infected machines to still access the Internet. But that stop-gap measure ends Monday morning, July 9.
On a national basis, authorities this week indicated 60,000-plus American laptops and desktops still were infected with the notorious DNSChanger Malware—a computer virus that was initiated five years ago by virus writers.
Malware is the generic term for destructive viruses and worms that alter the way computers work. This particular virus, reportedly created by six Estonian nationals to manipulate the Internet advertising industry, affected roughly four million computers in more than 100 countries—including individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
The malicious DNS servers gave fake answers, altering user searches and promoting fictitious and dangerous products. Because every web search starts with DNS, the malware showed users an altered version of the Internet.
Federal authorities and Georgia Tech security experts established a detection and repair website: http://www.dcwg.org/. By clicking on a link on the site’s Homepage, visitors can run a self-diagnostic test on their machine.
Two good rules of thumb to help avoid viruses are as follows:
- Never click on unknown links in emails.
- Don't click on unknown attachments.

Craig Duncan, owner of the business, has done a masterful job on all levels to create a business that brings positive impact to our area. From weddings, to reunions, to musical events, the Boat House has delivered entertainment at an exceptional level.
The grounds of the Boat House Wine Co have been developed over a period time. Beginning with a foundational base of a beautiful 3 acre lake, the owners have incrementally improved the overall properties with the addition of patio areas, event stages, and shoreline docks on the lake.

The menu and food quality have continued to receive high reviews from customers. With a full commercial kitchen, the entrees are perfectly prepared and ample in size of the hardiest of appetites. From a light summer strawberry salad to great appetizers of chicken wings, you will always find something you love on the menu.

Aside from a great destination, the greater impact to the area that Dave Duncan, Craig Duncan and Jason Bollinger have delivered is the venue of entertainment. Creating entertainment for others has long been a tradition in our country, but few individuals have the vision, talent and passion to make these events successful.


The Boat House Wine Co has a very active Facebook group located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/165970169392/. You will enjoy the pictures and will be able to keep up with all the events that are are up and coming.
Facebook Pages of interest are:
(SMT is has 982 Fans and we would love to break 1000 with this article.)
If you haven't had an opportunity to enjoy the hospitality and great times at the Boat House Wine Co, make your plan today to stop by and see them.