By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – March 26, 2011 - With the rising cost of food and gasoline and everyday expenses, colleges and universities are examining the cost of living making tough choices for the next academic year.

Like their peers across the nation, students at Southeast Missouri State University and their families will have to dig a bit deeper for living and eating on campus.

The Southeast Board of Regents met Friday and approved new room and board rates for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Under the approved plan, room and board rates will increase an average of 3.71 percent for next academic year.

Dr. Dennis Holt, vice president for enrollment management and student success, said average room rates will increase 3.37 percent, while average board rates will climb by 4.26 percent for fiscal 2012, bringing the average combined room and board rate increase to 3.71 percent for the 2011-2012 academic year.

New Dorm Rates

Based on the new rates, the cost of living in dorms will range for $3,750 in Dearmont to $5,750 for Vandiver, Henderson and New halls.



These figures reflect the cost to continue, including additional costs for maintenance and repair. Private room rates continue to be 1.5 times the rate of a double room, Holt said.

Dinner Time!

Holt says the average food plan change of 4.26 percent is consistent with the University/Chartwells dining contract and reflects actual and anticipated inflation in food prices for 2011-2012.



The flex dollars reflected in the board rates are cash stored electronically on students’ ID cards as part of their meal plan. They can be used at any campus dining location to buy additional meals, food items, snacks and beverages.

With the approved room and board rate increases, a student living in Towers South/East with a 15-meal plan will pay $6,360, up from $6,160 last year.

The Board also approved a three percent increase for non-traditional housing at Southeast. Southeast offers non-traditional housing at Washington Street Apartments, 19 units that vary in number of bedrooms, the size of rooms, and amenities.

Rates next academic year will range from $379.90 for a one-bedroom efficiency apartment at 505 Washington Street to $513.99 for a two-bedroom unit with a balcony at 401 Washington Street.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

Things were all polished and new Thursday afternoon at the new Three Rivers College Center in Dexter - ready for the college president and Rocky Raider to show off the college's newest campus.

The college hosted an Open House for the community at the new facility on Market Street, and a steady stream of Dexter area residents visited and toured the center.

“This is one of Three Rivers’ most beautiful and advanced facilities,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of the college. “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.”

Stephenson and center coordinator Bill Hampton, assistant coordinator Ann Matthews and other college staff members offered tours of the college center, including the Green Diesel lab spaces, which include multiple cutaways of real trucks, truck engines, and more. The Student Ambassadors were on hand to greet visitors and even Rocky Raider, the college mascot was on hand to meet folks.

The Dexter center is located at 515 West Market Street, off One Mile Road in Dexter. Portions of the former hat factory are still in use by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and other businesses, with Three Rivers now occupying classrooms, offices, computer labs, lab spaces, and even a bookstore. Classes in the Dexter center began on January 18, 2011.

“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.”

Classes For Summer

Registration for summer classes at Three Rivers began this week with a full slate of classes being offered locally.

Summer Classes will be offered in three sessions – June 6-28; July 5-28; and a full session from June 6 through July 28.

Among the classes to be offered this summer include general education courses such as Fundamentals of English, College Writing, American History Since 1877, Fundamentals of Math, Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, Public Speaking and more.

Other classes offered at the Dexter Center will include Art for the Elementary Teacher, History and Appreciation of Theater and Survey of Early Childhood Students also have the option of taking classes online. This summer, Three Rivers is offering over 70 online classes, which students can access from their home computer or any computer with an Internet connection.

Course offerings can be viewed online by going to trcc.edu and clicking on "Current Course Schedule." Students are encouraged to register for classes as soon as possible to ensure class availability. New Three Rivers students must register in person on campus, or at one of the college centers in Malden, Kennett, Sikeston, Portageville or Dexter. Returning students can register online at trcc.edu by using the myTRCC program.

Summer Registration continues through June 2 for in-person registration, and until June 5 for online registration. Regular registration for Fall 2011 is scheduled to begin on April 6. For questions about enrolling, registering, applying for financial aid or available programs, call the Three Rivers College Welcome Center at 573-840-9605 or toll-free at 1-877-879-8722.

