SIKESTON - The Illinois Department of Transportation is alerting motorists traveling Interstate 57 of an upcoming interstate closure.

Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16, the I-57 bridge over the Mississippi River spanning from Missouri to Illinois will be closed to north and southbound traffic. The closure is anticipated to be in place three days, as IDOT's contractor makes repairs to the bridge.

Marked detour routes will be in place for north and southbound traffic. Detour routes include:

Northbound: I-55 in Missouri, Missouri 74 (through Cape Girardeau), IL 146, IL 3, I-57.
Southbound: IL 3 (Exit 1), IL 146, Missouri 74 (through Cape Girardeau), Interstate 55

Due to the high volume of traffic, the marked detour is expected to be congested with probable delays. Motorists are encouraged to seek an alternate route. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in the area and should observe all message boards and detour route signage.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is an additional detour option. For more information about the ferry, please visit:http://www.dorena-hickmanferryboat.com/

For additional information about the upcoming closure, please contact IDOT Construction Engineer Keith Roberts at (618) 351-5253 or MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 573-472-5333.

Motorists in Dexter can expect a few delays on Thursday on a busy city thoroughfare.

Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham announced that city street crews will be working on One Mile Road from Business Highway 60 and Grant Road. throughout the day on Thursday.

"Expect a few delays today as we attempt to stripe and install turn lanes on One Mile Road," Stidham said. "This will delay traffic for a little."

Stidham said the crews will be striping and installing turn lanes on One Mile Road.

"We should have everything on One Mile Road completed today before the start of school next week," he added.

Much of One Mile Road was repaved earlier this month during the first part of the road improvement project.

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

The word to describe the project was “persistence”.

And after nearly 10 years of hard persistence, the ribbon cutting marking the completion of the paving of the roadway from Highway 60 to the Union Pacific Railroad depot northwest east of Dexter was held west of town.

Three county roads – County Roads 531, 570 and 527 – were the central focus of the project for a paved roadway leading from U.S. 60 to the railroad facility. It took at least 10 years, federal elected officials three state senators, local agencies and a lot of persistence to see the project completed.

“It’s been a lengthy process and we appreciate all you guys have done,” said David Grimes, Division 42 Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

Grimes spoke to a group of government leaders and industrial development representatives on the parking lot of the River of Life Church prior to the ribbon cutting celebration.

“The first time I drove this road I thought ‘you got to be kidding me’,” Grimes.

It was at this time Grimes and other union personnel began working through former state senator Jerry Howard and then former state senator Bill Foster on the proposed project.

Then State Senator Rob Mayer enters the picture, along with U.S. Rep Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Senator Kit Bond, and funding is secured to finance the road project.

Through Bond and Emerson, more than $340,000 was earmarked in federal stimulus funding for the project. Union Pacific committed up to $90,000 in funds to be used as the 20 percent local match for the project. The Union Pacific funds and remaining funds from the federal money have been set aside to be used for maintenance of the roads.

Grimes also thanked Steve and Connie Dukes with the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Agency, Executive Director Julian Steiner,Stoddard County Industrial Development Corporation, and the Stoddard County Commissioners – Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis and Commissioners Carol Jarrell and Frank Sifford.

Photo Above: The ribbon cutting celebration was held this week to the completion of the project t pave county roads from Highway 60 to the Union Pacific offices northeast of Dexter. The completed project cost $304,924.50. The project improved County Roads 531, 570 and 527 – creating a pave route from Highway 60 to the Union Pacific facility. On hand for the celebration were Stoddard County Industrial Development Authority Secretary Janet Coleman, County Commissioner Frank Sifford, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Legislative Board Chairman Brian Kelley, BLET Division 42 Chairman David Grimes, State Sen. Rob Mayer of Dexter, Union Pacific Director of Public Affairs Benjamin Jones, BLET Division 42 President Brian Wheeler, State Rep. Billy Pat Wright, County Commissioner Carol Jarrell, IDA Board Member Sue Tippen and Presiding Stoddard County Commissioner Greg Mathis. Photo Below: State Senator Rob Mayer of Dexter (right was recognized by Brian Kelly, Legislative Board Chair of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. (SMT Photos by Annabeth Miller)

The ShowMe Times is proud to announce the introduction of yet another feature on the online local news journal.

As of this week, the ShowMe Times will host “Letters To The Editor” under its Blogs menu. This new feature will be another way in which local residents may express opinions on news and events of general interest in our region.

“The general rules are simple: The ShowMe Times reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and general readability,” said ShowMe Times Editor Annabeth Miller. Letters must be signed and provide a telephone number and an active e-mail address for verification purposes; the writer’s name and e-mail address will be published.

Paid Election Letters will also be featured, Miller said. Political letters of endorsement will be published as Paid Election Letters and will be subject to a fee of $25 for a letter of up to 100 words; an additional fee of 50 cents per word will be assessed beyond 100 words. To ensure publication, Paid Election Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday one week before an election.

“Of course, the ShowMe Times encourages writers to remain positive, and to follow the Golden Rule,” Miller said. “We will not publish letters that are hateful and spiteful against an individual, family or group. Letters to the Editor are intended to encourage positive discussion on issues in the community, to offer opinions on issues and events, and to highlight what is good and positive in our area.”

The news journal will retain the right to refuse publication of a letter for its content. In addition, letters must be signed to be published.

“My father, the late Barney Miller, always said that unsigned comments and letters were a chicken’s way to express an opinion or to be negative. We will follow his time-honored philosophy,” Miller said.

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STAY IN TOUCH

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The maximum length is 250 words. We edit for clarity, accuracy, punctuation and spelling. The letter must be signed. Please include your name, street address, city and a phone number where you can be reached between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PAID ELECTION LETTERS: All letters of endorsement of candidates or ballot issues will be published as Paid Election Letters and are subject to a fee of $25 for up to 100 words, plus an additional 50 cents per word beyond 100. To ensure publication, Paid Election Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday one week before an election.

SEND LETTERS TO: Letters may be emailed to letters@showmetimes.com or faxed to (toll-free) 1-866-515-6828.

A SMT News Report

Two soon-to-be college students from Dexter recently received scholarships to further their education.

Luke Robinson and Karsen Adams both received the Rotha Wilson Scholarship from the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter. The $500 scholarships were presented on Monday. Adams and Robinson graduated with the Class of 2011 from Dexter High School and are now preparing to leave for college.

Adams is the daughter of Dana and Travis Adams of Dexter. She plans to attend the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and major in mathematics and chemistry.

Robinson is the son of Mark and Rhonda Robinson. He plans to attend Truman State University in Kirksville. He plans to major in political science with a pre-law emphasis.

Rotha Wilson was a long-time educator in the Dexter Schools, teaching freshman English classes at DHS. She was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The scholarship was established by the local church in her memory and as a tribute for her many years in education.

The Rotha Wilson Scholarship Committee included Mark Stidham, chair, and Non Robinson, Darryl Orr, Kendall Mouser, Tommy Horton and Sue Daniels.

Photo Above: Dr. Larry Colvin (center), pastor of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter presented checks for $500 each to Karsen Adams (left) and Luke Robinson, recipients of the 2011 Rotha Wilson Scholarship.