
Stoddard County, Missouri - Are you worried about how to get your child the things they need to start the school year? Hope International and several other partnering organizations want to help!
Their Back to School Bash are designed to be a "one stop shop". You will be able to get your child's hair cut, get a clothing voucher, get a vision, hearing, and dental check, and leave with a backpack full of supplies for each child.
They have tried to improve Their BASH experience this year by having one event in one location! They have lots of new vendors, more fun for the kids.
NO lines or required booths just FREE school supplies, FREE haircuts, FREE food, FREE eye exams, FREE dental screenings, FREE hearing screening, and lots more! If you or someone you know would like to come to this event please go to www.hope-international.us/school.php to register!!
All you have to do is register! It's TOTALY FREE!!!
Registration is open until Friday, July 14, 2017 Just call (573) 293-4673 to register. Students who are registered and attend will receive a backpack with school supplies.
This year's Back to School Bash will be held at the Dexter Bearcat Event Center on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
If you would like to donate school supplies please contact (573) 293-4673. Hope International is still in need of items as well as volunteers.
This is NOT a low-income only opportunity. They want everyone with children to benefit from these events. Getting a child ready to go back to school can be very stressful and hard on a family. They want to make the Back 2 School process a fun and enjoyable day for everyone.

Dexter, Missouri - The Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post #59 has been working diligently to raise money to purchase a furnace for heating and cooling their post. They recently sold 350 tickets from May until last night at their regularly scheduled meeting raising about $1,250.00.
There is still more fundraising efforts being discussed as the need for a new air conditioning and heating is of the utmost importance for their building.
Ed Null sold the most tickets of about 250 with the winning ticket going to Jim Russell.
Pictured from left to right are Eric Smith, Post #59 Commander, Les Barker, Services Officer, Russell holding the rifle, and Sherry Whaley, Post #59 First Vice Commander.

Dexter, Missouri - Local law enforcement officers gathered and carried out their annual Torch Run down Business Highway 60 from Wal-Mart to On the Go to benefit Special Olympics of Missouri.
The statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics was founded by the Missouri Police Chief's Association; however the local effort was organized by Det. Capt. Trevor Pulley with the Dexter Police Department.
Law enforcement officers from around the state run the torch each year to raise awareness for Special Olympics Missouri and the State Summer Games. The games were held at Springfield this year in the first weekend of June.
What began in 1986 as a 30-mile run has grown into a 4-day relay covering more than 950 miles with nearly 1,000 runners.
Pulley raised money this year by selling Torch Run t-shirts which he still has some available at the Dexter Police Department.
Local law enforcement participating this year include Pulley, Trooper Russ Gibson, Deputy John Atkinson, Deputy Andrew Johnson, SO Kristie Palmer, SO Amy Holden, Mike Vinson, Deputy Derrick Durall, and DPD Cindy James.
Shown in the photo from left to right are: Stoddard County Deputy Andrew Johnson, Deputy Derrick Durall, Sheriff's Office Communicator Kristie Palmer, Deputy John Atkinson, Trooper Russ Gibson, Sheriff's Office Manager Amy Holden, Capt. Trevor Pulley, Sheriff's Office Communicator Mike Vinson, and Cindy Jones with the Dexter Police Department.


Collectively we shake our heads and wonder out loud how a parent could possibly leave his or her child in the backseat of a car for a short time or perhaps for hours. Either way the result can be the same. The child’s core body temperature reaches over 107 degrees F. This means that the child’s organs have started to or have shut down and death or severe brain damage probably has occurred.
Since 1990, According to KidsNCars, a national clearing house for data and information on car related injuries, over 800 children have died after having been left in a hot car. This averages to about 37 deaths per year.
Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Foundation’s Mother-to-Mother (M2M) Program, in cooperation with Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, is initiating its third annual Beat the Heat Campaign.
For the past fifteen years, M2M has been actively involved in child abuse and prevention activities throughout Stoddard County. Empowering young first time mothers to be able to provide for the physical, emotional and financial needs of their children, the program’s primary focus is reducing incidences of child abuse and neglect, thus providing another generation with brighter and more productive futures.
Mother-to-Mother’s 2017 Beat the Heat Campaign will center around the sharing of information on this important topic.