By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

The summer season unofficially kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of activities to keep families busy between the picnics and outings.
While Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have died while fighting the nation's wars, the holiday weekend has developed into a time for family gatherings, special events, and starting the "summer style" of living.

100-mile Yard Sale

It’s a bargain-hunter’s drea – 100 miles of yard sale bargans!

Begun 13 years ago, the event stretches from Jackson down Highway 25 all the way to Kennett. And along the way are yard sales featuring mustache cups, dogged-earred books, and treasures waiting to be discovered.

The 100-Mile Yard Sale stretches through the weekend.

Splash! Aquatic Center Opens!

The water is clear and ready for swimmers, and at 1 p.m. Saturday the gates of the Dexter Aquatic Center will open for swimmers of all ages.

The Aquatic Center is in the East City Park, and access to the parking lot is available both through East City Park or on Fairgrounds Road.

Admission to the Aquatic Center is $6 per person. The pool will be open from 1 – 5 p.m., seven days a week, beginning with Saturday’s season opener. An individual pass for the entire summer is $85; a family pass is $225.

Flood Relief Benefit

This is a benefit for the flood victims in Southeast Missouri at the Dexter Eagles on Saturday. There will be a Karaoke Contest from 12 noon till 2 pm, local entertainment, bake sale, jewelry, donations to raffle. Some of the entertainment includes recently DHS graduate Lauren Elizabeth Powers, Sean Bowmar, Chris Welch Band, and Keith Morrison Band will close the evening out.

DHS Choir Alumni Reunion and Concert

More than 100 alumni of the Dexter High School Choirs will gather this weekend and present a special concert in honor of retiring DHS Choral Music Educator MaryRuth Boone. The concert will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, May 29 at the First Baptist Church in Dexter. The choir will also present the special music during the 10:30 a.m. worship service at the First United Methodist Church in Dexter, where Boone is the director of music. The 4 o’clock concert is free and the public is invited to attend. A reception honoring Boone and her family will follow the concert.

Memorial Day Observance Program

The Missouri Veterans Cemetery south of Bloomfield will hold its annual Memorial Day Program at 1 p.m., May 30, at the Committal Shelter Plaza. This is always s stirring tribute to the men and women who have served our country and defended liberty and freedom in our world.

At 12 noon the flags at the cemetery will be raised at full staff, and the program will begin with the posting of the colors by the Farmington Correction Center Honor Guard Team.

Featured in the service will be the oving POW/MIA Table Ceremony.

Guest speaker will be LSCS Jeffrey Colyer, Us. Navy. Colyer enlisted in the Navy in 1989, serving with the Navy SEABEES and was deployed in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

He was awarded the designation of Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist in 1993, and served in various Navy units until his transfer to Southwest Asia Security Det. Bravo in 2000.

He served as the small arms instructor for the Security Detachment, gaining numerous weapons instructor certifications. After the attacks of September 11, members of his unit were mobilized in support of Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom. Senior Chief remained on station in the US and qualified other reserve units prior to their deployment. He gained his Scoped Precision Rifle Instructor certification, prior to his own deployment to the Middle East in 2002.

Senior Chief Colyer served in support of Operation Noble Eagle with NSA Bahrain, and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, with Combined Task Force 53, and the U.S. Navy Central Command, prior to his demobilization in late 2004. He now serves as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander, NR Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, TN.

He is currently the Commander of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, and is set to retire from the Navy after 23 years of service in 2012. He is married to his lovely wife Laila, and has three children Stacey, Jeremy, and Jessica.

The Memorial Day program will end with the sounding of Taps and the retiring of the colors.

For more than 15 years, Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Co. has grown into the state’s largest workers compensation carrier. During that same time, the company has been under the leadership of two strong, reputable leaders in Dennis Smith until 2009 and most recently by Roger Wilson.

