Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Today starts the beginning of the 15th Annual 100 Mile Yard Sale Event, stretching from Kennett, Missouri to Jackson, Missouri.
This event draws thousands of bargain hunters from all over the country looking for great deals. The crowds are immense and the traffic at times can be rather congested to say the least!
“It is a fun weekend that people look forward to each year,” stated Traffic Engineer Craig Compas. “However we want people to be safe and remember that there is a lot more traffic than normal.”
Fifteen years ago, Ellen Lowe was traveling to trade shows and flea markets across the country and had a brilliant idea of having a yard sale that ran along Highway 25. She invited dealers to come and began marketing it herself. Soon local chambers of commerce such as Dexter realized the potential and the effect it would have on the local economy. Now the Dexter Chamber of Commerce has a web page http://25yardsale.com/ and sends out over a thousand invitations to dealers.
People will be setting up booths, tents, tables, and blankets on both sides of Highway 25. BECAREFUL!
MODOT has signs in place to remind drivers to SLOW DOWN! Use extreme caution over the next few days as people with small children and pets will be walking in and out of the traffic and crossing the highway to shop.
The 100 Mile Yard Sale is quite the boost to the local economies of towns such as Bernie, Dexter, Bloomfield and Advance as well and it gives us a chance to clean out those closets and storage sheds. Literally thousands of items from furniture, tools, and toys to highly sought after collectables will be found along the route.
As the old saying goes, “One Mans Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure!”
We hope everyone finds something at the 100 Mile Yard Sale and have a safe and fun weekend.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Charleston, Missouri – Reagann is the 4 year old daughter of Joe and BJ Duenne of Charleston, Missouri. She has a very rare disease called ROHHAD Syndrome. Diagnosing this disease was difficult and you would understand why it’s called ROHHAD as the real name is Rapid Onset Obesity with Hypothalamic Dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation. What a mouthful for such a little girl. There are less than 100 children worldwide with this disease.
There is no treatment beyond experimental and there is no cure. On top of that doctors do not even know the source of the disease. Symptoms vary for each child and can begin with rapid onset of obesity in the first 2-4 years of life, followed by impairment of the nervous system and inevitably reduced lun function leaving children unable to breathe without the use of a ventilator.
Reagann is a strong willed little girl who is about to take a journey into the unknown. She will undergo experimental treatment of high does chemotherapy on June 7th at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. Her immune system will be destroyed. Her family will live there approximately 3 months while her immune system is rebooted and hopefully resistant to the disease.
This rare treatment has been performed on two other children in the world, successfully treating several symptoms of ROHHAD. Our thoughts and prayers are with this family during this difficult time and we hope a cure is close at hand.
With all that they have suffered and the expenses are mounting, the community has once again come to the aid of their fellow American. Like the helping hands in Oklahoma, the citizens of East Prairie and Charleston are here to help.
On June 1st from 1 – 4 p.m. “REAGANN’S ROWDY DAY” event will be held at the East Prairie Main Parking Lot. They will have bounce houses, face painting, several carnival themed games for kids, a 50/50 raffle, a raffle for a Ruger 10/22 w/max laser gun, other raffles, and prizes.
The High School cheerleaders have donated their time to perform a cheer camp. They will perform around 3 p.m. KFVS12 will be there with some of their employees and their Live Truck to show off and see how it works. The Smoke Company will be serving their amazing BBQ and Randy Cook’s Snow Cone Truck will be selling yummie treats. The Girl Scouts will have a bake sale. SAR will be showing off their dogs and search equipment and country singer Logan Toon will be performing around 1:30 p.m.
This will be an awesome afternoon! If you would like more information, please call Kristen Shankle at 573-233-5235 or email her at Kristen_shankle@yahoo.com.
Hope Anchors the Soul, Hebrews 6:19
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - The first summer holiday weekend will soon be here! Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity for Missourians to enjoy the many recreational possibilities in this great state. Whether you will be visiting family, going to one of Missouri’s lakes, or enjoying other travel destinations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol urges everyone to think about safety when making plans for the upcoming holiday weekend. Holidays should be enjoyed, but enjoyed responsibly. Be aware of construction along your route, pay attention while you are driving, and buckle up. If alcohol is part of your holiday, make sure driving a vehicle or a vessel is not.
The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available officer will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. In addition, the Patrol will assign troopers to 20-mile intervals along Interstates 35, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 63 on May 24, 2013 and May 27, 2013. Troopers taking part in the 20-Mile Trooper enforcement project will be alert for all traffic offenses, and be especially vigilant to aggressive driving violations.
Motorists or boaters in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol's Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can visit our web site at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov and click on the Road Condition icon to view road construction areas throughout the state or call 1-888-275-6636.
Over the 2012 Memorial Day holiday weekend, nine people died and 355 were injured in 944 traffic crashes. Last year, 184 persons were arrested for DWI. This year's fatality counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m., Friday, May 24, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 27, 2013. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, intoxicated drivers, and speed violations.
Motorists are encouraged to be safe and courteous drivers. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. Please do your part. Obey all traffic laws and buckle up.
