A SMT News Report

POPLAR BLUFF - Citing growing concern for the direction of our state and nation, Poplar Bluff businessman Doug Libla on Monday announced his intention to run as a conservative Republican for the Missouri State Senate in the 25th District.

For the Republican nomination, Libla will face fellow Poplar Bluff businessman Jeff Shawan, along with State Rep. Billy Pat Wright of Dexter, who is completing his fourth term as state representative for District 154. The only announced Democratic candidate for the senatorial race is State Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville, who is completing his fourth term as the District 162 state representative.

“When I look at government, I see too much spending, too much debt, too many job killing regulations, too many taxes, and not enough respect for the rights and freedoms of individuals and businesses which is affecting their ability to prosper and grow in our communities. I intend to roll up my sleeves in Jefferson City and get to work on changing things,” Libla said.

Libla, as co-owner of Poplar Bluff-based Mid Continent Nail Corporation, brings extensive real–world business and job creation experience to the campaign, according to the press release issued by his office. Libla is not a politician, and has never run for office or managed a campaign. Though a political outsider, he brings first-hand knowledge of the challenges of meeting a payroll and competing in tough economic times to the campaign.

“When I look across the 25th District—from Doniphan to Dexter, Piedmont to Caruthersville and in between—we have been exporting too many jobs overseas and too many of our young people are having to move to big cities to make a living,” Libla said. “We are still not able to export enough of our Missouri agriculturally grown and manufactured products, and I intend to work diligently on these issues to help all of our family owned farms and businesses.”

Libla firmly stated his intention to run and win as a conservative Republican, citing his strong pro-life, pro-gun rights, and anti-tax increases, adding that there are many more issues that need immediate attention.

“My campaign will be centered on improving the quality of life in the 25th District,” he said. “That means improving education, job training opportunities and working to attract more family sustaining careers.”

Libla and his wife of 38 years, Elaine, were raised in Wayne County, graduated from the Greenville school system and reside in Poplar Bluff. They have one daughter, Cassie, a son-in-law, Daniel, and two grandsons, Noah and Josiah. They are longtime members of the First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff.

Libla is a board member of the following groups: Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Three Rivers Endowment Trust; Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Advisory Committee; the overseeing committee of Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission; and past president, charter member, and current Troop E director of the Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society, “The MASTERS.”

He stated he looks forward to meeting and hearing the concerns from the citizens of the 25th District as he campaigns through all seven counties. “For those who want to further the conservative path set out by current Sen. Rob Mayer and continue the fight against excessive spending, debt and liberalism, I invite you to join us in the campaign.”

Campaign treasurer is Herman Styles, Jr. and deputy treasurer is Brent Davis, both of Poplar Bluff.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

Missouri’s Harry Truman once said that he found that the men and women who were leaders and got to the top were folks who did their work with “energy and enthusiasm and hard work.”

Those three qualities were evident in the first-ever Leadership Dexter class that graduated last week.

The Leadership Dexter program is one of the initiatives of Dexter Chamber of Commerce President Ed Gargas, and is designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of leaders in the community.

Gargas had the opportunity to participate in the first Leadership Cape Girardeau class, and the experience left a lasting impression on this year’s Chamber of Commerce president.

“It just opened my eyes to the to the community and to the avenues to use to get this accomplished for the community,” Gargas said. So when Cooper Lape approached the Chamber Board of Directors with the idea of establishing a similar program in Dexter, Gargas was wholeheartedly behind the initiative.

The class began meeting in January with six members : Kyle Christian, Amy Ellinghouse, Tyler Wagner, Ken Harris, Bobby Greer and Chris Hyten.

Each month the class met to learn and had the opportunity to learn more about the “cogs” in the wheel that make the community move. Topics they explored include:

• City government
• Area agriculture
• Education
• Healthcare
• Industry

“The program was a huge success this year ,” Gargas said. He noted the first class had young professionals in several different areas of Dexter’s business and professional community. And he hopes that the success of the first year will lead to success in the future.

“We are looking forward to this program growing, and continuing to be an important part in Dexter’s growth and vitality,” Gargas said. “Each member of this year’s class has made a commitment to helping the program continue and move forward and making a real difference in Dexter.”

Photo Above: The first Leadership Dexter class marked its completion last week. Class members include (seated, from left) Kyle Christian, Amy Ellinghouse, Tyler Wagner; and (standing) Ken Harris, Chamber of Commerce President Ed Gargas Robert Greer; not pictured is Chris Hyten. (Dexter Chamber of Commerce photo).

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

it was a great night to be a Bearcat!!

