Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri - End Poverty in Stoddard County is at it again! This time they are collecting donations to make Hygiene Kits.
The Hygiene Kits are for those who are in need of these basic necessities in our community. This project will go on from now until March 2nd.
Alexis Smith and Jacob Robinson, “two people with one dream” and creators of End Poverty in Stoddard County will be collecting the following: wash cloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, bar or bottled soap, shampoo & conditioner, and razors.
These items will be packaged up and distributed all over Stoddard County. Their plan is to deliver them to the schools, the Stoddard County Gospel Mission, and any other places people suggest! If you know of an organization or place that could use these basic necessities let them know.
All donations will be greatly appreciated!!
Drop off locations are the T.S. Hill Middle School library and the Dexter Family Medical Center by Town & Country in Dexter. If you would like to meet somewhere else to drop off donations that is closer to you or would like one of them to pick up your donations, they will gladly do so!
Contact either Jacob (573-552-2108) or Alexis (573-820-5699).
Join the fight to end poverty in Stoddard County! Together poverty can be history!
Shown in the photo are Alexis Smith and Jacob Robinson from their annual coat drive.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Saakumu Dance Troupe, a world-touring performance group out of Ghana, Africa, will perform at Three Rivers College for Black History Month on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m. in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. The performance is free to the public.
Led by master musician Bernard Woma, the troupe (whose name means “Tradition”) performs traditional music and dance from across Africa, combined with contemporary pieces inspired by African culture. Designated as one of Ghana’s official performing groups in 2007, Saakumu has performed extensively across the United States and West Africa.
“We’re extremely pleased to host the Saakumu Dance Troupe at Three Rivers for Black History Month,” said Hillary Speer, Coordinator of Student Engagement at Three Rivers. “They’re a world-class group that’s had an immense cultural impact across America. We’re looking forward to seeing them perform live for our community.”
Saakumu’s performances are drawn from the spiritual, ceremonial, and recreational music of West Africa, with pieces drawn from the tribal cultures of Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin. Woma then blends the traditional music and dance forms with contemporary elements to create a unique experience that connects to the traditional while retaining a modern relevance.
“If we understand each other's culture, we'll understand each other's situation...In Africa in music, every mistake is a new style,” said Woma. “My focus is preserving traditional music, in contrast to the Afro-pop, which blends New and Old World styles. Afro-pop has its own language.”
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Submitted by
Southeast Missouri - Bootheel Counseling Services has earned the highest level of accreditation possible by CARF International, the premier accreditation body of health and human service organizations. Bootheel Counseling Services has been accredited for a period of three years on the following programs:
* Community Integration: Mental Health (Children, Adolescents and Adults)
* Crisis Intervention: Mental Health (Children, Adolescents and Adults)
* Health Home: Comprehensive Care (Children, Adolescents and Adults)
* Outpatient treatment: Mental Health (Children, Adolescents and Adults)
CARF is an independent, non-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality value and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966, as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.
This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable.
“The accreditation received from CARF communicates to our community and clients that Bootheel Counseling Services staff meet international standards for quality and consistently work toward excellence in providing programs and services to our consumers, “ said Cheryl Jones, Executive Director of Bootheel Counseling Services & Family Medical Clinic. “We are very proud to share the accreditation results with our consumers and our community.”
Bootheel Counseling Services & Family Medical Clinic is a private, not for profit charitable organization committed to providing excellent comprehensive behavioral and primary health care to residents in Scott, Stoddard, Mississippi and New Madrid County. Bootheel Counseling Services has been providing mental health services to our community since 1976 the Family Medical Clinic has been providing physical health care since 2011 helping residences in our community to lead healthier, happier, more productive lives.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Sikeston, Missouri - Missouri schools took the challenge to buckle up and made it click with students. Across the state, 195 schools participated in this year's Battle of the Belt Challenge-a competition to raise seat belt use among teens. Forty-three Southeast Missouri high schools participated in the challenge.
Participating schools launched two surprise seat belt checks at each school to measure student seat belt use before and after an educational campaign. In addition, schools had the opportunity to submit a 30-second video spot to encourage their peers to buckle up.
Saxony Lutheran High School of Jackson, Mo., won the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety's award for the Highest Overall Seat Belt Use achieving 98.9 percent seat belt use. Clearwater High School of Piedmont, Mo., won the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety's award for the Most Improved Seat Belt Use improving their seat belt use by 32.8 percent. Both schools will receive $500 donated by American Family Insurance to be used for future seat belt educational programs at the schools.
Thirty-seven schools will receive statewide recognition for seat belt use that reached gold (99-100%), silver (95-98%) or bronze (91-94%) levels of seat belt use and will receive banners to display at the schools donated by the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians. In Southeast Missouri, those schools include:
• Saxony Lutheran High School of Jackson, Mo.-98.9% (Silver)
• Notre Dame High School of Cape Girardeau, Mo.-98.37% (Silver)
• Thomas W. Kelly High School of Benton, Mo.-96.55% (Silver)
For the 30-second video competition, 42 videos were submitted by Missouri high schools. The top three winning videos will also receive funding to further seat belt educational programs at their schools. The winning videos were submitted by the following schools and can be viewed by visiting http://www.savemolives.com/.
• 1st Place-Washington High School of Washington, Mo. for "Stay in the Picture"
• 2nd Place-Pattonville High School of Maryland Heights, Mo. for "4 Seconds"
• 3rd Place-Washington High School of Washington, Mo. for "Buckle Up Arrive Alive"
"We're proud of our local schools for showing a commitment to buckling up and wanting to help other teens understand the importance of wearing a seat belt every time they ride in or drive a vehicle," said Sandy Taurone, regional contact for Battle of the Belt. "Seat belts save lives."
Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for people 15-20 years old. Results of a 2013 survey among Missouri teens indicate 33 percent of teens are not wearing their seat belt putting them at greater risk to get killed or injured in traffic crashes. Seven out of 10 teens killed in Missouri traffic crashes are unbuckled.
Battle of the Belt was originally brought to southwest Missouri by the Missouri Emergency Nurses Association and St. John's Hospital. In 2006, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, in conjunction with American Family Insurance, took the competition statewide and continue to sponsor this year's program with the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians.
Is your school ready to take the challenge to buckle up? Learn more at http://www.savemolives.com/.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri - The Rotary Club of Dexter will host their annual Chili Day on Tuesday, January 21st at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hall in Dexter. The weather is cold, but the chili is warm!
The serving times are from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. with carry-outs also available. Call 820-6168 to order a carry-out meal. the cost is $6.00 per meal with vegetable beef soup available as an alternative.
All proceeds go to fund Dexter Rotary Club projects including Boys State, Girls State, Stoddard County Gospel Mission and high school scholarships, beautification projects and more.
Children under three years of age eat for free.
The public is encouraged to attend.
