By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

Everyone has a father, but few of us ever show Dad all of the appreciation he truly deserves. So, what do we really think makes our Dad special?

Tyler Stevenson just completed a special week with his dad. Talk about father-son bonding. These two had that opportunity at Boy Scout camp near St. Joseph.

Keith Stevenson grew up attending Camp Geiger in the Pony Express Council of Boy Scouts of America. And at Camp Geiger as a young man, he became a member of Mic-O-Say, the honor camping society of the Pony Express Council. Mic-O-Say’s ceremonies, customs and traditions are loosely based on the folklore of the American Indian.

By blending the spirit and pride of the American Indian with the ideals and objectives of the Boy Scouts of America, the Tribe of Mic-O-Say endeavors to prolong the Scouting adventure with an historical theme that has held the attention and captured the imagination of boys and men alike for many generations. Its purpose is to reinforce the principles of the Scout Oath and Law, and to foster continued participation in Scouting.

When Tyler was a young Cub Scout and then Boy Scout, the family lived in St. Joseph, and Camp Geiger is where he first attended camp. This last week, father and son returned to camp, where a second generation in the family was chosen to join Mic-O-Say.

“My dad means more than almost anything in life. He has always helped me when I needed it, and has always tried to do things that would later help me in life,” Tyler said. Tyler will be an eighth grade student at T.S. Hill Middle School this fall. Keith teaches advanced science (physics, advanced biology and zoology) at Poplar Bluff High School.

In a neat tradition with the Mic-O-Say, Tyler was “tapped out” this week, becoming a member of the tribe. And Dad Keith became an Honorary Warrior; the two now share a bond not only with the tribe, but also in their tribal names.

Keith is known as “Ghost Dancer”. Tyler as a new brave is known as “Little Ghost Dancer.”

A father-son bond.

“In Boy Scouts, he has led me and showed me how to become a better man and a better Scout. Even though at points he may be strange, he is still my father and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.”

Lauren Powers shares a powerful bond with her father, too. A bond of music and faith.

This spring father and daughter performed a special duet during the DHS Choirs Pop Concert. “Butterfly Kisses” is a special song between them – and they have sung it at the 8th grade Talent Show when Lauren left middle school, and now again as she prepared to graduate from high school. It was a touching moment for father and daughter, and for the audience at Pop Concert.

When Lauren thought of words to describe her dad, she had a list with eight words: strong, kind, hardworking, loving, passionate, comforter, giving and a true Godly man.

She said when she was a young girl and needed a problem solved or question answered, the first one she would run to would be her father. Lauren just graduated from Dexter High School where her dad Chuck is assistant principal.

“Even if he was busy, like trying to fix something broken or getting basketball plays together or lesson plans ready for the next day, he always had enough time to spare, just to listen. With this I always knew he was there for me,” Lauren said. And Lauren said her dad is her teacher, preacher and storyteller.

“He always knew the perfect words or story to help me push through my struggle with a strong heart. Each story told, came from his heart, which led me to know that he had experienced it before. But I noticed every time recurring in his stories was God, and how he helped him through his struggles more than anyone else, she said. “Seeing God through him made me want to experience and have God help me also. With knowing all that he had said to me, I re-gave my life to God and began a new journey this past year. Since this, my eyes have been more open to things and I have been able to break down thick and tall walls that have been inside me for years. I feel so lucky to say that God has blessed me with a wonderful mentor in my life, and that I also get to call this man, my father.”

Lauren says she feels lucky that God has blessed her with her father – her mentor.

“I have come to conclusion, in knowing what two words that describes my father just right. I am very proud to say ‘Charles Edward Powers, you are my Heroic Angel. I love you so much’,” she said.

Now, Ethan Kincy doesn’t have as many life experiences as Lauren or Tyler – he’s going into the fifth grade this fall. But his faith in and love for his father are just as rock solid this Father’s Day.

Ethan says his dad is pretty special.

“He’s taught me a lot of things, and without him I couldn’t have done it,” he said. “He’s taught me how to hunt and to fish.”

Ethan says his dad Darren is a pretty good guy and they have a good time together. He and dad like to go deer hunting in the fall.

“We like to fish, hunt and be outside and watch baseball,” Ethan said. He and his dad especially like to watch Cardinal baseball.

While dad is busy with work with the Missouri Department of Transportation, he said he feels like he’s a lucky kid.

“My dad takes me to church, and that’s important,” Ethan said. “He takes me on trips a lot – like to Florida and Branson. My Dad’s a really good baseball player.”

Darren is coach on Ethan’s summer league team, and Ethan says his father is taking the time this summer to help him improve his baseball skills. It's obvious that Ethan respects his dad's skills with the sport.

Ethan says he’s a lucky kid because he has a special dad. And maybe this Father's Day he and his dad will go fishing, or go to the fort Ethan’s made in the woods by their house, or just watch a Cardinal ball game.

