Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer

Dexter, Missouri – Gaige Willems is fighting the battle against cancer.  This is the second time his leukemia (Acute Lymphblastic) has returned.  When his mother, Misty, learned they were going to have to fight again, they were devastated.  They knew it was going to be a challenge and the community has come together to support and pray for the Willems family.

Gaige is only 10 years old, but he is a real trooper and loves basketball.  Facebook page his parents set up is call Gaige’s Battle off the Court and you can follow his progress as he fights this terrible disease.

Cancer never takes a break.  Monday was no holiday for Gaige as headed back to St. Louis  to start another round of chemo.  Each day is a blessing as his family prays for the cancer to finally go away for good.  So many people have reached out to help the Willems family and Angie Laden is no different.

Angie wanted to raise money to help offset the costs of so many expenses the Willems’ family is facing so she decided to have a T-Shirt fundraiser.  The T-shirts are awesome and sport the Peace, Love Cure for Leukemia on one side and Gaige's Battle Off the Court on the back.  Orange is the cancer awareness ribbon color for leukemia.

BA Promotions in Dexter, Missouri is also helping and printing the t-shirts!   The T-Shirts are $20 each with 50% of the proceeds going straight to the Willems family.  You can order sizes youth small all the way up to adults 3X. 

You can stop by BA Promotions, fill out an order form and pay for the shirt.  You may also contact Angie Laden on her Facebook page or by calling her at 573-624-4804 or 573-421-5029.  Angie stated you could also contact her via her email, laden91@gmail.com.  She will be more than happy to email anyone an order form or drop one off.  All checks must be made out to Angie Laden.

Orders must be placed by Thursday, February 28^th. 

Hurry and get your t-shirts now and wear to the “Prayers for Gaige” Fundraiser on Saturday, March 30 at the Dexter Park and Recreation Gym in East City Park.

Dexter, Missouri - Blood donations are always down after the holidays according to the Red Cross.  This could be due to poor weather conditions or winter illnesses.  Either can cause the Red Cross blood supplies to get dangerously low this time of year.

The Rotary Club of Dexter will sponsor a Blood Drive on Thursday, February 21, 2013 from noon - 5 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  The Red Cross will be in the Parish Center located on 102 East Castor Street.

This will be a great opportunity to give to an organization that helps our community in many ways.  The Red Cross not only handles 1/2 of the United States supply through these blood donations, but offers CPR classes, first aid classes and other health and safety programs, they provide food, shelter and emotional support to victims of disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes and floods.

What do you need to donate blood?  It's very simple!

1.  A blood donor card and driver's license or two forms of identification, especially if you are a first time donor are required to check-in.

2.  Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in reasonably good health.

3.  Donating blood involves four basic steps:  Registration, Medical history and mini-physical, Donation and at the end a nice Refreshment.

Any information given to the Red Cross during the donation process is confidential.

The need for blood is constant and every pint counts.  Each day, patients in our county are helped by donors who have given blood. 

Here is just one example of how a blood drive recently helped a person.  Thirty units of red blood cells and five units of platelets were transfused to a car accident victim and saved their life.  Had generous donations not been made his/her family would be attending a funeral instead spending time with their loved one.  Thanks to the many dedicated Stoddard County residents who have given over the years, the blood products were available for these types of patients and other like them.

The Red Cross needs your help!  Donate today!  Visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767 for more information on how to volunteer or donate.  We hope to see you at the Rotary Club Blood Drive Thursday.

Dexter, Missouri - The First Baptist Church will be hosting a Wild Game Dinner on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. 

This is the second year for one of the most spectacular events for sportsmen in the area.  Last year, The Duck Commander, was the guest speaker.  This year's honored guest is David Hale from "Knight and Hale Ultimate Hunting" television show and the maker of the infamous Knight & Hale Game Calls.

This popular outdoor television show has been around for over a decade and is centered around breathtaking Whitetail Deer and Rocky Mountain Elk hunts.  With their home-grown ability to tell a good story, superb camerawork and state-of-the art graphics, they are both entertaining as well as educational for the hunting audience.

Both, David Hale and Harold Knight are to say the least, avid hunters.  They began their careers in the hunting industry as entrepreneurs in the game call business.  Their television program is one of the top Nielsen rated hunting shows airing 52 weeks annually.

