By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

The beginning of a new school year means a lot of things “new” - new teachers, new clothes, new bookbag, new classroom – and this year in Dexter it also means a new method of registering for the school year.

The Dexter Public Schools announced this week it will begin a new registration process this August – one that is designed to be streamlined and meet the needs of parents and students in the district.

Instead of different registration times in the four facilities in the Dexter system, this August there will be two days of registration for all student all in one location.

According to Dexter Assistant Supt. Dr. Kimberly Flowers, back-to-school registration for all students in the district will now be held at the Bearcat Event Center on Monday, Aug. 8th and Tuesday, Aug. 9th, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. both days. “There will be no specified day for a building registration as we have historically done over a 3-day period. Parents may register their child (or children) all at one time and location on either day,” she said. Flowers said the Dexter district is making the change to make the registration process with families in mind. “We are making this change to make it more convenient for our families,” Flowers said. Flowers said a recent upgrade to the district’s SIS (Student Information System) technology program is making this move possible.

“We are going to have everything accessible for all students,” she said. Each building (Southwest, Central, Middle School, and DHS) will have their specific areas in the BEC. Students will enter their school’s area, have their school photo taken by Interstate Photo, and then proceed with the registration process.

Flowers said school personnel will be on hand to help families with questions on transportation, and athletic passes, t-shirts and new student registration will be on hand for all.

Interstate Studio of SEMO will be in charge of school photos, and Flowers the company will have a total of eight photographers on hand both days of registration. In addition, order forms are available for each building and photo packages may be ordered ahead of registration.

Flowers say pre-ordering photo packages and paying with credit card will help streamline the registration process.

“In an effort to save time, parents can use the Pre-Order Code near the bottom of each flyer to pre-order online prior to registration and can use a credit card with this pre-order option,” Flower said.

Additional information on the new regstration process will be released closer to the week of registration, but Flowers said district officials hope the change will make the process more convenient for families.

“We hope this speeds up the process and make it all more convenient,” Flowers said.

WHAT: K-12 registration, Dexter Schools
WHEN: August 8 & 9
TIME: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
PLACE: Bearcat Event Center

Charles Shipman of Dexter (left) was honored by State Rep. Billy Pat Wright on Thursday night for 60 continuous years of service to the America Legion. Wright presented Shipman with a special Certificate of Recognition from the Missouri House of Representatives. The presentation was made at the regular meeting of the Kenady-Hanks Post 59 of the American Legion in Dexter. (ShowMe Times photo)

A physical therapist at Dexter’s Missouri Southern Healthcare has completed certification in a treatment program, being the first to offer this state-of-the-art treatment.

Missouri Southern Healthcare is pleased to announce that Physical Therapist Kelly Hutcheson, has recently completed ASTYM® certification.

ASTYM treatment is an evidence-based rehab program specifically designed to treat degenerative tendon problems and scar tissue that can interfere with recovery after surgery or injury. It uses deep tissue massage to stimulate the body to regenerate and heal, decrease pain, enhances mobility, and keep patients active.

ASTYM therapy has proven effective in the treatment of tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis or heel spurs, chronic ankle sprains, shin splints, and post-op joint replacements, to name a few.

“ASTYM treatment is most effective for chronic tendon problems because it helps tissue re-grow in proper formation. It is usually effective in eight to nine treatments. We are excited to be the first in Dexter to provide this service,” Hutcheson said. “Our patients will no longer have to drive out of town to receive this therapy.”

Physician referral is required. For more information, contact the Missouri Southern Healthcare Physical Therapy Department at 573-614-1919 or visit www.astym.com.

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

It was short, to the point, and a brief meeting.

The Dexter Board of Aldermen had a time-efficient meeting Tuesday night, with very little new business brought before the board.

Keller Library Director Pam Trammell brought the most exciting news to the low-key meeting, announcing an exciting development at the local library. Trammell announced that Dexter’s public library would soon launch a new e-reader program for library patrons.

“The library has joined the Missouri State Library Consortium and will begin offering downloadable e-books and audio books,” Trammell reported. She said the library staff has been busy preparing the technology and training for the new- state-of-the art e-books program.

Trammell said the library’s program would be compatible with most of the popular e-reader devices, including the Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Reader and Apple iPad. The lending period will be for two weeks.

“Amazon, however, has been slower in coming into the program with its Kindle,” but she said Amazon has loosened up some of its requirements.

“The staff will train in August so that we will be able to help patrons with their e-readers,” she said. Trammell explained patrons would go to the library’s website, click on a link, and from there individuals would link to the consortium’s website and proceed with selecting and downloading an e-book.

“You're moving up in the tech world,” Mayor Joe Weber commented.

Trammell also reported the library was at a mid-point in the Summer Reading Program, with three programs completed and three more to follow. Trammell reported the weekly average attendance at the Wednesday morning programs has been 152, an increase of 24 percent from previous years.

In other business Tuesday night, the board approved a Package Liquor License to Overturf Pharmacy #8424 (Super D) and a Plumber’s License to Lynn Marrow of Dyersburg, Tenn., for work to be done on the new Super D. Both license approvals received unanimous approval.

A young Dexter man is in serious condition in a St. Louis hospital following a weekend accident.

Michael C. (Mikey) Kohlbaker was seriously injured in an accident Friday, July 1 on westbound on Route Z, two miles east of Wappapello in Wayne County.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports the accident occurred at 8 p.m. Friday as a 1995 Geo driven by Terry Mason of Wappapello was towing Kohlbaker. Kohlbaker was on a 1989 Honda ATV, which overturned and ejected Kohlbaker. Both vehicles then ran off the right side of the roadway.

Kohlbaker was taken Friday evening by Air Evac to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries.