By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

Three Southeast Missouri residents have been appointed to committees that will set the new boundries for legislative districts as the redistricting process picks up speed in the Show Me State.

Gov. Jay Nixon this week announced the appointments of the members of the bipartisan apportionment commissions that will set new boundaries for the 34 districts in the Missouri Senate and the 163 districts in the Missouri House of Representatives. The Missouri Constitution requires the governor to appoint the two commissions to reapportion the state's legislative districts following the national census.

Eddie Justice and Nate Kennedy, both of Poplar Bluff, were appointed to the House apportionment commission. Justice was appointed as a Republican; Kennedy as a Democrat.

The congressional district committees from the two parties in each of Missouri's nine congressional districts each submitted two nominees for appointment to the House apportionment commission. The governor selected one member from each of the committees' lists, for a total of 18 members. Other House apportionment commission members, along with their congressional district, hometown and political affiliation are:

• Marlene E. Davis (D - First Congressional District, St. Louis)
• Thomas Wilsdon (R - First Congressional District, St. Louis)
• Cheryl Hibbeler (D - Second Congressional District, O'Fallon)
• Ann Wagner (R - Second Congressional District, Ballwin)
• David Courtway (R - Third Congressional District, Festus)
• Jo Ann Karll (D - Third Congressional District, High Ridge)
• Violet Corbett (R - Fourth Congressional District, Knob Noster)
• Paula Willmarth (D - Fourth Congressional District, Jefferson City)
• Chuck Caisley (R - Fifth Congressional District, Kansas City)
• W. Mitchell Elliott (D - Fifth Congressional District, Kansas City)
• Trent Skaggs (D - Sixth Congressional District, North Kansas City)
• James C. Thomas III (R - Sixth Congressional District, Kansas City)
• Nick Myers (R - Seventh Congressional District, Joplin)
• Todd Patterson (D - Seventh Congressional District, Joplin)
• Joe Maxwell (D - Ninth Congressional District, Mexico)
• Cindy O'Laughlin (R - Ninth Congressional District, Shelbina)

Cape Girardeau businesswoman Kathy Swan was appointed as a Republican to serve on the Senate apportionment commission. Swan also serves on the Cape Girardeau City Council and is serving her third term on the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

The state committees of the two major political parties each submitted 10 names to the governor to consider for appointment to the Senate apportionment commission. From those lists, the Governor selected five members from each of the lists for the commission, for a total of 10 members.

Other Senate committee members are:

• John Borbonus (D - St. Louis)
• Doug Harpool (D - Springfield)
• John Maupin (R - St. Louis)
• Jeff Mazur (D - Ashland)
• Joe Passanise (R - Springfield)
• Terry Riley (D - Kansas City)
• Miles Ross (R - Springfield)
• Bob Saunders (D - Liberty)
• Yancy Williams (R - Columbia)

Under the time line set by the Missouri Constitution, the commissions will hold their first meetings April 5. They must prepare a tentative map of the 34 Senate districts and 163 House districts within five months.

After a series of public hearings, final maps are due at the Secretary of State’s office by mid-September.

If either commission is unable to complete its work in time, the commission’s job will fall to a panel of appellate court judges who would be appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

The red brick building on Market Street was where 200 people once crafted hats and caps that went around the world – proudly made in Dexter, Missouri. But International Hat closed its doors in Dexter in 1989; Paramount Cap continued the hat-making tradition, but it too, closed its doors.

And now, in 2011 - 22 years after International Hat - the facility is now an educational center to help people prepare for their futures.

Three Rivers College has invited the community to see first-hand this new facility during an Open House on Thursday, March 24 beginning at 4 p.m. The public is invited to visit the center and to see the way in which the college has converted the old hat factory into a state-of-the-art education facility.

“This is one of Three Rivers’ most beautiful and advanced facilities,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers. “This center is very important to us, and to the people of the Dexter area. I expect new, fresh ideas to come from this center. I also expect there to be a very strong relationship with local school systems, the Chamber of Commerce, cities and towns, civic organizations, businesses, industry, and government.”

A wide range of general education courses are offered at the new Dexter center. From College Writing and Introduction to Literature, U.S. History and College Algebra, more than 25 courses are currently offered.

