Jessica Snider SMT Writer
Despite the steady downpour of rain and the strong winds blowing, the crowning of homecoming queen and the court proceeded as usual prior to Friday night’s football game between the Dexter Bearcats and Charleston Bluejays.
It was cold and rainy for Friday night’s festivities, but there were still spectators in the bleachers for support. Umbrellas were in use by every homecoming nominee and her escort as they were announced.
There were two girls nominated from each fall sport making it a total of ten homecoming nominees to be announced. Nominees were: Bethany Christian, Kelsey Frederick, Hailee Hubbard, Katie Justice, Kelsi Wood, Shyann Jines, Sydney Graves, Katelynn Frazier, Taylor Owens, and Hannah Noe.
The Dexter High School student body votes on the candidates earlier in the week prior to the crowning which results in a second alternate, first alternate, and the homecoming queen.
As most of them were shivering under the protection of an umbrella, the results were ready to be announced.
Taking second alternate was Hannah Noe. Hannah is a junior at DHS and was nominated by the volleyball team. Hannah was escorted by Chase Noe.
In the first alternate slot was Sydney Graves. Sydney is a senior and was nominated by the football team. She was escorted by Tyler Wilson.
Miss Kelsey Frederick was crowned the 2012 Homecoming Queen Friday night. Kelsey is a senior at Dexter High School and was nominated by the Varsity Football Cheerleaders. Her escort was Dylan Aaron.
Congratulations to the homecoming queen and court and to all the girls who were nominated!
Written by
Jessica Snider SMT Writer
We’ve seen the ads on television for different candidates, we’ve heard it being discussed on many radio stations, and we’ve seen political signs in a large number of yards while driving down the road. As almost any American would know, in just a little over a month, we will be faced with a Presidential Election among many other elections in the state of Missouri.
With the election to be held on Tuesday, November 6th, the deadline to register to vote is approaching quickly. The deadline is always four weeks prior to the election. For Missourians, the deadline will be October 9th.
Once a person is registered to vote, he or she wouldn’t have to ever register again unless they experience a change of name or relocate and live under a different address.
Despite it being a Presidential Election this year, there are a number of things on the ballot that Missourians will be voting for. It is important for people to be registered prior to the deadline so their voice can be heard in the 2012 Election for Missouri and even for the United States.
Things besides the presidential election that will be seen on the ballot for Missourians will include: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, U.S. Representatives District 8, State Senator District 25, State Representative District 151, First District Commissioner, Second District Commissioner, Collector/Treasurer, Assessor, Sheriff, Public Administrator, and Coroner.
A few of the positions listed above will obviously only be voted on by those who reside in Stoddard County.
It is important for everyone to exercise their right to vote because the outcomes of the elections affect every single one of us whether we voted or not.
Our goal as Missourians should be to have one of the highest voter turnouts in the country. For this to happen, there will need to be a fairly large increase in voters than in the 2008 Presidential Election.
If you are not registered to vote, remember that the deadline to do so is October 9th. You may register by visiting www.sos.mo.gov and filling out the Missouri Voter Registration Application, by visiting the office of your local election authority, or one can register to vote at any Department of Motor Vehicles office.
You may think you’re one vote doesn’t count, but when we all come together and exercise our right to vote, our voices in Missouri will be heard statewide and even across the country.
Polls will be open on Tuesday, November 6th.
JEFFERSON CITY – Three Missouri firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011 will be honored, as firefighters from across the country come together to remember their fallen comrades this weekend. In all, the names of 85 U.S. firefighters will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located on the campus of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md.
Oct. 6-7 is the 31st National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend and will be observed by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration.
Missouri was one of 34 states that experienced line-of-duty deaths in 2011. The plaques surrounding the memorial, which was established in 1981, contain the names of more than 3,500 firefighters.
Missouri State Fire Marshall Randy Cole commented about Missouri firefighters. “Each time they answer the call to duty, these brave men and women willingly put their own lives and safety on the line in order to ensure the safety of others. The selfless actions of these heroic firefighters will never be forgotten, and we thank their families for their service.”
The Missouri firefighters who died in the line of duty during 2011 and whose names will be added to the National Firefighters Memorial are:
Firefighter Henry “Jay” Branscum, age 32, Northeast R-IV Rural Fire Association: Sept. 3, 2011. Firefighter Branscum suffered a fatal medical emergency while working at the scene of a structure fire.
