WAPPAPELLO LAKE – Two areas are Wappapello Lake will be closed during the upcoming duck season.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake announced this week that Asher Creek and Lost Creek Waterfowl Refuges will be closed during the upcoming duck season in the middle zone.
“These refuges were established to provide resting places for migrating waterfowl in the Mississippi flyway.,” said Dan Camden of the Corps office at Wappapello. “Starting Saturday, Nov. 5, until Tuesday, January 3, 2012, portions of both refuges will be closed to vehicle and boat traffic. During this time, we remind visitors that foot traffic is still welcomed.”
Closures will include some Corps of Engineers gates and roadways in the Lost Creek area. The gate at Warner Davis (Corps Road #9) and Lost Creek Low Water Bridge (Corps Road #8) in the Shook area will be closed. The refuge boundary in this area follows Corps Road #8. Firearms hunting is not permitted on the lake side of this road during duck season.
In the Davis Schoolhouse area, the gate will be closed on Corps Road #10. The refuge boundary beyond this gate is the shoreline and refuge boundary markers. During duck season, only archery hunting is permitted.
“If you are unsure of the refuge location, call or visit the Wappapello Lake Project Office to obtain a refuge map,” Camden said.
Buoys marked “No Boats” will be placed on the lake across the coves of Asher Creek and Lost Creek. A “Boat Ramp Closed” sign and “No Boat” buoy will also be placed at the Lost Creek Landing boat ramp. Should the coves be frozen over on the Jan. 4 opening date, the refuge will be open and the buoys will be removed as soon as lake conditions permit.
Although the above roads, coves, and gates will reopen on Wednesday, Jan.4, 2012, hunters are reminded that no waterfowl hunting is allowed in the Lost Creek or Asher Creek Waterfowl Refuges. This includes teal, Canada geese, and snow geese.
The Asher Creek Waterfowl Refuge, which is adjacent to the Lake Wappapello State Park, is closed to hunting year-round.
As a reminder, all-terrain vehicles (ATV) are prohibited from operating off designated roadways on land administered by the Corps of Engineers. Visitors asked to be familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations governing ATV use prior to a trip afield.
For more information on waterfowl hunting, refuge boundaries, and vehicle use policies please contact the Wappapello Lake Project Office at (573) 222-8562. For lake information, call the 24-hour Recreation Hotline at (573) 222-8139 or toll free at 1-877-LAKE-INFO.
More than 135 years ago, Dexter was founded, centered around the old railroad track that eventually ran through the heart of the town. Now more than 40 trains a day travel through the community, and the relationship between railroad and community remains strong.
Officials from the Union Pacific Railroad were in Dexter on Wednesday morning, to recognize that relationship and to honor two Dexter city departments for their hard work and efforts.
Robert W. Turner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations for Union Pacific, traveled to Dexter to present Golden Spike Awards to the Dexter police and fire departments for their continued cooperation and work with the railroad.
The presentations were made at a ceremony at the Dexter City Administration Building. Accepting the recognition for the Police Department was Police Chief Sammy Stone; for the Fire Department Chief Al Banken.
“There are 7,296 communities in the United States that have Union Pacific tracks running through them,” Turner said at the presentation. “We want to be a good neighbor in every one of them.”
Turner, from the Union Pacific headquarters in Omaha, said part of being a good neighbor involves good trains, UP employees who live in the towns, and the relationship between the rail company public safety officials in communities.
“Our relationship with public safety, with first responders, really is unique because of the things you’re often called on to do because we have trains coming through,” he said. Turner said the Golden Spike Award is to honor those community folks who put their lives on the line and are concerned about public safety and railroads.
“This is to thank you for all you do. When that call comes through at 2 o’clock in the morning or 2 o’clock in the afternoon – you folks are out there,” he said. “Thank you for what you do; thank you for your continued work.“'
Turner noted that Union Pacific turns 150 years old in 2012.
“We are saying that the best years are ahead of us. We are going to keep being a part of your town and want to keep working with you on projects that matter and things are important to the community. You have our pledge that we’re going to keep trying to be a good citizen,” he commented.
Joining Turner on Wednesday morning was Dan Witthaus, Superintendent Transportation Services from the UP unit in St. Louis.
“I just want to say thank you,” Witthaus said to Stone and Banken. “We had a few opportunities to work together, unfortunately, on some incidents.”
Witthaus said that some year back Stoddard County had a number of crossing incidents and other situations.
“We’ve been able to get that (incident rate) down to almost nothing. I really appreciate all you have given and everything you’ve done to get that taken care of,” Witthaus said.
Also attending the presentation Wednesday morning were Dexter Mayor Joe Weber and City Administrator Mark Stidham, and assistant fire chief Don Seymore.