Established in 1993 by the Missouri State Legislature, MEMIC was created in a time when workers compensation premiums were soaring and availability was limited. MEMIC was given a strict charge to provide work comp insurance for Missouri small business and provide training and assistance in creating safe worksites throughout the state.

MEM began business in 1995 with a $5 million loan from the state. At the end of 2009, it had $154.4 million in assets. As a mutual company, ownership of MEMIC belongs to the policyholders of the company. .

Unfortunately, all the greatness and financial stability they have created in the insurance industry, Missouri Employers Mutual has entered into the media spotlight receiving unwanted publicity last week when former Gov. Roger Wilson and current president of MEM was put on administrative leave.

In June of 2009, Wilson was hired as the acting president to replace Dennis Smith, who led MEM from its infancy to the number one workers’ comp writer in the state. A worthy replacement, Wilson had established a stellar career in a political life with over 20 years in state government. Wilson served Missourians with 14 years in the State Senate, 8 years as lieutenant governor and filled the unexpired term as governor following the death of Gov. Mel Carnahan. Wilson became president at MEMIC permanently in January 2010.

Without an insurance background, Wilson’s leadership continued the stellar growth in 2010 as total premiums written fell from $109.7 million from $110.1 million while market share grew to 16.13 percent from 14.8 percent. With more market share than it’s seven closest competitors combined, MEMIC enjoys a position of dominance in the marketplace.

That begs the question how the incredible performance of a strong Missouri-based corporation and the impeccable reputation of a good man and public servant can automatically be brought into the light of controversy so quickly.

The scandal began in March of this year as a MEMIC board member, Karen Pletz of Kansas City, was indicted with 24-counts of federal charges of embezzlement and tax fraud. The second dose of scandal began in April as Doug Morgan of St. Louis was indicted on a federal count of bank fraud.

The improprieties of the board members remained under the radar of the general public until Wilson was put on administrative leave. At that point, a frenzy of accusation, doubt and concern began to unravel on both MEMIC and Wilson.

The tight corporate mum that has been given to the action by MEM has placed upon Wilson further fuels this frenzy. Chairman Jim Owen, a St. Louis attorney who replaced Morgan, has not offered a corporate position or reason for the board’s action.

The facts remain that the reputations of both Missouri Employers Mutual and Roger Wilson deserve a degree of honor until which point the mystery has been disclosed.

The strength of MEM is found in its past performance, strong financial position and the people that represent the company.

MEM was a leveling force in the workers’ comp marketplace, bringing lower costs to Missouri Small business, said Larry Case, executive vice president of the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents. Historically, they have not only met but also exceeded all expectations of customers, agents and general public.

“It wasn’t an accident that MEM has grown into the largest writer of workers compensation insurance in Missouri,” Case said. “Its past leadership has been proven by their successes.”

The strength of Wilson remains in his own performance. Under Wilson’s leadership at MEM, Missouri small business has seen a significant drop in insurance premiums in 2010. He has also expanded the scope of MEM subsidiary, Missouri Employers General Agency for Missouri businesses that perform work outside the state.

Moreover, Wilson deserves the respect for his integrities and service to Missouri. A good indicator of the future is past performance. Just like MEM, Wilson’s track record is strong.

Putting Wilson on leave is difficult to understand when, “they refuse to indicate what is going on,” said Case.

“These actions are confusing,” Case said, adding that Wilson “has always been a solid professional and straightforward in his actions. I can’t imagine what would have prompted this action at this time.”

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

Bargain hunters on full alert: The annual 100-Mile Yard Sale is ready to begin!!

The Memorial Weekend tradition stretches from Jackson in the north, and follows Highway 25 through Delta, Advance, Bloomfield, and Dexter and continues south through Bernie, Malden, and Holcomb and finally ends in Kennett.

Along the way shoppers will find card tables set up in yards, tents full of “stuff” along the side of roads, and groups of folks selling everything from family treasures to treasured junk.

Chambers of Commerce directors along the sale route say those driving the 100-mile route will often find vendors at church parking lots, grouped together and that many often have their yard sales off the highway in communities along the way.

In Dexter the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring space for yard sale vendors at the Stoddard County Fairgrounds, just east of Highway 25. Restrooms, concessions, inside and outside booth space, with plenty of parking are all available through the Chamber.

According to the Dexter Chamber, vendors can rent a space at the Fairgrounds for just $20 a day; all three days of the sale is just $50. Persons interested should contact the Dexter Chamber at 573.624.7458.

Use Caution Along 25

The 100-Mile Yard Sale can be a fun time for those hunt for treasures and collectables, but drivers should all remember that the greatest savings of the event could be a life.

"It's a fun weekend that people look forward to each year," says Traffic Engineer Craig Compas, "but we want people to remember that there's more traffic and more congestion along Route 25 this weekend than any other and drivers need to keep that in mind."

MoDOT will do its part to bring the safety message to the forefront. Message boards will be in place along the route to alert drivers of the unusual traffic patterns and promote safe driving.

"We really want drivers to be alert-to be aware of their surroundings, to be aware of sudden stops and to look for pedestrian traffic," Compas says. "It's a big event locally, and we want everyone to enjoy themselves and be as safe as possible."

For more information, contact Compas at (573) 472-5310 or call MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

The sale begins in earnest on Friday, with folks checking out the bargains throughout the holiday weekend. It’s highly recommended that buyers bring cash, since many “yard sale merchants” will not accept personal checks or credit and debit cards.

Photo Above: A MoDOT urging roadway safety along Highway 25 south of Dexter is visible for all the 100-Mile Yard Sale and others on the busy highway.

Storm predictions caused many businesses to close early and area churches to cancel activities. Events in the Southwest side of Missouri only heightened the awareness of being prepared for whatever the afternoon would bring the Heartland. Many residents throughout Dexter and the surrounding area made special arrangements to be near basements and safe areas in their homes.

As the clouds rolled through the area, the line of storms brought about more storm warnings than normally experienced. Local news broadcasts began at 5:00 PM and continued to after 7:30 PM strictly reporting of different storm cells from St. Louis down through Northeast Arkansas.

As the radar screen began to clear and the storm warnings were lifted, locals began to venture out into their yards and to inspect of any damage created by the storm. Throughout the community, broken branches as well as large trees were dropped in yards. Various building damage could be seen in certain area in the Northern section of town.

The Mule Barn was one of the most heavily damaged properties found in the area. Strong winds completely destroyed the entire warehouse building, scattering tin and wood throughout the field behind the business. Many areas of the damaged building displayed the incredible strength of the storm as wood planks were driven through the metal siding.

As a popular locally owned agricultural business, the Mule Barn owners and friends were immediately busy taking necessary steps to clean up the storm damage.

The Mule Barn is located 3 miles North of Hwy 60 on State Hwy F near Aid, Missouri.

Updated at 3:53 p.m.

Due to severe weather forcasted for our region for Wednesday evening at soe area churches have reported cancellations to the ShowMe Times.

The ShowMe Times has been informed of the following cancellations:

• All functions at the First Baptist Church in Dexter
• The Chancel Choir at the First United Methodist Church in Dexter is cancelled. Choir Director MaryRuth Boone said "stay home and stay safe."
• The 6:30 Hope Epidemic Chapel service at the Sikeston First United Methodist Church
• All activities at the Risen Church (2nd General Church) in Dexter have been cancelled Wednesday evening.
• The Ecumenical Prayer Service at 6 p.m. this evening at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter has been postponed.
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  A major severe weather outbreak is expected across the region today and this evening. Storms are expected to quickly develop into supercells over southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois early this afternoon. These storms will move northeast across the area at 35 to 45 MPH. Individuals in the area should be on the alert all day Wednesday for severe weather and take necessary shelter if necessary.
  
  Churches and organizations cancelling activities may send information to the ShowMe Times and information be updated.Please send information to amiller@showmetimes.com