Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Karen Cook has received top honors once again this year. She is the top-producing real estate professional with Real Living Young Realty for the second year running.
Karen will be honored with a national award for exceptional real estate sales performance in 2012 at the upcoming Real Living convention in 2013.
Mrs. Cook is one of a select group of Real Living sales associates ranked #48 in the United States to the group of “Top 100” real estate professionals based upon sales performance in 2012.
Karen was recognized for her real estate achievements that resulted in $4,895,525 in sales and consisted of 45 properties she sold in our Stoddard County area from January 1st to December 31st, 2012.
“The Top 100 awards honor our foremost sales associates nationwide and I am pleased that Karen is one of the industry’s best of the best,” stated Robert McAdams, Jr., Real Living President. “She has demonstrated that achieving this level of real estate performance requires a unique blend of dedication, people skills, technical knowledge, hard word, and determination.”
Melissa Stites, broker/owner of Real Living Young Realty says, “Karen is one of the hardest working sales professionals in Dexter and I am proud to have her on my real estate team.”
Real Living Young Realty provides a variety of real estate services to buyers and sellers including: Residential, Commercial, Farm & Land Premier Service, Buyer’s Market Analysis, Seller’s Market Analysis, Comparative Market Analysis. 
Young Realty is located at 920 West Business 60 and you may find them on the Internet at www.reallivingyoungrealty.com.
Congratulations Karen, we are proud of your accomplishments and wish you a successful 2013 sales season!
Missouri - The State Highway Patrol will be stepping in and interfering with teens that refuse to wear their seat belts. MoDot has created many different partnerships with other programs that are against texting and driving, driving while under the influence, and not wearing seat belts. Still, there are many teens that will not follow this simple law.
Under Missouri’s Graduated License Law, the use of a seat belt is required for all drivers and is considered a primary offense. Nearly 35% of teenage drivers do not buckle up, which is why the law enforcement feels like it is their duty to step in and lower that percentage by cracking down on the drivers that refuse to wear their seat belt.
“Many drivers take the attitude that ‘it will never happen to me’, especially teens, but fatal crashes happen every day to all types of people,” said Leanna Depue, chair of the executive committee of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. “Law enforcement will ticket teens who aren’t buckled up.”
Many of the local schools have participated in Battle of the Belt and Team Spirit. Throughout the past couple of school years, local high schools have also become a large part in Arrive Alive, which was centered on the idea of buckling up and driving safely.
Every day, teens see public service announcements (PSAs) that tell them about the risk of texting and driving, drinking and driving, and not wearing a seatbelt. There have been many police officers, teachers, and representatives from different programs that come and speak to drivers and high school students about the importance of safe driving for the wellbeing of others. Still, there are many young drivers that refuse to buckle up.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the slogan “Click It or Ticket” placed on signs, billboards, and on television commercials. The law states that every Missouri driver is required to wear a properly fastened seatbelt, but the law is focused mainly on teen drivers. After the law was passed, the percentage of teens that wore their seatbelts shot up by nearly 10%. Still, there are 35% of young drivers that do not wear their seatbelts, and a number of these drivers may live in our area.
Only 79% of Missouri citizens buckle up, compared to the 86% nationwide drivers. Seven out of ten Missouri drivers that were killed in a traffic accident in the last two years were unbuckled. Putting on your seatbelt only takes a couple of seconds and it reduces the risk of a fatal injury by 45%. It is no mystery why the seatbelt laws will be strictly enforced throughout the next couple of weeks.
So, remember to buckle up and drive safely!
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Southeast Missouri - For Missouri Department of Transportation crews, spring marks the beginning of striping season. Work to re-stripe various state routes will begin mid-March and continue through Memorial Day weekend. Routes included are 34, 53, 60, 63, 67, 72 and portions of Route 412, I-55, I-57 and I-155 in Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Texas, Wayne and Wright Counties. Weather permitting; striping work will be underway from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, excluding weekends.