The Memorial Day weekend is also an unofficial start to the boating season. During the 2012 Memorial Day weekend, there were eight boating accidents with eight injuries and zero fatalities. No one drowned over the holiday weekend. Officers arrested 38 people for boating while intoxicated. Boating is a great pastime and troopers want everyone to enjoy themselves. Please be courteous to others on the water, wear a lifejacket, and obey the law regarding safe operation of a vessel and no wake zones. Never operate a boat while intoxicated.
"I encourage every driver—of a vehicle or a vessel—to make safety part of their three-day weekend plans," said Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "Please, DON’T drink and drive. We want all of you to have a safe, enjoyable holiday weekend.”
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
United States of America - Every year on May 25, Missourians are asked to remember the children who stare back from the posters of the missing. These are the faces of children who have been stolen from their families, run away from their families, or have been abandoned by their families. Regardless of the reason, these missing youth are in danger every day. It is the goal of National Missing Children’s Day to bring public attention to the growing problem of missing children.
President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed National Missing Children’s Day on May 25, 1983. It now serves as an annual reminder to Missouri and the nation that everyone can play a part in bringing a missing child home, and in preventing the occurrence of future missing children. All Missouri citizens are encouraged to drive with their headlights on throughout the day on May 25, to “light the way home” for our missing youth. The wearing of a white ribbon also symbolizes the continued fight to return children safely home.
In 2012, 5,561 children were reported missing to Missouri law enforcement agencies. These missing reports included runaways, family abductions, and non-family abductions. At the end of 2012, 91 of these children were still missing. Thus far in 2013, there have been 1,966 children reported missing, 1,787 of which have been located.
The Missouri Missing Persons Clearinghouse reminds all parents and guardians to talk to children about child safety issues as a pro-active approach to curbing child abduction. In the same manner as reminding children to look both ways before crossing the street, children should be reminded often to follow these safety rules:
· CHECK FIRST: Check first with a trusted adult before going anywhere or accepting anything from anyone.
· TAKE A BUDDY: Never go alone; always take a friend. If a child MUST go somewhere alone, remind them to call before leaving, stay on a protected path, and check in upon arrival.
· SAY NO: Know that it is OK to say, “NO!” Teach children to tell a trusted adult if something makes them scared or uncomfortable.
· BE SAFE: Remind children they always have the right to stay safe.
Parents and guardians should have an emergency child identification kit. To create a child identification kit at home, simply place a quality photograph, such as a school picture, in a file with up-to-date information outlining the child’s height, weight, date of birth, hair color, eye color, guardian information, address, and distinguishing features such as scars, moles, glasses, braces, etc. Since children grow quickly and change a lot, the information should be updated at least once a year. The Patrol’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse has a Child ID System, which can be taken to schools, health and safety fairs, and civic meetings upon request to make free, wallet-sized child ID cards for parents.
Two critical tools in the fight against missing children are the Amber Alert Program and the Missouri Endangered Persons Advisory.
The mission of the Amber Alert Program is to develop and coordinate the efforts of law enforcement, the media, and transportation in order to increase public participation in safely recovering abducted children through targeted education, increased communication, and effective sharing of resources. In 2012, two statewide Amber Alerts were issued for six missing children, and all six of those children were recovered safely. The Missouri Endangered Persons Advisory was established in 2007, to protect missing persons who might not fall under the strict criteria established by the Amber Alert Plan.
For more information on child safety and Amber Alerts, or if you would like a child ID presentation at your local event, please contact the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at (573) 526-6178, or online at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Jason Smith, candidate for the 8th congressional District was on hand to speak with fellow Republicans at Dexter BBQ today.
With Representative Jo Ann Emerson’s resignation from Congress in February 2013, this left an open seat. A special election to be held on June 4, 2013 will determine her replacement.
Missouri Republicans chose Jason Smith, District 120, Speaker Pro Tem, as their candidate.
Jason has pledged to bring back common sense Missouri values. “It’s what my campaign is all about,” stated Smith at the luncheon. “Our race is going well and we have received some great endorsements, including the National Rifle Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Cattlemen's Association.”
Just yesterday former Governor Mike Huckabee from Arkansas endorsed Jason.
“This morning we toured the Tyson Plant here in Dexter and what a great asset it is to this community.” There were several familiar faces at the luncheon, including Missouri State Representative Kent Hampton, Missouri State Representative Dennis Fowler, Billy Pat Wright, Stoddard County Prosecutor Russ Oliver and Judge Rob Mayor’s family. He thanked everyone for attending and was very proud to have so many who support him in Dexter.
He continued by saying, "We have beat our opponent at everything during our campaign, from most signs out there, tv ads, most phone calls to our constituents, bumper stickers, and public knowledge. It’s all about voter turn-out! I will not be a wallflower in D.C. if elected.”
Tonight the Cape County Tea Party has planned a candidate forum at the Cape Girardeau Public Library at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, May 28th, the Southeast Missouri State University, KFVS12 and the Southeast Missourian plan to host an 8th Congressional District debate at 6:00 p.m. at the River Campus.
Anyone wishing to go to either event is encouraged to attend. If you would like more information and would like to contact Jason you may do so at Jason.Smith@house.mo.gov or by snail mail to MO House of Representatives, 201 West Capitol Ave. Room 301, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
