Dexter, Missouri - The Pleasant Grove Community Church will host a Blood Drive on Monday, February 15, 2021 from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

The Blood Drive will be held at 13798 East State Highway H

Sponsor Code: PleasantGroveCommChu  click here to SCHEDULE NOW!

As winter weather drags on and the pandemic continues, it can be hard to keep spirits up. It's sometimes difficult to feel connected to the wider community. We have an easy way to help others and help yourself: give blood! Donating blood is a safer way to get out of the house and socialize. You can enjoy the warm, cozy feeling of knowing you were of service to others. You may even find yourself making a new friend (at a safe distance)!

To show our appreciation for making time to give by Feb. 28, we'll send you a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, thanks to our partners at Amazon! Just think of the little additional treat you may buy with that gift: a new journal, a soft pair of socks, a bag of organic kale chips – or, okay, some delicious chocolate.

There is an ongoing need for blood, and your single donation could help save more than one life. Will you step up to give this month?

Platelets and type AB plasma also needed

Platelet donors and those with type AB blood are also continually needed to help ensure patients receive the lifesaving blood products they need. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, surgical patients and bone narrow recipients – must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are constantly needed. Donors with type AB blood are urged to give blood or platelets to restock the plasma supply. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types.

How to donate blood

The free Blood Donor App – available in app stores by searching for American Red Cross or by texting BLOODAPP to 90999 – not only makes appointment scheduling easy, but donors can also access their digital donor card and be notified when their donation is distributed to a hospital. Donors can also visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors in the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visitredcrossblood.org/RapidPassand follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visitredcross.orgor visit us on Twitter at@RedCross.

Steve Cookson, former Southeast Missouri legislator and retired educator, is recovering at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis from a liver transplant.  His surgery was Friday, January 29, 2021.

" On Thursday the 28th of January we got the call," per Joy Cookson, wife.  "A perfect matched liver was donated to Steve. Friday morning at 7 o’clock he had a liver transplant."  He left the hospital on February 2nd and is resting in a local hotel to be monitored for three weeks.  

"There are no words that he can say how very thankful he is for the prayers and forever grateful he is for the donor family. The donor and his family are real heroes. The medical staff at Barnes Jewish Hospital have been absolutely incredible. God has had his hand in this situation from the beginning and we thank Him so much for His loving care," continued Joy Cookson.

Mid-America Transplant organization helped secure the liver donation to save Cookson's life.  While in office serving as Missouri's 153rd Legislative District, he sponsored a bill encouraging Missouri schools to allow organ donation education to their students.  Governor Mike Parson signed the bipartisan bill into law in July of 2018.

Cookson was representing Carter and Ripley counties and parts of Wayne and Butler counties in the MO House of Representatives when he first publicly announced his illness in April of 2017.  He was diagnosed with liver failure, which was a result of a blood virus transmitted to him through a blood transfusion in the 1970s.

He also served as high school principal for East Carter and Doniphan school districts before holding office.  He was a superintendent of Naylor School District for eight years.

He is a graduate of Advance High school, Three Rivers College, College of the Ozarks and Southeast Missouri State University.

He and his wife, Joy, have one son, Tyler.

Stoddard County, MO - There are multiple contested races for the municipal election slated for April 6, 2021.  Below is a list of who is on the ballot.

Advance City:  Incumbents William Woodward and Michael Cato will run unopposed for Advance Board of Aldermen as will Mayor Ryan Slinkard.

Advance School Board:  There will not be any changes for the Advance Board of Education as incumbents Nanie Hawkins and Jim Below will run unopposed.

Bell City:  Incumbents Michelle Bradshaw in Ward I and Dorothy Burton in Ward II will run unopposed.  One seat in Ward II was vacated; however no one filed to run for this seat.  It is possible for someone to file as a write-in candidate and fill the seat.  If this does not happen, the city will make a decision on the seat at a later date.

Bell City School Board: For a second time a non-election has been declared in the Bell City School Board race.  Under Missouri State Statute 115.124, a school board election is not required if the number of people running matches the number of seats available.  Sarah Bailey, who was appointed to fill a seat vacated by a school board member unable to complete the term, has filed to retain her appointed seat and is running unopposed. Incumbent Mark Anderson is also running unopposed, as is Eric Bowling, who will be new to the board. One incumbent, whose name was not released, has decided not to seek re-election.

Bernie School Board:  The incumbents. Gary Eaton and School Board President Judy Zoll have filed for re-election and will both run unopposed.

Bernie Board of Aldermen: There will be four seats.  Incumbents Bruce Appleton in Ward I and Scott Spitzer in Ward III will run unopposed.  Incumbent Marisa Farmer in Ward II will face challenger Wayne Williams.  Kristi Bales is running unopposed for a one-year term due to the seat being vacated before the completion of the original two-year term.

Bloomfield City:  Two incumbents, Bonnie Blue in Ward I and Frank Sifford in Ward II will not seek re-election.  Tim Clary has filed for Ward I and Cecil Haley has filed for Ward II.  Both will run unopposed.  Mayor Bill Aslin has field for re-election and is running unopposed.

Bloomfield School Board: Just like Bell City, a non-election has been declared in the Bloomfield School Board Race.  Incumbent Scott Gibbs will not seek re-election. However with incumbent Brad Warner and Justin Bell filing to run, the number of candidates matches the number of seats available. Under this scenario an election is not required under Missouri law.

Dexter Board of Aldermen:  There are three seats available.  Incumbent Terry Battles will run unopposed for Ward I.  In Ward II incumbent Tim Aslin will face Stoddard County Coroner Brent Stidham.  In Ward III incumbent Mike Shepard is challenged by Ronald Ahrens.

Dexter School Board:  The Dexter Board of Education will have two new faces for empty seats as incumbents Jim Reiker and Rick Williams will not be running in 2021.  Jon Thompson and Aaron Mathis will run unopposed to fill the two empty seats.

Essex City:  Incumbents Karen Galloway in Ward I and Bobby Morgan Ward II will run for re-election unopposed. Appointed Mayor Angela Malloy will seek re-election unopposed.

Richland School Board:  There are five residents running for two seats on the Richland Board of Education.  Incumbent David Wheeler is not seeking re-election.  Incumbent David Wyman has filed for re-election.  Wyman will have to fend off three of the four challengers to retain his seat.  Landon Wheeler, Chris Porter, Kevin Holman and Christy Stoker have all field for two seats available.

Puxico Board of Aldermen: Jeff Thomas and Pattie McLean will run unopposed for two seats on the Board.  McLean is running for a one-year term to complete a term left incomplete following the death of an alderman. Incumbent Harlen Lamb is running unopposed in Ward II as he seeks re-election. Mayor Rick McLean is running unopposed as he seeks re-election as mayor. No candidates filed to run for municipal judge. It is still possible for an individual to run as a write-in candidate. If this does not happen, the city will have to request a circuit court judge to appoint someone to fill the position.

The Puxico voters will have a ballot question to answer as well. The question asks voters if the city of Puxico can forgo an election if the number of candidates matches the number positions in the office being sought. If this passes then an election such as the April election with three aldermen and the mayor running unopposed would not have to be held.

Puxico School Board:  There will be no changes as incumbents John Davis and Dusty Stroud will run unopposed for re-election.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6th.  The ShowMe Times will be at the Commission office at 7 p.m. to announce local results.