"Our striping caravan is a continuous, moving operation," said District Maintenance Engineer Jeff Johnson. "Due to the fact that the operation is always moving, no stationary signs will be posted. Proper safety measures will be in place during each operation, including warning signs on MoDOT striping vehicles. We urge motorists to use extreme caution and allow the machinery the space needed to properly apply the reflective paint."
Motorists are advised to stay back 500 feet and follow all safety signage.
"For the safety of area motorists and our MoDOT crews, motorists should not pass any of the equipment while it is operational," said Johnson. "In addition to safety issues, we also suggest that motorists do not pass the equipment, to avoid getting paint on their vehicles."
The reflective paint used to stripe roadways is a unique type of paint chosen for its reflective and adhering qualities.
"The paint is designed to ‘stick' to the roadway, which means it will stick to other surfaces that it comes in contact with too. If you pass the striping equipment, you may be taking the chance of getting paint on your personal vehicle," he said.
For additional information, contact the Missouri Department of Transportation's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).
Written by
Beth Farrar, SMT Writer
Cairo, Illinois Area - A bridge closure on US 60/62 Bridge (South of Cairo, Illinois) is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 25th at noon and will continue all the way through Thursday, March 28th until noon. The bridge will be restricted to only one lane from 7 am to 4 pm on Monday, April 1st up until Thursday, April 4th. The bridge closure will affect those traveling through Alexander County, Illinois and those passing through Mississippi County, Missouri.
The bridge will be closed due to MoDOT crews performing required safety inspections to create a safe driving environment for Missouri citizens.
Jessica Snider, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Dexter's very own Lauren Thrower is working towards becoming the Miss America's Outstanding Teen. This year, Miss America Outstanding Teen Organization is teaming up with Children's Miracle Network to help kids in our community by raising much needed funds.
Sunday, March 17th, a Children's Miracle Fundraiser will be held at the Dexter High School. The money raised at the fundraiser will help benefit both Children's Miracle Network and the Miss America Outstanding Teen Scholarship Fund.
By attending the event, you will be helping Miss Lauren Thrower achieve her goals and also help out a great cause. Lauren has set a goal to raise $500.00. Let's help her meet and even surpass her goal!
Some events that will be going on next Sunday will be: live music, bake sale, face painting, auction by Fowler Auction Service, pictures with the queen by Cara Hill Photography, TEAM LAUREN t-shirts for sale, Wannabe DVD's, and D.A.R.E. with Lori O'Dell.
The local talents that will be performing live throughout the day are: Paul Wayne Pierce, Rebekah Northern, DHS Jazz Band, Buddy Heaton, Joseph Greer, Michaela Heaton, Matney Davis, Jera Hutchison, and Lauren Thrower.
Lauren would love to have your ongoing support by wearing her Team Lauren t-shirt as she continues her journey to the Miss Missouri Outstanding Teen pageant being held in Mexico, MO on June 7, 2013. If Lauren wins that title, she will then be competing for the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen.
You may purchase a sponsorship for $25 and receive a TEAM LAUREN T-shirt with your name printed on the back.
Team Lauren shirts are on sale for $15. With a Team Lauren Sponsorship of $25, it includes a t-shirt and your name printed on the back.
To place your order today and to make donations you may contact one of the following:
Lori Hawkins: 573-625-1190
Candy Miller: 573-614-2468
Amy Bryant: 573-624-1166
You can also make a donation online at the following website: https://www.aotee4kids.org/m.aspx?i=29368BAC62462FC41
This is a wonderful way to get involved in helping Lauren's dreams come true and also a way to help with a great fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network!
Again, the Children's Miracle Network Fundraiser will be held this Sunday, March 17, 2013. The event will start at 1:00 P.M. and continue until 5:00 P.M.
This will be an event-filled day you won't want to miss! There will be much entertainment throughout the day to be enjoyed by people of all ages!
