Dexter, Missouri - Wayne Jean of the Stoddard County Republican Central Committee will be the guest speaker.  He will discuss the procedures of replacing the 151st State Represenative Tila Hubrecht.

Mrs. Hubrecht resigned her position effective June 2, 2017.

The meal will begin at 5:30 with the meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m. at Hickory Log Restaurant on Monday, June 12, 2017.

151st District - MO - Tila Hubrecht announced this weekend a new staff member for the 151st District.

They would like to welcome the newest staffer for District 151, Adam Plunkett!

Adam is a highly motivated young man that has worked in the State Capitol since February, and we are excited to have him on our team. He is from Kansas City, Missouri and studied at Missouri State University in Springfield.

Please know that the constituents of District 151 will always have an advocate in Jefferson City; Adam will be in the office to take any phone calls, emails, or constituent concerns that the people may have.

You can reach him at 573-751-1494 or by email at adam.plunkett@house.mo.gov.

Missouri - Congressman Jason Smith media statement regarding President Trump's approval of Governor Gretiens' request for a federal disaster declaration from the storms on April 29, 2017.
 
Communities across southern Missouri have done an incredible job of helping each other recover from this historic flooding.

I have seen much of the devastation first hand and have been in constant communication with families, farmers, small business owners, first responders and community leaders impacted by this disaster.

I have relayed the needs of our area and the vast impact to our Governor and directly in conversations with the White House.

I am pleased to see the Administration expeditiously approved federal disaster declarations for numerous counties in our area so that additional resources can be provided to help the families, farmers and business owners of southern Missouri get their lives back to normal.

Congressman Smith Capitol Report
Missouri Heroes
May 26, 2017
 
Time at the lake or on the river, barbeques and kicking off summer with family and friends – Memorial Day is a time where we celebrate our freedom, but we must stop to remember the cost. It is a day for us to remember those who died fighting for our country and protecting our way of life. Before you set off to enjoy summer, I ask that you pause to remember and honor Memorial Day with me.
 
I visited the local VFW in Cape Girardeau recently which is named after three Missouri heroes. Lloyd Dale Clippard, Richard Gene Wilson and Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. Clippard was a member of the U.S. Navy and just 19 years old when he became Cape Girardeau’s first WWII casualty. He had been on duty for three short months when he and his fellow sailors were attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. His remains were never recovered and are entombed in the hull of the USS Utah. Wilson was a combat medic for the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He died trying to rescue a wounded soldier at the Battle of Yongju. Taylor was an Army Infantryman in Vietnam. He died in combat in the Dinh Tuong Province, fighting against the threat of Communism, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
 
This week, I heard stories from Forest O’Neill of Rolla who recalled many of his fellow Marines that were lost in battle against North Korea. It was December of 1950, Forest and his fellow Marines were fighting their way out of the Chosin Reservoir in temperatures that were 20 and 30 degrees below zero. Sadly, not everyone made it out alive, but Forest and his fellow Marines made sure everyone, dead or alive, made it home.
 
During the Vietnam War, Missouri lost 1,422 brave soldiers. Earl Wayne Ellis, Dennis Edward Isgrig, Charles Wayne Buntion, Warren Paul Seawel, Frederick John Shuh and Larry Lee Thomure along with too many others are honored on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in D.C. If you aren’t able to pay tribute in person, I encourage you to visit VirtualWall.org and learn more about those from Missouri who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
 
Today we fight a new war, the Global War on Terror. This war has presented new challenges but the bravery, heroism and sacrifice of Missourians has remained unchanged. Army Sergeant Robert Gene Davis from Jackson, Missouri gave his life for freedom in Afghanistan. As Davis’ convoy charged forward, an improvised explosive device detonated underneath his Humvee. Army Specialist James R. Burnett, Jr. from Stoddard County was killed in action by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan as well. Staff Sergeant Bradley Joe Skelton of Gordonville volunteered to come out of retirement and go on another tour of duty with the Missouri National Guard. It was during this second tour when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.
 
As we pause to remember those we’ve lost, I am inspired by Korean War Veteran Forest O’Neill who said “Don’t give up. Never quit.” It’s difficult to put my depth of gratitude into words. Thank you feels insufficient compared to what these families have endured. From World War II, The Korean War and Vietnam to the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Missourians have fought bravely and died valiantly. Their families have sacrificed dearly, but as we celebrate our freedoms this weekend, we know their sacrifices are not in vain.

Smith congratulates finalists and announces winner, Makayla Cahill with “Reflections of Youth”

Park Hills, Missouri - Congressman Jason Smith congratulated Congressional Art Competition finalists and announced the winner during a reception at Mineral Area College on Saturday. Makayla Cahill from Salem R-80 High School won the 8th Congressional District Competition with a mosaic of a young girl from Salem entitled “Reflections of Youth.”
 
“Makayla’s piece had so much detail and truly captured the life and joy in the young girl’s eyes,” said Congressman Smith.
 
Cahill said she chose to do a mosaic because it was something she had not tried before and thought it would be a good medium to present her artistic vision.
 
Cahill’s piece “Reflections of Youth” will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a full year and she will receive two round trip tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the Congressional Art Competition reception with other art competition winners from across the country.
 
There were six finalists from across the 8th Congressional District. In addition to Cahill, Baylee Bilyeu from Salem R-80 High School was a finalist along with Sophie Bollinger from Perryville High School, ZuZu Smugala from Farmington R-7 High School, Alicia Aubuchon from Bismarck R-5 High School and Rachel Wichern from Saxony Lutheran High School in Cape Girardeau.
 
“All of the finalists are so talented and I know it was difficult for the judges to choose a winner,” said Congressman Smith. “As always, I am extremely impressed with the students’ artistic gifts and am glad I was able to get to know these incredible young artists.”
 
The Congressional Art Competition is an annual event for high school students held each spring.