To find out more about their game calls and hunting topics go to www.knightandhale.com.  They also have a Facebook page, Knight and Hale Game Calls.  If you want to know more about David Hale, go to www.outdoorministrynetwork.com.  He is quite involved in "Outfitting Your Faith".

The Wild Game Dinner will be catered again this year by the famous Cajun cooker, Darrell Hicks from Jackson, Tennessee.  There will be plenty to eat, duck, quail, deer, squirrel, and hog. 

Darrell is a World Champion Cajun Cooker.  His father, JB Hicks developed a unique seasoning blend that is now world famous.  Darrell, his wife Ann and the rest of the Cajun Cookers have make food for many powerful folks in the United States.  Even Sam Walton, Wal-Mart, once said for that for his last meal, he wanted Cajun Cookers.  How can you top that statement?  They have cooked at many events for Anheuser Busch, John Deere, FedEx, Bass Pro Shops and NFL organizations.

They won the World Barbeque Championship at the Memphis in May Fest in 1987.  This win validated to everyone that Darrell was here to stay and his food was fantastic!  “We are so glad to have them available to cook for our Wild Game Dinner," stated Pastor Steve, “It is truly an honor to have them.”

Get your tickets soon as they were sold out last year and it will most likely be a sell-out crowd this year.  Cost is $25.00 per person and you can contact the Church on Castor Street, Dead Fingers Gun Shop on Highway 25 or Thurston Auto Parts on US 60 Business to purchase them.  It should be an exciting night of entertainment and great food.

Something new this year!  Bring any mount for showing including deer and turkey and if by any chance you happen to have a dinosaur mount, Steve Easterwood, Pastor of the First Baptist Church said,  "Bring it too!"

The first 20 horn mounts will get a free score by Don Roper, an official mount scorer.  The mounts will then be displayed in the First Baptist Fellowship Hall.  Please bring your mounts on Thursday, February 21st at 6:00 p.m. to the Fellowship Hall on Walnut St.

There will be a drawing for a shotgun and there will be over $2,000 in prizes, including gift cards to gun shops and more.

For more information contact the First Baptist Church at 573-624-7436 or go to their Facebook page, First Baptist Church - Dexter, MO.

Dexter, Missouri - The Showstoppers of Southeast Missouri cordially invite you to a Dress Sale at the First Methodist Church in Dexter, Missouri.   The Showstoppers were formally known as the Dexter ShowChoir and this is a wonderful fundraiser for them.

The Dress Sale will be on Friday, February 22nd from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, February 23rd from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Anyone may stop in and shop for a beautiful prom/pageant or formal dress at a great price.  Most dresses have only been worn time!  Matching shoes and purses may also be available for sale.

If you are interested in selling your dress at this wonderful event, bring your dress to the First Methodist Church on February 21st between the hours of 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.  You must pay a $5.00 hanging fee per dress at that time. 

If your dress sells you will pay Showstoppers of Southeast Missouri 10% of the selling price and you keep the rest.  Please have your dress priced at the time of drop off.

For information about this awesome fundraiser, please contact Malisa Mayo at 573-624-8396.

Dexter, Missouri - Today's Business After Hours is being hosted by The Powder Room & Boutique of Dexter.  They are located at 9 East Stoddard Street in the heart of downtown Dexter, Missouri. 

Business After Hours will be from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.  The owner is Erin Brown and welcomes everyone is to stop by for some wonderful goodies and see the new spring collection of fragrances from Aromatique.

The new Lotti Dottie has arrived and just in time for Valentine's Day.   They have new birthstones, pearls, crystals, crosses and of course school pride Dotties.  There are even new exciting polka dots, daisies, shimmers and hearts for your Valentine Sweetheart!

With the spring weather just around the corner, it will be time for new jewelry to match your spring collection!  The Powder Room has it all with new rings, both enamel and square, new turtle pin, and numerous necklaces and bracelets to jazz-up your wardrobe!

The Powder Room also offers much more, including bareMinerals Skin Care products, Big Buddha Handbags, Mario Badescu lines, Crabtree Evlyn lotions and bubble baths, Lilly Pulitzer, lunch totes, Mud Pie Baby arriving in March, Mud Pie clothing, scarves and accessories, and Silver Jeans.  There is so much more, you just have to come by and see the beautifully decorated boutique.

They have extended the size of the store and now have a Coffee Bar with new items coming soon!

Their normal business hours are from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday thru Saturday, but if you need to contact them just call 614-5888 or check out their Facebook page,