
Parents,
It is that time of year to ask for help with prom food, prom food workers, and of course, project prom workers. Junior and Senior parents supply the prom food for the event. It can be store bought or homemade. Typically we have things like chips and dips, fruit and veggie trays, finger sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes, etc. Really anything that is easy for the students to eat. The juniors that attend prom bring 2 2-liter drinks to supply beverages for the event. The school supplies the paper products. Please let me know what you are willing to bring for our food tent.
I also need parents to work in the food tent during prom: The times are 7:30-8:30, 8:30 to 9:30, and 9:30-10:30.
We are also looking for a few props for prom:
Any kind of artificial trees and plants (the bigger the better), or LARGE tree branches we can use as trees, and park benches. This will all be well taken care of and returned to the owners.
I am also looking for some colorful rain boots that someone would like to get rid of. We need a couple of pairs, if possible.
Finally, we need workers for project prom. You DO NOT have to be a junior or senior parent. I just need willing adults to help. We have moved everything up 30 minutes this year, so project prom doors will open at 11 and the grand prize drawings will start at 2:30, with the event being over at 3 am, rather than 4.
I need help from 10:45-until 2:45 with project prom. If you are willing to stay the entire time, that would be great, but if you can only work a couple of hours, let me know.
Once again, thank you for all of your help and your support!!
Judy Patterson
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Judy Patterson
Dexter High School Counselor
judyp@dexter.k12.mo.us
573-614-1030

North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, known as the makers of Camel and Pall-Mall cigarettes, has spent $9.5 million and counting to amend Missouri’s constitution. The reason Big Tobacco is pouring millions in Missouri is as sinister as the language buried within Amendment 3.
RJR controls 75% of Missouri’s cigarette market, and it’s using our kids to gain the other 25%. Market analysis shows Big Tobacco stands to gain nearly $500 million annually in sales if Amendment 3 passes, while spending less than $500 per Missouri pupil.
Amendment 3 automatically rebates 3% of taxes paid by consumers back to tobacco sellers and restricts funding for the enforcement of tobacco laws; it bans research funding on the harmful effects of tobacco smoke, including its impact on young children.
As a longtime leader on anti-abortion issues, I am deeply concerned Amendment 3 will enshrine abortion and abortion services definitions in our constitution for the first time in our state’s history.
As a dedicated advocate of Parents As Teachers, I understand the significant impact that early education can have on our children. However, in the case of Amendment 3, something is not better than nothing.
I urge voters to join me in opposing constitutional Amendment 3 and voting no.
Rep. Tila Hubrecht, R- Dexter

National Insurance Awareness Day is observed each year on June 28. This day was created as a day to review your insurance coverage.
Insurance offers security, covering loved ones and recovering losses in the event of damage, illness or death. It offers protection but over time the value of our homes and the items in may appreciate. What was once worth $100,000.00 a decade ago may be worth much more today. Be sure your policies keep up with the values.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Take time to review your coverage to be sure you are not under or over insured. Use #NationalInsuranceAwarenessDay to share on social media.

Winter White and All Is Nice…
I am a things collector… I collect just about anything that makes the room look warm and cozy. The problem is I have to clean all the cute warm and cozy things that sit around. I am constantly dusting because we burn wood in the winter. I have been dusting some of the same statues, flower arrangements, paperweights and picture frames for as long as I can remember. I look at all the cute things that I have been looking at for over 20 years and wonder, “Is it worth it?”
I open the magazines and look at the beautiful, clean, white living rooms and long for the soothing, dust free surface that looks so inviting. What keeps me from creating this soothing, clean environment? Could it be that I don’t want to offend a family member that gave me the paperweight 20 years ago? Could it be that I feel I will never get another paperweight again? Both are unrealistic.
I decided I would take a picture holding the beloved paperweight and document the cherished treasure. As a matter a fact, I decided it would be easy to start going through all my rooms and start sorting through what is a cherished memory and what should be a current treasure.
Too much clutter can create an environment of feeling overwhelmed. It can actually trigger a ripple effect of spending more to make that 20 year old paperweight look fresh, new and exciting. I finally decided to solicit the advice of a friend to help me weed out the clutter. We had a lot of fun sorting through the “things” that cluttered my world. New Year’s Resolution….”Shop wisely through 2016 and no more clutter!”
By Davine Conover

April 22, 2015
Letter to the Editor by Senator Doug Libla
Chairman, Senate Transportation Committee
Our state is facing two critical transportation issues:
· Missouri has thousands of bridges over 50 years old; 1,600 of them are over 75 years old! Approximately 6,300 of our bridges are obsolete and structurally deficient.
· In 2017, Missouri will no longer generate enough highway user revenue to access federal construction dollars that would otherwise be available to us.
This is why I sponsored Senate Bill 540. During public testimony on the bill heard April 1, 2015, by the Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee, of which I am the chairman, there were 24 individuals and groups in support – and ZERO in opposition. On April 8th, SB 540 was unanimously voted out of committee.
On April 14th, I presented SB 540 to the full senate. The bill called for a two-cent increase in the state’s fuel tax beginning January 1, 2016. The last increase was in 1992 and gradually phased in to the current level of 17 cents per gallon. This rate has remained the same for the last 20 years, while concrete, steel, labor, and other costs have increased dramatically. In 2015 dollars, 17 cents is now worth about eight cents in spending power. Counties and cities receive approximately 30 percent of this eight-cent value. That means the state’s share is only 5.4 cents per gallon in terms of 2015 spending power.
The deteriorating condition of our roads and bridges should be a personal safety and economic concern to all Missourians. Our bridges are at risk of failing at any time. Just last week in Kansas City a bridge built in 1967 carrying thousands of vehicles per day at the I-70/I-35 interchange had to be closed for an undetermined amount of time for structural repairs. From an economic development standpoint, what company would want to locate or expand in Missouri? They need reasonable assurance/expectation that our roads and bridges will be maintained and improved to meet their freight and distribution needs both now and in the future.
As if safety and economic worries weren’t enough, our state faces a dwindling ability to use federal highway construction dollars. Missouri is allocated about $870 million per year of federal highway funds, but to get them, we have to be able to provide matching state funds. For every $4 of federal funds, we need to provide $1. If we can’t, Missouri will be unable to claim the federal dollars.
Beginning in 2017, Missouri will no longer be able to match all of our federal construction dollars. Our federal fuel tax money will flow only in one direction – toward Washington. We need to get this money back or it will be gone forever!
Since 1924 Missouri has funded its investment in highways through a fuel tax. This is still the best, most reliable and fairest form of highway maintenance revenue because highway users pay it. Approximately 50 percent of the fuel purchased in Missouri is bought by non-residents traveling through the state.
Unfortunately, SB 540 was ultimately filibustered by two senators the same day it was brought up for debate and action.
We need a transportation policy now or we can put our heads “back in the sand” expecting the problem to solve itself – a policy that has been followed for the past 20 years. When the inevitable bridge closures occur, and highways continue deteriorating, what excuse will be acceptable to the citizens of this state?
We cannot say “I didn’t know.” The people will know that we simply failed in our duty.