Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Congressman Jason Smith and the Smith for Congress campaign announced his campaign chairman, co-chairman and grassroots team of activists.
State Representative Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff), who ran against Smith for the Eighth Congressional House seat, and Cape Girardeau community leader Doug Austin, will serve as Campaign Chairman and Co-Chairman of Smith for Congress. Additionally, Smith announced a team of grassroots activists, with members from each one of the 30 counties that make up the sprawling Eighth Congressional District.
State Representative Todd Richardson praised Smith’s leadership in Congress and his willingness to fight for families in Missouri’s Eighth District.
“As a former opponent, I can tell you no one works harder for the folks he represents than Jason Smith. During his short time in Congress Jason has stood up to leaders of his own party to force a vote to defund Obamacare, he voted to defund the NSA surveillance programs that infringe on our privacy rights, and he has battled rogue executive agencies that are trying to regulate everything from baptisms in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways to kids working on the family farm. As Jason’s Campaign Chairman, I will work to share Jason’s common sense message of taking power away from Washington and returning it to families in Missouri,” said Richardson.
Cape Girardeau community leader Doug Austin said Smith is the right man at the right time for Missouri’s Eighth District.
“We need more people like Jason Smith in the United States Congress. Jason is a man of integrity and high moral values who leads by example. One of the first pieces of legislation Jason co-sponsored in Congress was the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to limit abortions in America. I have no doubt Jason will continue to be a strong voice for traditional values and personal responsibility. As Jason’s Campaign Co-Chairman I look forward to sharing Jason’s message and commitment to Missouri families during the campaign,” said Austin.
Smith said he is honored to have State Representative Richardson and Doug Austin serving as his Campaign Co-Chairman and he is excited about the grassroots team his campaign has formed.
“Todd Richardson is well-respected across Missouri for his commitment to our conservative causes. My campaign will benefit greatly from Todd’s leadership and I am honored to have him serve on our team. Doug Austin has consistently fought for pro-life and family issues. Doug’s reputation is second to none and I am honored to have him join our campaign,” said Smith. “The grassroots team our campaign has put together is second to none. We have activists in every one of the 30 counties of the Eighth District who will spread our message of fighting the Obama Administration and ruling class in Washington.
Brett Dorton, Etheleen Montgomery, Ray Rowland, and Russ Oliver have been named as members of the Jason Smith for Congress Grassroots Team from Stoddard County. Congratulations!!!
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Americans love Halloween
We as a country spend over $5 billion a year celebrating it. But where did the holiday come from? And how did traditions like asking strangers for food and dressing up as ghosts develop?
Halloween has its roots in Samhain (pronounced sow-in), an ancient harvest festival held at the end of the Celtic year. The festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark wintertime. It was believed the spirits of the dead returned on this eve to damage crops and play tricks on the living. It was also believed that the Celtic priests, or Druids, were able to make predictions about the future, which they did during large bonfire celebrations where they wore animal skins and sacrificed crops and animals to the spirits.
In early A.D., Romans came to the Celtic territories of modern day England, Scotland and Northern France, and were the first people to influence the celebration of Samhain. They brought their own holidays: Feralia, the Roman day to honor the dead in late October, as well as another holiday to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. It is possible that this Roman influence is the reason apples are given out and bobbed for on Halloween.
By 800 A.D., Christianity spread to the Celtic Territories and brought with it another holiday, "All Saints Day." Pope Boniface IV, the designator of All Saints Day, was likely trying to replace Samhain with a similar but holier holiday meant to honor saints and martyrs. Later on, All Saints Day was renamed "All Hallows" and thus the day of Samhain (Oct. 31st) began to be called "All Hallows Eve," and eventually shortened to "Hallowe'en."
All of the holidays that were melded together to create our modern version of Halloween involved dressing up in one way or another. The celebrators of Samhain wore animal skins at their bonfire celebrations and those that observed "All Saints Day" often dressed as saints or angels. Later on men in Scotland would impersonate the dead on the day, explaining the ghoulish tradition we still observe.
During the mid 1800's, Irish and English immigrants flooded the United States and brought Halloween with them. From these immigrants we received the Halloween traditions we recognize today, however skewed they are now. For instance, the first trick-or-treaters were far from today's smiling children with commercialized costumes. They lived in Medieval England, and practiced "souling," in which poor people would beg for sweet breads, in return for praying for the families' souls. Later, the immigrants who brought Halloween to America would develop their own version of trick-or-treating, but it didn't become popular here until the 1930’s. e ord Halloween is a shortening
As the report identifies we have seen a major revolution in what we now refer to as Halloween. It should be a time of fun, something we struggle to enjoy in today’s world. It’s proven that it takes more energy to frown than it does to smile. Allow yourself to exercise other ways. Loosen up and walk in the word “trick or treat”. See ya in church Sunday!
As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Missouri House. If you would like to discuss any issue, please call 573-751-3629. You can also email me at kent.hampton@house.mo.gov . I look forward to hearing from you.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
“Families and individuals in Missouri stepped up to support my campaign because they are tired of business as usual in Washington. They want a Congressman who is not afraid to stand up President Obama and leaders in my own party,” said Smith. “Our campaign is proud of the broad support that we received from across the Eighth District and the state of Missouri. This quarter’s report is just the beginning and I look forward to building on this foundation moving forward.”
Smith for Congress Campaign Treasurer, Reg Swan of Cape Girardeau, commented on Smith’s solid fundraising quarter.
“Congressman Smith had an outstanding fundraising quarter. He has proven to be a hard worker and his campaign will have the resources it needs going forward to fend off any challenger."
Jefferson City, Missouri – Gov. Jay Nixon today noted the passing of decorated World War II veteran Perry Coy, of Jefferson City.