Photos Above:
Top Photo: Three Rivers College President Dr. Devin Stephenson (left) and Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham chat with the college's mascot, Rocky Raider, at the Open House.
Bottom Photo: Dexter Library Executive Director Pam Trammell (left) chats with Connie Hampton during a tour of the Three Rivers campus in Dexter. Hampton is the center coordinator at the college's facility in Malden.

The population center of the nation remains in Missouri, just a little south and west of it’s previous location.

Plato, Missouri, population 109, is the new geographic center of the population of the United States. The community is located in Texas County, and is near Success, Roby and Lynchburg.

U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves congratulated the southeast Missouri town during a news conference Thursday.

"2010 is a special decade in our nation’s history," Groves said. "The center of the population has moved in a southerly direction in the most extreme way we've ever seen."

The Census Bureau calculates the center of population after each decennial census. It determines the center based on where an "imaginary, flat, weightless and rigid map of the United States would balance perfectly" if all 308,745,538 residents weighed the same amounts.

The center has been located in Missouri since the 1980 census.

After analyzing the data from the 2010 Census, the new population center is 2.7 miles northeast of Plato in Texas County, Missouri.

The announcement was made today at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, by U.S. Census Director Robert Groves.

“It’s a unique distinction for our congressional district to contain the population center of the entire country, and I think it is in many ways fitting that the center falls right in the middle of the Heartland,” U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said.

“Our congressional district is a patriotic place, we are home to strong communities, we place a high value on public service, and, to me, we represent the very heart and soul of our nation. No matter where you live in America, you would find a warm welcome if you came to Plato and sat down for coffee in the morning.”

Emerson also noted that the southward shift of the population center reflects the growth of population in southern U.S. states.

“It’s just a short drive from Edgar Springs to Plato in Missouri, but you think about the larger demographic shift in our country. It kind of boggles your mind to think about the movement of millions of people around our country and how we can simply represent that with the mean population center statistic. This is a great teaching tool for our local schools as well as for students around the nation who are learning more about the makeup of our country’s population and how the trends affect our national identity,” she said.

Ever since Chestertown, Md., was determined to be the center of population after the first census was conducted in 1790, the center of population has told the story of America, illustrating how we've grown as a nation. It follows a trail across the country — across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Missouri — that reflects our history of settling the frontier, manifest destiny, waves of immigration and regional migration.

The Census Bureau reports it will install a commemorative “geodetic control mark” at a site near the official coordinates during a dedication ceremony in April 2011. This survey disc will be used by satellites and land surveyors to conduct scientific surveys to generate precise position data that serve as the foundation for accurate mapping and charting in America.

By Annabeth Miller
ShowMe Times Editor

Chelsey Massey may have been the only one in the audience, and the business hum-drum and routine, but she was enthusiastic nonetheless.

Massey attended Monday evening’s meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen, where she observed local government first-hand.

“She is interested in government processes and I invited her to come tonight,” said Ward II Alderman Rick Hux. Massey is a freshman at Dexter High School, was attended the meeting as part of a project for 4H. “Thanks for coming, and any time you want to get involved in the city, we’ll help you out all we can. I appreciate your interest; wish more young people would take part.”

The young Massey got to see first-hand that sometimes government is not real exciting. The 30-minute aldermanic meeting centered on the routine business of the city, including the hiring of a new employee to work at the Depot downtown and the appointment of individuals to two city boards.

Mayor Joe Weber appointed and the aldermen confirmed the appointment of Melba Walker to a four-year term on the Housing Authority & Fair Housing Board, and Bill Settles to a five-year term to the Dexter Airport Board.

City Administrator Mark Stidham announced that Angie Williams was hired and started work this week at the newly remodeled Depot in Historic Downtown Dexter. She will be working part-time at the Depot, assisting visitors and managing the new facility.

In other business Monday evening, the board:

• Accepted the bid of C.A. Walker Contruction for the Fairgrounds Road Lift Station and sewer improvements project. The local firm was the “lowest and best bid” for the project. Its bid was $137,975 for the project.

• Learned from Police Chief Sammy Stone that bids for the constriction of the new addition to the police station will be opened at 3 p.m., Thursday, March 24 at the City Administration Building.

• The board was informed that the citywide Spring Cleanup is scheduled throughout the month of April. In addition, cleanup at the City Cemetery is scheduled April 11-15.