With the first full day of school completed, and a clear, beautiful evening, Bearcat fans young - and not so young - gathered at Charles Bland Stadium for the Bearcat Football Jamboree.

Folks streamed through the gates where DHS teachers Rhonda Lowery and Jamie Sepulvado were minding the ticket sales, and poured in for a night of football, friends and fun!

While the Bearcats and guests from New Madrid, East Prarie and Kennett faced-off on the field, lots of folks revelled in the fun and friendship.

The Bearcat Booster Club was on hand selling memberships, promoting the Homecoming Weekend Dodge Ball Tournament (Go teams!) while the DHS Football Cheerleaders were enthusiastically greeting friends and selling bracelets and promoting Bearcat SPIRIT!

The first official game of the 2011 Football Bearcat season is next Friday evening, Aug, 26. The 'Cats will meet the Dragons from Ste. Genevieve.

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By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

It’s a record-breaking celebration for Devin Stephenson and the Three Rivers College family.

The college president – who has had his ‘feet on the ground’ in Southeast Missouri since the summer of 2009 – has helped open new college centers in Dexter and Cape Girardeau, has seen the expansion of college programs, and watched the college enrollment continue to grow.

So Thursday was a special day for Stephenson, as Three Rivers celebrated exceeding the 4,000 student enrollment mark.

Stevenson and a crew of college officials and staff were at the Dexter center Thursday as part of a tour of the region to celebrate the milestone enrollment. And it was clear Stephenson was especially proud of the new Dexter facility. He recalled his first meeting in Dexter to discuss a college center in the community.

“I knew there was going to be magic from the beginning” of the meeting, Stephenson said. “It really just takes a vision and some people to do it. We’ve been able to do something wonderful here.”

Stephenson said the great thing about the center is the opportunities it offers to Dexter area residents.

“This is a ‘people’ business,” he said. “A lot of folks think we are in the education business. Really, this is a people business. It’s about making a difference in people’s lives, improving the quality of life for them, and giving them a chance when they didn’t have a chance or giving them hope when they don’t have hope. “

Stephenson said the statistics of the college’s progress are staggering.

• This time last year the TRC Dexter center was an empty industrial building. The facility opened in January 2011 and no has more than 250 students.
• Piedmont now has 70 students enrolled at a brand-new instructional site.
• The Kennett center has a 29 percent increase in credit hours; the Cape Girardeau center a 48 percent increase in credit hours; the Sikeston center now has more than 500 students and has run out of space.
• Total college enrollment at the end of Thursday was 4,243 students – a 12 percent record of 2010.
• Total credit hours taken this semester is 46,535 – a 16 percent increase of 2010.

“We say that this is the ‘Golden Age’ of community colleges, and it indeed is,” Stephenson said.

The college president told the group at the celebration luncheon at the Dexter center that he was recently on a family vacation and got on a hotel elevator with a group of high school students. He said the young people had t-shirts that said “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

“Bottom line for us is that we want to push the number even higher,” Stephenson said. “That means we’re serving somebody. That means we are meeting a need. That means people are getting the kind of education they need.”

Stephenson informed the group of community leaders gathered that in the next 10 years only 80 percent of new jobs created will be to individuals who do not have four-year college degrees. He explained the majority of the jobs in the future will go to people with some post-high school education – primarily associate degrees.

“The whole concept of taking education to where people live is what we are all about,” he said.

The noonday celebration included a number of Dexter city officials, representatives of the Dexter schools, the Chamber of Commerce, and local business and industry.

The school bells rang early Thursday morning, calling students, teachers and staff back to the school buildings.

The first visible signs that it was the first day of school weren't even on school property ... it was on the streets. Traffic all around the Dexter schools campus were bumper-to-bumper for a while early Thursday morning, as kids and parents headed to schools. Traffic was backed on Grant Street, One Mile Road, Brown Pilot and Central Drive as everyone flocked to school.

With book bags in hand, youngsters headed into school to check out classrooms, teachers and meet friends. Parents of younger elementary school students often went inside as well, some snapping "first day of school" photos with teachers and making sure all is well on the first day of a new school year.

Thursday is a half day in the classroom, followed by Media Day for high school athletes in preparation for the fall athletic season. The fall football Jamboree is Friday evening at Charles Bland Stadium, with Kennett, East Prairie, and New Madrid County Central joining the Bearcats for an evening of football. The Jamboree will begin at 6 p.m. Friday; $1 admission will be charged at the gate (no passes allowed).

Dexter schools is joined by Bernie and Bloomfield in returned to the classrooms Thursday. Richland students headed back to school last week.

Photo Above: Teacher Kara Lummukka greets Nate Gargas to the fifth grade at Central Elementary Thursday morning.(SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)