So, for kids like Tyler, Lauren and Ethan, today is Father's Day - a time to say thanks to their dads for all that they do and all that they are. And to maybe take stock in all that dads do from day-to-day.

A driving force behind the establishment of Father’s Day was Sonora Smart Dodd, born in Creston, Washington. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis’ efforts to establish Mother’s Day. Although she initially suggested June 5, the anniversary of her father’s death, the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, USA. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made Father’s Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The holiday was not officially recognized until 1972 during Richard Nixon’s presidency.



Photos Above: Top Photo - Tyler Stevenson and his dad Keith shared a special week at Boy Scout camp. Middle Photo: Lauren Powers and her dad Chuck performed "Butterfly Kisses" - a song about a daddy and his daughter - at Pop Concert in May. Bottom Photo: One of the things that Ethan Kincy enjoys sharing with his dad Darren is baseball - especially Cardinal baseball!

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The young men at Missouri Boys State had a special honor this week as they experienced first-hand the fundamentals and operation of government.

Not only did Missouri’s governor visit Boys State on Thursday, he signed legislation into law that will provide more funding for college scholarships that some of the Boys State participants and their peers may utilize.

Gov. Jay Nixon used the Boys State setting on Thursday to sign legislation that provides more college scholarships for Missouri students who want to pursue degrees in the sciences and math.

Several young men from Stoddard County have been participating in Missouri Boys State this week. Dexter is represented by Owen Flowers, Dylan Heflin, Tyler Miller, and Zane Olson. Others from the county include Dustin James, Advance; Johnathan Gadberry, Bloomfield; and Justin Yoebstle of Puxico.

In addition, four of the Stoddard County men were elected to office while at Boys State. Owen Flowers of Dexter was elected Presiding Commission of Benton County; Dylan Heflin was elected to the City Council in Weyer City; Tyler Miller was elected as a State Representative from Blair City and Johnathan Gadberry was elected to the House of Representatives from Carnahan City.

American Legion Boys States have shaped some of the most prominent leaders in our country. Bill Clinton, Michael Jordan, Neil Armstrong, and former Missouri Governor Bob Holden are just a few of the leaders who have come from the Boys State program. Boys State programs have time and time again led young men to do great things - such is the nature of the program.

Nixon signed into law House Bill 233, that puts additional resources for scholarships in math and science and adds needed resources into the state’s nursing programs to help meet the growing demand for heath care workers.

House Bill 223, the Advanced Placement Incentive Grant Program for STEM and Caring for Missourians Nursing Education Incentive, passed both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The legislation establishes a one-time, nonrenewable $500 grant to Missouri public high schools who score a 3 or higher on AP tests in math or science, and who receive an Access Missouri award or A+ scholarship.

"I've brought that legislation here today to demonstrate that when we stand together on common ground, we can provide for the common good," Gov. Nixon told the students attending Boys State. "Take the lessons you learn this week about governing, and put them to work in your own lives and careers."

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

Christopher Snider is an enthusiastic guy. It only takes a moment of conversation to know that this fellow is passionate about what he does and he is passionate about life.

Snider is passionate these days about Go Green Contracting, a regional construction company that he heads and is doing a lot of work in Dexter and the surrounding area. Snider’s Go Green Contracting is busy these days – working in overdrive busy – and crews are helping area residents replace roofs due to damage from recent hail storms and high winds.

Snider’s company is different if several ways – the first being the fact that they are an environmentally conscious company. Snider says they try to help a client make at least one “green’ decision with each project.

“We try to help a homeowner make ‘One green decision at a time,’” Snider said. “On every project we are going to make one eco-conscious decision on the homeowner’s behalf.”

This could range from recycling the old asphalt shingles to installing a more efficient ventilation system which will in turn mean less energy used in the home. “So a homeowner is actually making at least one small eco-friendly decision at a time,” Snider explained.

But beyond this environmental commitment, there are other differences with the firm. For one thing, Go Green uses the same software as the insurance companies and a Go Green staff member will be on hand when an insurance adjuster visits and inspects a client’s home.

“Once you’ve picked up the phone and called your insurance company and have a claims number, that’s about the hardest thing you do,” he said recently. He explained that a Go Green staff member will be on hand when the insurance adjustor inspects the home and they will agree on the scope of loss.”

In addition, Go Green uses the same computer software as the insurance companies, which simplifies the process even further. This expedites the paperwork between the construction company and the insurance adjustor, and insures that the process is as easy as possible for the client and, most beneficially, helps ensure that all of the damage is paid for and repaired correctly.

Snider is the son of Mark and Sherry Snider of Dexter and attended elementary school in the local schools. He is now married with a 2-year-old son and lives in Cape Girardeau.

Snider’s firm is also looking to locate a shingles recycling center in Southeast Missouri.

“The recycling machine crunches up these shingles and spits out this aggregate and this aggregate goes back into our roads,” he said. The Missouri Department of Transportation says that up to seven percent of asphalt on roadways can be recycled material.

