Dexter, Missouri - The local Altrusa International Club met recently at Hickory Log in Dexter to name officers for the coming year.
New officers are Kathy White (president), Tammy Robinson (vice president), Jane Smith (treasurer), and Kyra Taylor (secretary).
Pictured from left to right are the club's Board of Directors are Kathy White, Tammy Robinson, Jane Smith and Kyra Taylor, Betty McClintock, and Diane Robinson.
What is Altrusa? It is an international association of business executives and professional women and men who volunteer their time and talents in projects dedicated to community betterment.
Annual dues are $75.00 and their main campaign is to promote literacy in the area. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Hickory Log restaurant.
Service projects are annual Scavenger Hunt for Food, B.R.A.V.E., Literacy Kits, UCAN, Laundry Baskets Full of Love, annual scholarship, Donated care packages to military, donate BINGO prizes to Stoddard County ARC, Snowman Soup, Emergency Buckets, Books to Mother-to-Mother program, Book Fair, Painted Pumpkins, Literacy Lotto for Make a Difference Day and so much more!
Dexter, Missouri - Through Walmart's community grant program, the Dexter Walmart made a $250 donation to Boy Scout Troop 200.
The troop will use the money to upgrade and replace worn camping gear.
Shown in the photo from left to right: Debbie Juden, Walmart Manager, Jacob Chamness, Senior Patrol Leader, Tristan King, Dakotah Persfull, and Nathan Green.
Shown in the middle row are Blair Hunsaker, Jake Kiser, Kyle Ellison, and Patrick Lutmer.
Shown in the back row are Greyson Stephens, Joshua Green, and James Kalata.
Photo by the ShowMe Times.
Dexter, Missouri - First Midwest Bank held an Open House in conjunction with the Dexter Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting to celebrate recent renovations at the downtown facility.
The First Midwest Bank first opened in 1964 in downtown Dexter.
The lobby and teller area were completely renovated, adding a mix of traditional and modern design.
The contractor for the project was Brown Construction Company.
Shown in the ribbon cutting are form left to right Alisha Trammell, Joe Craig, Holly Shepherd, Alli Poteet, Jessica Lee, Madeline Guethle, Jerry Dorton, Alma Smith Joe Weber, Dennis Smelser, Janie Smelser, Deb Pope, Joey McLane, Norma McLane, Jane McLane Brown, Lori Bishop and Leslie Kyle.
First Midwest Bank has locations in Dexter, Dudley , Sikeston, and Jackson.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for the newly remodeled McDonald's in Dexter.
Owner/Operator Shannon Davis stated that the new building exterior features the latest design from the national corporation. Davis owns 11 McDonald's franchises in southeast Missouri.
The original McDonald's was built in the mid 1970s.
Shown in the photo front row from left to right: Chamber Director Hillary Starnes, Alisha Trammell, McDonald's Training Supervisor Kathy Forrest, McDonald's Vice President Robert Cork, Owner/Operator Shannon Davis, Director of Marketing Cheryl Farrow, Karen Cook, Amy Lovelady, Leslie Kyle, Sherry Hubbard, and Billy Pat Wright.
Back row from left to right: Rhonda Hall, Christy Pierce, Shane Brumfield, Tammy Moore, Jerry Dorton, Richard Hickson, Chris Guethle, Jake Nesselrodt, and Jason Banken.
Dexter, Missouri - Ruth Gibson, representing the Stoddard County Democrat Club, donated "At Mama's Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White", a book written by April Ryan to the Keller Public Library in memory of Orlie Edward Cokley.
Mr. Cokley passed away on February 5, 2017 at the age of 66 in Dayton, Ohio.
"In her first book, The Presidency in Black and White, journalist April Ryan examined race in America through her experience as a White House reporter. In this book, she shifts the conversation from the White House to every home in America. At Mama’s Knee looks at race and race relations through the lessons that mothers transmit to their children. As a single African American mother in Baltimore, Ryan has struggled with each gut wrenching, race related news story to find the words to convey the right lessons to her daughters. To better understand how mothers transfer to their children wisdom on race and race relations, she reached out to other mothers—prominent political leaders like Hillary Clinton and Valerie Jarrett, celebrities like Cindy Williams, and others like Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, whose lives have been impacted by prominent race related events. At a time when Americans still struggle to address racial division and prejudice, their stories remind us that attitudes change from one generation to the next and one child at a time."
Before Ed passed away he wrote a letter to his dear friends.........
"This has truly been a spectacular life. I have made some great friends along the way. We have made countless great memories and have enjoyed some great laughs together.
It's been a loving life. I married the love of my life, we had two wonderful boys and raised them to have wonderful families of their own. I am so very proud. This is the definition of a beautiful life.
I will be with you always.
It's been a very fulfilling life. I am so thankful to have met so many of you wonderful people through life's journey. You have each touched my life and my heart. Even if we couldn't always keep in touch, please know that I have always appreciated our friendship.
Now I am moving on from this really great life, as we all eventually do. As I reminisce, I feel so privileged to have lived this incredible journey that has led to this day. I have no regrets, and couldn't have asked for more. I leave my loving family and some great people, but feel at peace also knowing that I leave behind our great memories.
Thank you each for being my dear friend, my other half, and my loving family.
A special thank you to my dearest wife - my Suzie, my sweet darling. You have always been the love of my life, my rock. You have been the greatest mother to our boys and managed to effortlessly give us all of your love, support and friendship for the last 48 years.
You have especially been my saving grace this last year and deserve a standing ovation. Thank you Sue!
You have always been my angel, and now I will be yours.
Never forget how much I love you.
Goodbye my friends. Thank you for being a part of my life. You are forever in my heart."
Orlie Edward Cokley
September 25, 1950 - February 5, 2017
Shown in the photo are Theetta Cokley, Ed's mother, Ruth Gibson, Stoddard County Democratic Club representative, and Pam Trammell, Keller Library Executive Director.
For more information about the Stoddard County Democrats and to follow them on Facebook click HERE.
