The Church Women United (CWU) met on August 6, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church for brunch. The speaker was Rhonda Stuever, President of C.L.A.S.S. (Communities Loving and Supporting Students). She shared with the group how this project began in 2018 and how they are going to begin their annual fundraising drive. This will enable them to purchase clothing for area students in the coming year.
Carol Beam, chairman of the National Lifechain Committee, shared with the group that the Lifechain will no longer take place in Missouri because after 49 years, ROE V WADE was overturned in June of 2022 by the Supreme Court and was sent to each individual state and has been banned from Missouri.
Beam presented a check to Teresa Overall, Director of Mother-to-Mother (M2M), from the Lifechain Committee.
Doris Biggs announced that there will be a CELEBRATE LIFE service at the Dexter First General Baptist Church, 27 E. Castor St. on Sunday, October 2nd. at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and Praise the Lord! Please mark you calendar and save the date!
The Church Women United meet four times per year and the next meeting will be at Sadler's Chapel in Dexter on November 5th at 9:30 a.m. for brunch.
The speaker will be announced later. Krystal Hobgood, Chairman of CWU, would like to invite all ladies to come and attend.
Dexter, MO - A groundbreaking ceremony was held on the new Harty House in Dexter. The Harty House was made possible by a bequest from the Norman B. Harty trust and a land donation by the Regional Healthcare Foundation.
According to a news release from Assistant Program Director Renee Trout the new facility will feature 9,000 square feet of living space and provide safety, security and technology upgrades. The facility was designed by Dille Pollard Architects and Smith & Boucher Engineers and will be built by Brown Construction Company.
“Welcome to the future site of the Harty House,” said Trout at the groundbreaking. “And on behalf of the Stoddard County Children’s Home Board of Directors, staff, and most especially the children, we would like to welcome you here today as we break ground for our new residential facility.”
Trout recognized the current members of the Stoddard County Children's Home Board next: Kelly Fields-Wilburn, Joy Hudgens, Tonya Keena, Jackie Mayberry, Lauren Mayer, Paula Miles, Josh Miller, Michele Owens, Randy Russell, Allie Scherer, Ryan Slinkard, Zenita Smith and Jim Tweedy.
She also recognized the advisory board comprised of Judge Rob Mayer, Judge Joe Satterfield, Chief Juvenile Officer Tonya Causey, and Children’s Division Circuit Manager Kim Bolin, who oversee operations and ensure that the children in Stoddard County receive the best protection and care.
“We would also like to say thank you to our many partners in this project,” said Trout. “ First and foremost, the Norman B. Harty Trust, who’s vision and foresight is the foundation of what we are beginning here today.”
“Also, thank you to the Regional Healthcare Foundation and its board of directors for the donation of this land and their promise to help build healthy communities in our area,” Trout continued. “Thank you also goes to our project partners, Dille Pollard Architects, Smith & Boucher Engineers, and Brown Construction Company, who’s skill and expertise will bring this house to life.”
The regional Healthcare Foundation released a statement regarding the project which said:
“The mission of the Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Foundation is to build healthy communities through programs and services we operate, designed to increase the overall health and wellness of our surrounding communities. We could think of no better way to act out our mission statement than donating ground for the building and operation of the new Harty House, children’s residential facility operated by the Stoddard County Children’s Home. Through the operation of our own Mother to Mother mentor program, we have been an active participant of young children’s lives, and by donating this ground, we saw a different avenue of participation we could take, to aid in other children’s lives as well. We certainly want to thank the board of the Stoddard County Children’s Home for allowing us to play a small role in this project.”
“And to you, the citizens of Stoddard County, we offer our grateful appreciation for the continued support that will allow us to build this safe haven for the abused and neglected children in our county,” Trout said. “Thank you for joining with us to provide a secure and loving environment for the children who need us most. We come from communities large and small: Advance, Bell City, Bernie, Bloomfield, Dexter, Essex, and Puxico, and, working together, we will make the Harty House a home.”
Following Trout's address members of the Stoddard County Children's Home Board and county officials donned hard hats and turned the first scoops of dirt with gold shovels.
Pictured from left breaking ground on the Harty House is Brett Dille, Jim Tweedy, Presiding Stoddard County Commissioner Danny Talkington, C.H. Parsons, Lauren Mayer, Meredith Mayer, Tonya Keena, Zenita Smith, Kimberly Bolin, Chief Juvenile Officer Tonya Causey, Jim Russell, Randy Russell, Josh Miller, Aaron Mathis, Justin Trammell holding Brooks Trammell, Bonnie Harty, Sue Grobe, Judy Ackman and Kelly Fields-Wilburn. SHOWME TIMES/Dee Loflin
Bernie, MO - The Bernie Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the new convenience store, Fast Break, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
Fast Break is located on Highway 25 in Bernie. They are open Sunday - Thursday from 5 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from 5 a.m. - midnight.
They opened officially on August 4th at 5 a.m.
Pictured from left to right: Walter Matthews, Jennifer Heil, Darlene Walls, Holly McGraw, Wendy Holt, Debi Swindle, Owner, Randall Swindle, Owner, James Tilmon, Mayor of Bernie, Logan Swindle, Leni Swindle, Jayme Harris, Chamber of Commerce, Kristy Reeves, Store Manager, Brenda Conner, Kendra Owens, Vice-President of Bernie Chamber of Commerce.
Please joins us for a historic ground-breaking ceremony for the new Harty House children’s residential facility, hosted by Stoddard County Children’s Home Board of Directors!
On Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 6 p.m. they will break ground on the new facility. The new facility will be located at the corner of Hickory Hills Drive and Girl Scout Way just behind SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County.
Duke and Shirley Rudd have rented booth #33 at Old Timer's Antique Mall for 25 years. Last week they retired from a lifetime of buying and selling wonderful treasures. They have been married for 67 years and have been wheeling and dealing in furniture and antiques for over 50 years.
"Shirley always ironed all their linens, she always decorated her booth in a theme," commented Joni Burleson, owner of Old Timer's Antique Mall. "There will never be another renter in that space. We are officially retiring booth #33."
I won't be able to decorate like her, but I put some Christmas trees or something in there and sell ornaments. People will buy those." Burleson said laughing. "We will miss them very much here.
Shirley started her career hanging wallpaper many years ago. Her business was called "The Hanging Shop" based out of her home in Poplar Bluff at the time.
"I did a lot of the homes in Poplar Bluff that had 14' ceilings with beams," commented Shirley. "I finally had to give it up, but I noticed that is it coming back in style."
When they first got started more than 50 years ago they bought from estate sales and tag sales. They mostly purchased furniture, but also bought items to decorate.
"It was so much fun and I will miss that." continued Shirley.
Duke always worked in banking and financing, but he had a love and an eye to purchase and resell the antiques. It started off as a hobby and then actually started making money.
"Duke and Shirley are like my grandparents," stated Mikal Long, longtime employee of Old Timer's. "I've known them since I started working here 25 years ago. They were the first one's I met and I just love them."
Duke and Shirley will be missed. Their decorated booth was a favorite of many.