“What that practically means is approximately 2.5 tons of waste from an average roof will not end up in a landfill,” he said. “The goal is to be able to potentially save 10-20 thousand tons of shingles from going into the landfill”

In even just a brief conversation it is obvious that Snider is passionate about Go Green – about the eco-friendly business model, about the way that modern technology is good for homeowners and business, and the way his Go Green works for and looks out for clients best interests. Snider not only applies his environmental values to business, but his personal Christian values – with an above board, companionate and passionate way of doing business.

“We take all of this seriously,” he said. “If we are out in a neighborhood after a storm, my team will be riding bikes; it’s a little way that we can make a difference, we strive to be 100% paperless in our office, and we’re currently working with several clients to begin building houses that are self-sustaining.”

For example, there is a historic building downtown Cape Girardeau that Go Green is working with to install eco-friendly roofing material that can potentially save 80% of the current energy costs. That works out to a potential savings over over $2000 per month.

During a storm scenario, Snider and his team are quite busy helping homeowners restore their homes’ exterior and, unfortunately, have seen some unscrupulous contractors that can take advantage of homeowners by charging for items that are unnecessary or charging large fees for ‘upgraded’ material.

“It’s sad to see some contractors taking advantage of our areas’ homeowners; especially the elderly who simply want their house back to it’s pre-storm condition” Snider states.

All in all, this storm season has yielded considerable work for area contractors and helped to spur a sector of our economy that has been slow over the past few years.

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

In a surprise move today, one of the leading republican candidates for state senate in the Bootheel has withdrawn from the race.

State. Rep. Gayle Kingery of Poplar Bluff announced today his would not be a candidate for state senate in the 25th senatorial district in the Bootheel. Kingery had announced earlier this year his intention to seek the state senate post being vacated by State Senator Rob Mayer, R-Dexter. Mayer cannot seek another term in office due to state term limits.

“My family asked me to retire,” Kingery said in exclusive telephone call to the ShowMe Times. “My sons all talked to me individually and they made a good case. So I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the state senate race. I am talking our name out of consideration.”

Kingery said his four sons – three of whom live in Colorado and the fourth in Texas – all encouraged their dad to retire and to have more time to travel, camp and enjoy being with family. He said one son was home recently from serving in the military in Iraq, and the family was all together in Colorado.

“I talked it over with my wife, and I decided to do what the kids would like for me to do,” the jovial Kingery said. “Family comes first.”

Kingery said he has enjoyed his time as a state legislator, and will miss the work in Jefferson City.

“It was a tough decision on my part,” he said. “We have really enjoyed our time as state representative. We were able to accomplish much of what we needed to do. We certainly haven’t fixed everything, but we have made a good start.”

Kingery added that he would not become involved in the Republican primary contest, but that he would “support whoever the Republican candidate is after the primary in August.”

Kingery said that while he had been looking forward to the campaign, he now has other thoughts. He said he is now looking forward to escaping the rigors of a campaign and the Bootheel heat and humidity.

“Now that I have made the decision they (the sons) have all called and are happy that I have made the decision to pull out,” he commented. He said he and his wife are also looking forward to two of their favorite activities – traveling and camping.

“We will never leave Poplar Bluff and Missouri, but we will travel a lot more,” he said.

Photo Above: State Rep. Gayle Kingery of Poplar Bluff (left) with Stoddard County GOP chairman Wayne Jean at this year's Republican Lincoln Days in Dexter.

Some younger folks may not remember, but the late Red Skelton was a comedian in the 1950s and 60s - with a popular weekly television.

On Jan. 14, 1969, Skelton offered his television audience his reminiscence of an incident from his schoolboy days in Indiana. Mr. Lasswell, Skelton's teacher, felt his students had come to regard the Pledge of Allegiance as a daily drudgery to be recited by rote; they had lost any sense of the meaning of the words they were speaking.

Skelton's story is a classic, and on this Flag Day, still stands as a reminder of why our nation's flag - and the Pledge of Allegience - is so important.

"When I was a small boy in Vincennes, Indiana, I heard, I think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Socrates’ Speech to the Students.

We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he [Mr. Lasswell, the Principal of Vincennes High School] called us all together, and he says, “Uh, boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and give you a definition for each word:

I -- Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge -- Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.

Allegiance -- My love and my devotion.

To the Flag -- Our standard. “Old Glory”; a symbol of courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody's job.”

of the United -- That means we have all come together.

States -- Individual communities that have united into 48 great states; 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country, of America.

And to the Republic -- A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands

One Nation -- Meaning "so blessed by God."

Indivisible -- Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty -- Which is freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.

And Justice -- The principle and qualities of dealing fairly with others.

For All -- For All. That means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Now let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That is a prayer" -- and that be eliminated from our schools, too?



Happy Flag Day

Photo Above: American Flag flying high Tuesday morning over the Dexter Depot