Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards banquet on Saturday evening.
Chris Brannan said, " Dexter has several great organizations that do a lot of community service. We had several nominations turned in this year."
"The committee narrowed it down to three very active and well deserved nominees: Relay for Life of Stoddard County, Dexter Lions Club, and Star Banner 4-H of Dexter."
1. Relay for Life has been raising money to fight cancer since 2004. In 2005, over $81,000 was raised to provide services and life saving research to cancer patients in Stoddard County. This year they are going to strive to hit the $1 million mark of funds raised within Stoddard County. Their annual event is huge and brings positive attention to Stoddard county.
2. Dexter Lions Club does tons of work for Dexter. They provide and pay for the school children's eye exams and also provide eye exams and glasses for others in nee. They hand out two $1,500 scholarships to students, they pay for the student athletes to play in state all-star games and donated 3 Lion water fountains to the city parks. they also donate annually to the Wreaths Across America, Stoddard County Children's Home, Boy Scouts, Boys state and Girls State, after Prom activities, Truck or Treat, Mid South Lions Sight and Hearing and the Kenny Rogers Telethon. They have fundraising events, such as their annual golf tournament, Waffle Day, and sell funnel cakes at the Stoddard County Fair. They are very active and we appreciate their work.
3. The Star Banner 4-H of Dexter program completes several community service projects throughout the year. They go to nursing homes for holiday visits, play Bingo, go caroling, and deliver food baskets. They have also done several other projects like Wreaths Across America, had a haunted house, and participate in the Stoddard County Fair. Each student chooses to participate in speech contest, livestock, entrepreneurship, workmanship, or political involvement to obtain their service hours. These students are learning viable skills before graduating from school.
The 2015 Organization of the Year Award goes to the Dexter Lions Club.
Photo credit to Dee Loflin, ShowMe Times Manager/Editor.
Dexter, Missouri - H&R Block is putting the "fun" back in the Tax Refund Season! James and Julie Twomey, local winners of the "H&R Block 1,000 wins $1,000 Daily Sweepstakes", celebrate at the H&R Block office at 209 W. Business 60.
It's an amazing story with James and Julie as they both were entered to win because of a joint tax return. James received his email first and was pretty excited to be a winner, but when Julie received her email they thought there was a mistake or it was a repeat email. Much to their surprise both won a $1,000 prize and were presented two checks on Friday, January 22, 2016 for a total of $2,000.
"I thought it was super cool," stated James Twomey. "It's a blessing. We are foster parents and have been using H&R Block for more than 20 years."
H&R Block is giving away a total of $32 million in the first month of tax season. Anyone who files their taxes at a participating H&R Block office by February 15th can automatically be entered into the sweepstakes. Thirty-two thousand people will win $1,000 from H&R Block. You could be a winner if you file your taxes soon. For more information, visit www.hrblock.com/grand.
Pictured are Cheryl Bridgewater, H&R Block Preparer, James Twomey, Julie Twomey, and Kim Allen, H&R Block Franchisee.
Congratulations James and Julie Twomey!
Dexter, Missouri - Patty Miller Gard, a Dexter native, has recently given away nearly 400 books she authored. The Keller Public Library offered the books in a beautiful display during the holidays.
Her first book entitled “I Saw Heaven!” was written just a few years ago in 2010. It’s an inspirational story about her conversations with her brother after his near death experience. Richard Miller fell into a deep coma in 2001, but he defied the odds and one day woke up to talk about his experience of seeing Heaven. Richard passed away in 2004 and she realized that God was in control. Her book "I Saw Heaven" is a testament to a way God often works.
“Those conversations changed my life,” Patti said about her brother. “It was God’s plan and I am just following that inspiration.”
With a better understanding of writing and publishing her first book, she decided to write another book in 2013. It is entitled, “Living Right Side Up in an Upside Down World.”
“I couldn’t have imagined the places the success of these books have taken me,” commented Gard.
“This community has been very good to me and I am blessed to live here,” Gard said. “I have been many places, but this will always be home.”
Patti believes she was called to write these two books, perhaps God had a very special plan for her, but she knew she needed to offer these books to anyone. She and Pam Trammell, Keller Library Director, set up a display and the books began to fly away in the hands of patrons during the holiday season.
Both books are available. Patti will be glad to get you a copy. Just stop in the library and if they are not readily available, please leave your name at the desk.
Patti plans to have a book signing at a later date and there will be another opportunity to receive her special gift and visit with her.
"I just love my hometown," continued Gard. "I have such fond memories as a child, I remember my classmates and I just have wonderful memories of Dexter growing up. I wanted to do something for the community and giving away my books just felt right."
She writes her books under the pen name of Dunham.
Dexter, Missouri - Pat Hayes receives the Auxilian of the Year award from Auxiliary member and incoming President Betty Keirsey.
Pat was recently named Auxilian of the Year for SoutheastHEALTH Auxiliary of Stoddard County. Pat works in many areas of the Auxiliary and is always there to help.
Betty wrote a poem about Pat that describes her dedication.
Round and round and round she goes,
Where she'll stop, nobody knows.
She's here, she's there, she's everywhere.
Down to the kitchen or maybe the stairs,
She pushes the cart with our snacks and drinks,
She's hungry and thirsty herself me thinks.
Once she's sure we have all we've needed,
She then slows down and is finally seated.
Dexter, Missouri - “On behalf of the Regional Healthcare Foundation, we would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and wonderful donations to this worthy cause,” press release from the Regional Healthcare Foundation.
They wish you all a Happy New Year and a healthy 2016. On Thursday, January 7th they will host their first 1st Thursday of 2016 . Located at 529 North Walnut Street in Dexter on the first Thursday of each month.
It’s never to late to donate and they would love to receive gently used and unwanted items. Their re-sale shop is always accepting donations.
Please contact Linda Ulm at (573) 624-0365 and she will schedule a time for you to drop off your items. Tax credit forms are available upon request.
Come out and shop their 1st Thursday, January 7th from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Cox Corner in Dexter. Proceeds go to the Mother-to-Mother Program at the Regional Healthcare Foundation.
The Mother To Mother (M2M) is a three-phase mentoring program to support young women who are pregnant or parenting by giving them the resources ad skills they need to become successful parents.
They provide them with CHOICES, OPPORTUNITIES, and ACHIEVEMENTS. The Mother-to-Mother mentoring program works with the young women through their pregnancy and the first year of their child’s life.
They hold regularly scheduled activities where the girls can participate in programs that promote the physical and social growth of both parent and child.
They introduce participants to additional services in the community that can help them make choices that will bring about a better life for tem. After Phase I (pregnancy) and Phase II (baby’s first year) the girls may choose to remain in the program and contract with them to enter Phase III.
In Phase III she may retain all the benefits of the program, if she agrees to continue her education or obtain employment. They believe that education will insure a brighter, more secure future for the young families by reducing the level of poverty.
You can also follow them on Facebook by clicking HERE.