Photo Above:
Chelsey Massey was welcomed to Monday evening's meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen by Mayor Joe Weber (right) and Ward II Alderman Rick Hux.]br]

By Annabeth Miller
ShowMe Times Editor

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., March 20, 2011 – Dedication, talented, inspiring, professional, passionate, deserving.

Those were the six words used this week to describe a Dexter teacher honored for her service to education.

MaryRuth Boone was honored by her colleagues with the Southeast Region Meritorious Service to Education Award at a banquet Thursday evening on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Boone teaches vocal music at Dexter High School and T.S. Hill Middle School.

Nominated for the prestigious award by the Dexter Community Teachers Association, she was seated at the banquet at a table full of her family and colleagues. The group from the Dexter CTA was the largest single delegation of CTA members from any school district in the region.

“As I was planning what to say tonight, I was hard-pressed to find the words to convey to you just what MaryRuth Boone means to the Dexter School District,” fellow teacher Melinda Sweeney said in her introduction of Boone. Sweeney teaches with Boone at T.S. Hill Middle School. “So I looked through the letters written by her colleagues recommending her for this award, and I found the words that are in the minds and the hearts of her colleagues, her friends, and of course, of the students who have been fortunate enough to have had her as a teacher.”

Those six words that Sweeney used described an educator who has worked with more than 10,000 students, hundreds of concerts and countless hours rehearsing with soloists and ensembles.

The words Sweeney said described Boone were dedication, talented, inspiring, professional, passionate, deserving.

“MaryRuth Boone is dedicated to her students and to her art,” she said. “MaryRuth is a talented musician and she shares that talent with her students, the community, and with her church, where she has served as the Choir Director for 30 years. But she's also a talented teacher who knows how to get the best from her students to help them reach their potential.”

Sweeney said Boone inspires her students to be the best that they can be.

“Good is not good enough; we can be better,” Sweeney said. “She inspires her colleagues who watch her tireless efforts, the time she spends with the students.”

Sweeney said Boone demonstrates a high level of professional commitment in her interactions with students, parents, colleagues and the community.

“MaryRuth combines her passion for music with her passion for teaching with her passion for kids and this has made her the beloved teacher that she is today. There is no question that MaryRuth Boone is deserving of our admiration, our respect and of our thanks.”

During her time at the podium, Boone recalled a number of incidents throughout her teaching career. Her stories of foibles with busses and students, of classroom activities and travels with students were all humorous stories that were appreciated by the ballroom full of educators. But the stories ware also all laced with her deep love of her profession and dedication to the students.

Boone praised and thanked her husband, Bill, for his support throughout her 30 years that have included long nights working with students, concerts, trips and activities. She thanked him for his support and patience.

She noted that through the years her students have performed throughout the state of Missouri, including the 2005 Missouri Governor’s Inaugural, as well as in Chicago, at Walt Disney World, New Orleans, and overseas.

“This year we are going to New York City, so I guess I am going out on a high note,” she said.

Attending the banquet with Boone were her husband, Bill, and son Andrew, as well as her brother, Buddy White of Poplar Bluff, and sister-in-law Helen Claire Boone Schott of Cape Girardeau.

In addition, a number of Dexter educators were there to support and honor Boone: Bryce and Sherry Matthews, Scott and Julie Rybolt, Jeannie Cato and Sweeney.

“I always knew I had a passion for music and a calling to teach,” she said. And it has been this overwhelming passion for teaching that has carried her through the years and touched the lives of hundreds of students and the community.

Boone is retiring at the end of the academic year after teaching in the Dexter schools for 30 years.

Photo Above: A number of her colleagues in the Dexter schools attended the banquet honoring MaryRuth Boone at Southeast Missouri State University. Attending were (from left) Scott Rybolt, Melinda Sweeney, Jeannie Cato, Boone, Bryce Matthews and Sherry Matthews. (ShowMe Times Photo by Annabeth Miller)

Photo Below: Family members attending the banquet were (front row, from left) Bill Boone, Boone, Helen Claire Boone Schott of Cape Girardeau, and Buddy White of Poplar Bluff; (back row) son Andrew Boone.