On Dec. 7, 2010, the Governor presented Coy with the Legion of Honor medal, the highest award bestowed by the people of France in recognition of great service to their nation. While serving as a U.S. Army staff sergeant, Coy distinguished himself in combat numerous times in combat during the liberation of France and the invasion of Nazi Germany, being awarded three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and the Silver Star – the nation’s third-highest military award.
At the State of the State address in January 2011, Gov. Nixon again recognized Coy for his service.
“This week, Missouri lost another notable member of the Greatest Generation with the passing of Staff Sgt. Coy,” Gov. Nixon said. “Heroes such as Perry Coy have stepped forward to bravely serve our country since its earliest days, and continue to do so today. Their courage is an inspiration to us all, and has kept our nation free. I salute his service and his sacrifice, and that of all those who are serving, or have served, in our armed forces – especially as so many who fought in World War II or Korea pass away. Godspeed, Staff Sgt. Coy.”
Below is the obituary from the Columbia Tribune.
Perry Eugene Coy, 88, of Jefferson City, passed away on Monday, October 14, 2013, at his home. He was born on November 8, 1924, in Bolivar, Missouri, the son of the late Fred L. and Beulah (Butler) Coy.
On June 17, 1945, Perry was united in marriage to Nina Landrum, who survives in Jefferson City. On December 5, 1974, he was united in marriage in Miami, Oklahoma, to Mary Lou (Kauffman) Holmes, who preceded him in death on November 17, 2010. Perry worked for Western Hatchery until 1960 before starting Fire and Safety Equipment Company, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1998.
Perry served our country in the United States Army during World War II, where he received five Bronze Stars, the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.
He was in the second wave of the D-Day Invasion at Normandy, and served under General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. On October 19, 2010, he was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor by the government of the French Republic, the highest honor that France can bestow on a person.
Perry was recognized at the State of the State Address before the Missouri General Assembly on January 11, 2011, for his service to our country. Perry was a special friend to many. He loved to dance, always had a joke to tell and enjoyed hearing about his great-grandson's baseball accomplishments.
An avid golfer and member of the USGA, Perry won many tournaments, had seven holes-in-one, and would never pass up the chance to play, even up to two weeks ago. Perry was a member of the First Christian Church, where he served as Deacon. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Redfield Golf Club.
Perry is survived by two sons: Dennis (Cari) Coy of Jefferson City, Mo. and David Coy of Licking, Mo.; one daughter: Eden (Larry) Davis of Bloomington, Ill.; two step-sons: Larry Holmes of Versailles, Mo. and Tom (Marilyn) Holmes of Columbia, Mo.; two granddaughters: Mandy (Matt) Hoener of Jefferson City, Mo. and Abby Davis of Bloomington, Ill.; one grandson: Drew Davis of Chicago, Ill.; one great-grandson: Brenden Hoener of Jefferson City, Mo.; and one special niece: Evelyn (Jim) Edwards of Springfield, Mo. Perry was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers: Fred L. Coy Jr. and John Coy, and two sisters: Lena Shipley and Goldie Evelyn Hendrix.
Friends will be received from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday at the Houser-Millard Funeral Home, where funeral services will follow at 7:00 p.m., with Rev. Don Carter officiating.
Full military honors will follow the funeral service at Houser-Millard Funeral Home. A private family interment will be held at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Jefferson City High School Golf Team or the Helias Catholic High School Golf Team. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.millardfamilychapels.com
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
The Mason Dixon Line
On this day in 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon complete their survey of the boundary between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland as well as areas that would eventually become the states of Delaware and West Virginia. The Penn and Calvert families had hired Mason and Dixon, English surveyors, to settle their dispute over the boundary between their two proprietary colonies, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
In 1760, tired of border violence between the colonies' settlers, the British crown demanded that the parties involved hold to an agreement reached in 1732. As part of Maryland and Pennsylvania's adherence to this royal command, Mason and Dixon were asked to determine the exact whereabouts of the boundary between the two colonies. Though both colonies claimed the area between the 39th and 40th parallel, what is now referred to as the Mason-Dixon line, finally settled the boundary at a northern latitude of 39 degrees and 43 minutes. The line was marked using stones, with Pennsylvania's crest on one side and Maryland's on the other.
When Mason and Dixon began their endeavor in 1763, colonists were protesting the Proclamation of 1763, which was intended to prevent colonists from settling beyond the Appalachians and angering Native Americans. As the Britons concluded their survey in 1767, the colonies were engaged in a dispute with the Parliament over the Townshend Acts, which were designed to raise revenue for the empire by taxing common imports including tea.
Twenty years later, in late 1700s, the states south of the Mason-Dixon line would begin arguing for the perpetuation of slavery in the new United States while those north of line hoped to phase out the ownership of human chattel. This period, which historians consider the era of "The New Republic," drew to a close with the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which accepted the states south of the line as slave-holding and those north of the line as free. The compromise, along with those that followed it, eventually failed.
One hundred years after Mason and Dixon began their effort to chart the boundary, soldiers from opposite sides of the line let their blood stain the fields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in the Southern states' final and fatal attempt to breach the Mason-Dixon line during the Civil War.
As you read this there are only 76 days left in this year, and 84 days until your Missouri House reconvenes at the start of 2014. In the hustle and bustle of life, we sometimes become so consumed in our own lives and schedules that we fail to take notice and care for others. Let me encourage you this week to speak to at least ten people you don’t know, hold the door open for five, and invite a minimum of two people to church. You never know the influence or encouragement you may play in someone’s life. Give thanks. See ya at church Sunday!
As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Missouri House. If you would like to discuss any issue, please call 573-751-3629. You can also email me at kent.hampton@house.mo.gov . I look forward to hearing from you.
