By: Taylor Eggimann
ShowMe Times Staff Writer
This year has been a crazy one so far because of the weather. Since we really didn’t have a winter and summer came fast. Then there was no rain. This is what hurt farmers this year, the heat and no rain. Many areas across the country are in a drought. According to the June 2012 Drought Map Butler, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Scott, Stoddard, and almost all of Bollinger and Wayne counties are in a server drought.
Many farmers in the area could lose their crops that they put all that work and money into because of the heat and no rain. According to executive director of the Stoddard County Farm Services Administration, Steve Morrison, farmers are in two categories: those who can survive the drought because they can irrigate and those who can’t.
Many farmers in the area irrigate. We’ve all seen pivots spraying over roads and if you live close enough to an irrigated field you probably heard the hum of the motors. Some fields are not irrigated though.There are some that the only way to water the fields are for it to rain. Cotton, rice, and corn farmers will be able to produce some sort of a crop this year, but it will cost them more because of all the irrigating. Farmers who aren’t able to irrigate, like some soybean farmers, are in dire need for some rain. Most farmers want to plant beans early, but waiting till mid July might not be a bad idea with maybe a better chance of rain.
The weather has hurt a lot of farmers this year. The heat wave and no rain caused a lot of corn that wasn’t irrigated to “burn” or dry up before it started to produce ears. Soybeans that were planted early might have made it above the ground, but without water they won’t be their usually size and the pods will start to fall off. Wheat field soybeans might not have even came up yet because of no rain.
Farmers, who have insured their land, will be getting some help, but others who didn’t are out the money. Farmers who are irrigating will come out with a crop but irrigating will cost them more. It’s going to be a tough year for them unless we get the rain we need. The heat has lifted so bring on the rain.
BLOOMFIELD- Recent graduate of Bloomfield High School and soon to be student at Belmont University, Maggie Thorn decided she was going to try The American Idol Experience.
Most of us have heard Maggie Thorn sing, but for those of you who have not, she has a unique and very beautiful voice. She sings country and bluegrass style music and can play guitar and write her own songs. She has been singing and playing for a couple of years now and has played around the area for different occasions.
Maggie has been on vacation and while at Disney World she decided she was going to see what American Idol would be like. The American Idol Experience is a lot like the actual show: you sign up to perform; there are three judges; and the audience votes. The audience doesn't call in however like on the show; instead they vote on a key pad right at their seats. If Maggie wins the competition at Disney World, then she gets a "Dream Ticket." That ticket is used to make a reservation to sing in front of an actual
American Idol representative at a regional audition. Then if she is selected at the regional, she would have a chance to be on the actual American Idol.
Maggie has made it through the first round and gets to sing in the 4pm show tonight. Good luck Maggie!!!
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).