Captain Leslie “Les” Clark, age 80, Dixon Rural Fire Protection District: Jan. 20, 2011. Volunteer firefighter Clark suffered a medical emergency while responding to a reported structure fire in a tanker truck. He had served the Dixon Rural Fire Protection District as a volunteer firefighter for more than 20 years.
Firefighter/Apparatus Operator Richard E. Paul, age 54, Kansas City Fire Department: Jan. 7, 2011. Firefighter Paul experienced a medical emergency during the annual fire department physical examination. Firefighter Paul was transported to a hospital in critical condition where he later died.
“The dedication and sacrifice that firefighters make in order to serve, protect and strengthen their communities is extraordinary.” said Missouri State Fire Marshal Randy Cole.
On May 20, 2012 Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Jerry Lee, Fire Marshal Cole and firefighters from across the state honored the fallen Missouri firefighters from 2011 in a solemn ceremony at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City. The names of Henry “Jay” Branscum, Leslie “Les” Clark and Richard E. Paul were added to the Fire Fighters Line of Duty Memorial Wall commemorating Missouri firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the citizens of the state.
Jessica Snider SMT Writer
In the state of Missouri, we have something that is called Share the Harvest. Share the Harvest gives deer hunters a way to donate venison to the needy.
Share the Harvest is supported by Missouri Department of Conservation and Conservation Federation of Missouri.
Share the Harvest makes donating venison to the less fortunate very easy. Any hunter who wishes to participate in the good deed can take their deer to an approved meat processor. From there, the hunter must tell the processor how much venison they would like to donate.
There is no limit to how much you can donate. Many donate a few pounds while some donate the whole deer. It is solely up to the hunter who is donating.
Only venison from white-tailed deer legally taken in the state of Missouri will be accepted for donation.
The meat is then packaged by the processor, picked up by the local sponsoring organization and taken to a participating charitably agency for distribution. The meat is delivered to the families frozen.
There are a large number of people in Missouri who can benefit from this program. Families or individuals can contact a participating distribution agency and the agency will then allocate the venison according to the supply.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon strongly encourages all hunters to donate venison to Share the Harvest. “I thank all the hunters who have made Share the Harvest so successful over the past two decades, and I encourage even more Missouri hunters to get involved this year to help our neighbors in need,” Nixon said.
Nixon is planned to visit three cities to push Share the Harvest. He was expected to visit Columbia, Independence, and St. Charles to speak at Bass Pro Shops to further encourage deer hunters to donate their venison.
During the 2011 deer seasons, 6,191 hunters donates 317,882 pounds of venison to families in need all across Missouri.
Meat processors must be licensed by the Conservation Department to process deer and be subject to government health inspection, or be approved by the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat Inspection Program.
To get information on participating meat processors within your county, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website.
J&G Meat Processing in Puxico is a participating processor for Stoddard County.
We’d like to encourage everyone to get involved in an easy way to help provide meat for needy families or individuals in Missouri!
Jessica Snider SMT Writer
This year the Dexter FFA sponsored an FFA tractor rodeo at the Stoddard County Fair.
The tractor rodeo is a test of an FFA member’s tractor driving skills and knowledge of the safety rules. Participants had to drive a tractor pulling a twelve-foot blade through half of a figure-eight course and then back it through the other half of the course.
Six different FFA chapters had members participate in the contest. Placing first was Hayden Riley of the Bernie FFA chapter. Second place went to Cordell Stewart of Puxico FFA. Nathan Sadler of the Dexter FFA chapter took third place.
The CaseIH 95 tractor used was donated by Baker Implement. The FFA Survivor t-shirts worn by all the participates were sponsored by Greenway Equipment Co. Mr. Gary Wyman was the official judge with Mr. Chad Upchurch assisting. The Dexter FFA would like to thank all those who helped make this event possible.
The FFA members in participation at the Tractor Rodeo were from Bernie, Shane Oliver, Zach Tanner, and Hayden Riley. From Couch FFA, Keller Rader, Keenan Rader, and Jacob Null. From Dexter, Nathan Sadler, Brandan Mitchell, and Garrett Kyle. Representing Richland FFA was Nick Daniels. From Bloomfield, Hunter Frymire and Zane Huddleston. Cordell Stewart and Cody Taylor represented the Puxico FFA.