In addition to general education courses, the Dexter Center will deliver training in the Medical Coding option of the Information Systems Technology degree, as well as a Green Diesel Technology program. Students can earn an associate degree in IST: Medical Coding, or certification in diesel mechanics.

Center coordinator is Bill Hampton. Hampton joined the Three Rivers team in January He has more than two decades in education and in business in the region, most recently as the founder and co-owner of YHC-TV in Dexter. His enthusiasm for the college and the opportunities the center offers is contagious.

Joining Hampton as co-coordinator is Ann Matthews. Matthews has served since August 2005 in the Three Rivers Center in Portageville, and has strong family connections to the college, which several members of her family graduating from Three Rivers.

“We’re here to serve the students of Stoddard County and its surrounding areas,” said Hampton. “We invite prospective students, parents of students, and the community in general to come by and see the new facility. Ann and I will be on hand to answer any questions about course offerings, financial aid, and the center in general.”

Refreshments will be served at the Open House on Thursday. The event is free and open to the public.

Photo Above:
State Senator Rob Mayer (right) and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (left) discuss the programs to be offered at the new Dexter Center of Three Rivers College with college president, Dr. Devin Stephenson during a recent tour of the new facility.(ShowMe Times file photo by Annabeth Miller)

By Annabeth Miller
ShowMe Times Editor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.; March 18, 2010 - Dexter’s school superintendent met recently with the city’s state representative concerning the state’s school funding formula.

Dexter Supt. Dr. Tom Sharp met with State. Rep. Billy Pat Wright, R – Dexter, at a dinner and workshop on the Missouri public school foundation formula. The dinner and workshop was held recently and sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA).

The Missouri public school foundation formula is the mechanism by which school districts receive state funds to operate their schools. It is the largest single appropriation from general revenue in the Missouri state budget. The 2011-12 school year is slated to be the sixth year of a seven-year phase-in of the current formula.

The workshop on the formula was presented by Dr. Chris Straub, a former superintendent and adjunct professor who is currently teaching school finance for the education doctorate program at St. Louis University and for the education specialist program at the University of Central Missouri.

Dr. Straub explained the formula theory, the various factors that are included in the formula and the mechanics of the foundation formula. He shared examples of how funds are distributed to three school districts: one district that is currently on the formula, one district that is “hold harmless” and one district that receives small school funding.

Bruce Johnson, MASA President and Superintendent of the Stanberry R-II School District said the purpose of the meeting was purely educational.

“We truly appreciate the time the legislators took to join us for this dinner and workshop. We believe it is extremely important that our legislators fully understand the school foundation formula as they begin their deliberations in the coming months,” Johnson said.

Sharp is in his first year in the Dexter Public Schools. He came to Dexter from the Bourbon, Mo., school district.

Wright represents District 159 in the Missouri House of Representatives. The district includes Dexter and much of Stoddard County, as well as portions of Wayne and Cape Girardeau counties.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editors

BLOOMFIELD, MO. – March 15, 2011 – When Aaron Mathis was just a young man in the Dexter schools, his father began working with the county coroner’s office. So the young Dexter man watched and learned about the job of coroner first-hand from his father.

Now, Aaron Mathis is following his father’s footsteps and is beginning his tour of duty as the Stoddard County Coroner. Mathis was appointed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to the post this week and took the oath of office in a ceremony in the Stoddard County Justice Center on Tuesday.

Mathis was appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term of Morgan Sifford, who resigned from the post in January. Administering the oath of office was Judge Joe Satterfield, friend and high school classmate of Mathis’ parents, Greg and Lisa.

“I’ve watched Aaron group up into a intelligent, confident, hard-working --- well, he’s just a well-rounded individual. I am very proud of him. It’s been a pleasure watching you grow up,” Satterfield said in remarks prior to Mathis taking the oath of office. “There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that you have earned the right to be coroner and you absolutely deserve the appointment the governor has bestowed on you.”

Standing beside Mathis as he took the oath of office was his wife, Brittany.

Following the oath, Mathis commented that he remembered his mother taking him to Bloomfield in 2006 when his father was sworn into office as coroner following the death of Ray Rainey.

