Dexter, Missouri - Two Dexter Chamber Directors retired after serving 3-year terms and were awarded a plaque for their service at the annual Dexter Chamber Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

Stacy Hill with Central Gardens has been a director since 2014 and finished her three-year term in December of 2016.

Chris Brannan, who was unable to attend on Saturday night, owns a State Farm Insurance Agency and has been a director for years 2014, 2015, and 2016.  He finished his 3-year term in December 2016.

Shown in the photo are Stacy Hill (left and Hillary Starnes, Executive Director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce (right).

Dexter, Missouri - Chamber President Jason Banken recognized each of the eight 2016 Dexter Leadership graduates.

They went through seven (7) sessions throughout the 2016 year.  They talked to city officials, toured education, healthcare, big and small industries in Dexter.  Each received a plaque.

Graduates are Gina Watson with Montgomery Bank, Lea Jenkins with Southern Bank, Ashley Jarrell with First Midwest Bank, Lisa Gleason with Ozark Federal Credit Union, Kiesha Stewart with First Midwest Bank, Jennifer Whitesell with Three Rivers College and Amy Swindell with Air Evac.

Shown in the photo from left to right: Amy Swindell, Jennifer Whitesell, Lisa Gleason, Kiesha Stewart, Ashley Jarrell, and Lea Jenkins.  Not available for photo was Gina Watson.

Dexter, Missouri - Hillary Starnes, Executive Director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce addressed a large crowd at the annual awards event on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

'I want to welcome and thank everyone for attending today," commented Starnes.  "I also want to thank you for supporting the Chamber as I have survived my first full year here."

Starnes discussed how much the North Outer Road is getting more businesses with a used car dealership, a food truck, two new buildings at Greenversity, and engineering firm and another building for Williams Moving.  She also noted that Business 60 has had a few facelifts on buildings, a few new buildings and other buildings that have set empty are now occupied. Also Dexter's healthcare services are booming and expanding.

"The Historic Downtown has remained steady, survived another fire, and will continue to grow their events to increase foot traffic," stated Starnes. "It takes a village to grow Dexter and even though  I talked about each of these sections individually, we are all investing and working and taking pride in our community as one."

Starnes also spoke of one of the Chamber's future goals to better serve the county and one of them is to become Work Ready certified which will put Dexter on the radar for new businesses and industries.

The Chamber also had an increase in Dexter Dollars purchased.  In 2016, $28,700 were purchased and all that money stays in the city of Dexter.

"When a company or person purchases Dexter Dollars that money not only stays in Dexter, it is a Chamber Member only benefit," commented Starnes.  "So we encourage our businesses to purchase them for their employees for birthdays, a special thank you, safety incentive or any other occasion."

She thanked the city of Dexter employees for their hard work helping the Chamber and getting things done around town.  She also thanked Patty Shell for helping with the Polar Express event that brought in more than 200 people to the caboose and depot, most coming from out of town.

Also in attendance were Senator Doug Libla, Billy Pat Wright, Leslie Herbst from Congressman Jason Smith's office, and 151st State Representative Tila Hubrecht who also received a thank you from Starnes.

Next at the podium was Chamber President Jason Banken.

"The Chamber staff, the Chamber Board, and the Chamber Development Board all have input into several areas of the community either directly or through joint efforts with the city," stated Banken.  "Those areas touched are the welcoming of new businesses; promoting business and industry recruitment; the promotion of tourism; working with the downtown organization; as well as other organizations;  providing rental space for star-up businesses; providing lease space for one of the local industries and for a Dexter Campus of Three Rivers."

"We ended the year with 299 Chamber members and are already increasing the membership of 2017," continued Banken. "The office is becoming more efficient and their community awareness is increasing.  The Chamber is the FRONT DOOR to Dexter and the office has to know the businesses, industries, and departments of the city to be able to answer any questions of potential citizens, tourists, or residents may have."

The Dexter Chamber of Commerce announced 2016 Dexter Leadership group, Retiring Directors, Retiring President, introduced the current Board of Directors, Organization of the Year, Business of the Year, Industry of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Distinguished Citizen of the Year.  Each award will be presented in additional articles on the ShowMe Times.

Dexter, Missouri - The new Dollar Tree in Dexter opened at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2016.  Employees held an official ribbon cutting to start their new retail journey.

Everything is a dollar or less at Dollar Tree and the shelves are stocked full of Valentine's Day decorations and treat along with an entire row dedicated to St. Patrick's Day.  There are cold items and grocery items as well. 

Come in today and enjoy some delicious treats and children receive a free balloon!

Dollar Tree is located on Business Highway 60 near the Dexter Cinema.

According to the local manager there will many future events, an open house, raffles, and customer appreciation days.

Dollar Tree stores offer items for $1 or less and is North America's largest single price point retailer.  They strive to keep their shelves full every day with extreme values on cleaning supplies, health & beauty products, office supplies, school supplies, snacks, toys, greeting cards, home decor and much more!

Shown in the photo from left to right are Kaitlyn Phillips, Jessica Counts, Josh Canoy, Donna Daniels, Patricia Murphy (manager), Hailey Metcalf, Kaity Dodson, Sherry Barker, and Dwaine Beller.

Dexter, Missouri - For the past five years Brandon Scott has held his annual Pull Tab Drive for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis by collecting pull tabs from soda cans.  One local business, Bootheel Recycling, helps Brandon collect those tabs in Dexter. 

Mark and Kristi Booker, owners of Bootheel Recycling, are big supporters of this young man and they hope you will bring your tabs by their business located at 202 Harris Drive.  Every tab counts!!

Brandon Scott was diagnosed with Leukemia at the young age of 23 months and has been saving tabs for RMH for nearly 13 years.

On Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the American Legion located on PP Hwy in Poplar Bluff, his family and friends will be selling baked goods, pull tab bracelets, lots of silent auction items will be available, t-shirts, and raffle tickets for great prizes.  Most importantly everyone who has been saving pull tabs for Brandon will bring them to be weighed and packed for recycling.

Ronald McDonald will be there greeting everyone, signing autographs, posing for pictures and doing his awesome magic tricks!

His goal this year is to present the RMH with 3,000 pounds of tabs and a donation check for at least $5,000.00 at the Tab Top Pandemonium in May. Please help us spread the word by supporting Brandon's favorite charity so it can be as successful as possible. Last year he was able to raise over $7,000.00 and turned in a little over 3,000 pounds of tabs for the RMH with all of your support!

If you would like further information or would like to donate please contact Kim Scott at (573) 300-6195.  The American Legion is located at 2320 Kanell Blvd.