Photo Above: Union Pacific Senior Vice President Robert W. Turner, left, speaks at a presentation of Golden Spike Awards to tthe Dexter Fire Department and Dexter Police Department on Wednesday morning. With Turner are (from left) Police Chief Sammy Stone, Dan Witthaus from UP's St. Louis Service Unit, and Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)
By Annabeeth Miller, SMT Editor
They scrubbed and cleaned and swept and they joined more than 3 million other Americans recently in helping to make a difference in the lives of others.
The students from Mingo Job Corp recently gave back to others by participating in the annual Make A Difference Day. In a wave of volunteerism that swept the nation, the Job Corps students rolled up their sleeves and helped to make a difference.
In what has become an annual project, the students brought their energy to Dexter where they spent the morning at the Dexter Public Schools bus garage. There the young men and women cleaned, swept, washed, scrubbed s every bus in the district’s fleet. By the end of the morning the buses gleamed from the front seat all the way to the back; windows shined, seats and floors cleaned and the buses had been given a thorough scrubbing.
“We want to give back to the community,” said group leader Bob Waldner. So every year Waldner brings the students to Dexter to complete this project.
Students armed with window cleaner, rags, brooms and dust pans cleaned the interiors, while another crew of students washed the exteriors of the buses. Working together as a team, the students were able to complete the task of cleaning the entire fleet in short order.
“I’ve never been in a school bus that smelled so clean,” was heard as the students worked.
Make a Difference Day is the large national day of community service in America. Held each fall, the day is a day of neighbors helping neighbors and when Americans can unite in a common mission to improve the lives others.
Thank you, Job Corps students, for showing us how to be good neighbors and to Make A Difference in our community!
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Dexter’s Chamber of Commerce has announced that applications are being accepted for the second Leadership Dexter community program to be held during 2012.
Leadership Dexter is a proactive leadership development program in the Dexter community. The program includes a series of forums, seminars, and field trips that have been custom designed to explore the many challenges and opportunities facing the community leaders of tomorrow.
“Under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Dexter has been formed to develop year after year a pool of leaders that share a common knowledge and vision for the city into the 21st century,” said Chamber President Ed Gargas. “Our goal is that upon graduation, each leader will be more informed about the Dexter area and choose to serve the community in a way to make the most optimal impact.”
The Dexter Chamber of Commerce has designed the program to educate and motivate a diverse group of up-and-coming leaders in our community. Individuals who have a genuine interest in leadership, a desire to learn, and who want to become more involved in the future of the community are encouraged to participate in the Leadership Dexter Program.
Beginning in January 2012 the Leadership Dexter Program will consist of seven monthly sessions. The groups will meet on the third Thursday of every other month with the morning sessions being spent focusing on different areas of interest of the month’s chosen program. The trips/meetings will consist of informational speakers, panel discussions, touring facilities, and time for questions and answers. The sessions will end with a luncheon at which individuals met during the morning session tours will be invited. The informal luncheon time will allow for greater dialogue and discussion.
The seventh session will be held in December and will focus on the Chamber’s programs and also to review the six previous sessions. The Graduates will be recognized and will be recognized at the Chamber Annual Awards Event in January 2013.
Participants will be selected from applications submitted by interested and committed individuals. The tuition fee is $200 for Dexter Chamber of Commerce members or $250 for non-Chamber members. Tuition covers supplies, meals, transportation, and speakers during the sessions. Applications are available at the Chamber office. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Nov. 18, 2011 to be considered. Only ten individuals will be selected for the program.
For additional information contact Janet Coleman at 573-624-7458 or email to [email=info@dexterchamber.com.
Photo Above: The first Leadership Dexter class met in 2011. Class members included (seated, from right) Kyle Christian, Amy Ellinghouse, Tyler Wager, and (standing) Ken Harris, Chamber President Ed Gargas, and Robert Greer. (SMT Archive photo)
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
Bearcats are many things - students, athletes, musicians; they are talented in the classroom and in the ag shop; they bring home awards and they have great dreams for the future.
And Bearcats also care.
That was evident Friday with the Future Teachers of America (FTA) organization at Dexter High School hosted its annual fall blood drive with the American Red Cross.
Throughout the busy day student FTA members worked with Red Cross staff in helping donors complete paperwork and assist in a wide variety of ways. From offering moral support to those giving blood to helping serve the snacks after donating, the Bearcat FTA members were ready to help wherever needed.
And that Bearcat spirit was visible in lines of students, faculty and staff who lined up to donate blood.
Ann Polsgrove, faculty sponsor of FTA said it was a productive and successful day.
“We had 124 people presented to donate,” she reported. There were 78 productive units were collected.”
It was a difficult summer for the American Red Cross. Natural disasters, record high temperatures, and outrageous gas prices all contributed to a low blood supply. While thousands of generous blood donors rolled up a sleeve to donate during this time of need, the Red Cross blood supply remains critical as we enter autumn.
Photo Above: Senior Cody Stevens says that Bearcats are "Number One" - on the football field and in other ways, as well. Cody donated blood during the DHS Blood Drive on Friday, and teammate Josh Overall was hand to offer support. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
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Bearcat Blood Drive, October 28, 2011