“I was looking through some clippings and found that my father had a lot more hair and Joe’s (Satterfield) was a lot darker back then,” Mathis said with a grin.

Mathis explained he would be meeting with local officials – Hank Trout of the Stoddard County Major Case Squad as well as county law enforcement and emergency officials to learn of their expectations of the Coroner’s Office.

“Stoddard County law enforcement is going to be your best friend,” Mathis said in an interview. “I’ve developed a good relationship with Hank Trout – seeing he and his son Nick down at Little League baseball when I was coaching. I have a lot of respect for Hank and Tommy Horton (of the Sheriff’s Department) and the guys with the Highway Patrol. We will all work good together.”

Mathis is a 2004 graduate of Dexter High School and attended St. Louis Community College at Forest Park and received a degree in mortuary science.

“When I was in middle school if you had asked me what I wanted to do I probably would have said sports broadcasting,” Mathis said. “But when I got into high school, I realized that this (funeral service) was what I wanted to go into. “

The young Mathis has high praise for his hometown and county.

“Stoddard County has been very good to our family. I enjoy being able to be in contact with people, knowing that you’re able to make a difference. So Dexter and Stoddard County was always the place I knew I wanted to come back to,” he said.

The new coroner explained that his office investigates deaths – whether unexplained, accidental, and unattended. He said when such a situation occurs he will be called to the scene.

“We’ll be in touch with the chief law enforcement person on the scene, which most times will be Hank Trout or somebody from the Highway Patrol that’s investigating it,’ he said. “We’ll work with their investigators to see if there needs to be an autopsy performed and what circumstances led to that person passing away.”

He explained the coroner is also notified when a person passes away at a house> In addition, state law requires that anyone under the age of 18 who dies must also have an autopsy performed.

“I’m excited to be here in the county and working with people,” he said. He commented that he enjoyed serving the Health Care Foundation board of directors. “I enjoy working with people and working with law enforcement. I look forward to do that in the next two years.”

Mathis will serve the remainder of Sifford’s term, which ends in 2012. He will then be able to seek the office in the November 2012 election.

Joining Mathis and his wife and parents at the swearing in ceremony were his grandparents, Vernon and June Mathis and Bob Coffey, all of Dexter, Brittany’s parents, Tim and Kendra Ward, and a number of family and friends.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

There is always a celebration when a new business opens its doors in a community. But Dexter had a “triple-header” on Tuesday with Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting celebrations at three new businesses.

A team of Dexter Chamber members and business leaders walked to three new businesses in the heart of Historic Downtown Dexter Tuesday morning to mark the “official” openings of The Metro Gallery, Mr. Charlies, and Laura Davis Photography & Jala Sweet Décor & More.

‘This is a great day for Dexter,” said Chamber President Ed Gargas. “The opening of three new businesses in the heart of our downtown district is wonderful. Three new business in downtown is further evidence that Downtown Dexter offers great opportunities for specialty retailers. The Chamber congratulates these new merchants and we wish them every success.”

The Metro Gallery is owned by Erin Brown and is an art gallery featuring a wide variety of fine art and work handcrafted by artisans. Brown is the only merchant in Southeast Missouri that carries products that are part of the Best of Missouri Hands program. The Metro Gallery is located in the old Metro building, at the corner of Stoddard and Walnut streets.

Charles West owns Mr. Charlies and features estate furniture, Campbell mattress, appliances. West also features a wide variety of lamps and lamp shades and mhe is one of the few businesses that still repair vacumes. The Wests and their friendly dog Duke will be glad to greet customers at Mr. Charlie’s at 22 East Stoddard Street.

Laura Davis Photography and Jala Sweet Treats and More is located 8 East Stoddard Street nd features the photography studio of Laura Davis. Davis specializes of children’s, senior, families, engagements and maternity photography. In addition, Jala Sweet Treats and More offers a wide assortment of custom-designed products, including baby clothing and accessories including hair bows and hats, along with items for baby and bridal showers, children’s birthdays, and custom furniture and accessories.

The Dexter Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting celebrations held Monday, March 14 bring the total in 2011 to 4.