There are times every four years when Missourians often look to neighbor Iowa and wonder why the Hawkeye State gets all the political attention.

And 2012 will be no different, which at leas one major political party all but ignoring the state’s presidential primary.

The Missouri Republican Party says it will be sticking with its decision to ignore the results of the state's still-scheduled Feb. 7 presidential primary.

State GOP executive director Lloyd Smith recalled in a statement why the party's executive panel decided last September to revert back to a caucus system for awarding the state's Republican delegates to the various presidential hopefuls. The process will begin around the ShowMe State in March.

"To ensure that Missouri is in compliance with RNC rules, last fall, the Missouri Republican Party made the decision to move to a caucus system for the purpose of selecting delegates," said Smith. Smith, of Sikeston, served on the staffs of the late Congressman Bill Emerson and Congressman Jo Ann Emerson.  "These rules remain in effect, and our priority continues to be maintaining Missouri’s full delegate strength at the national convention."

The state GOP made that decision to comply with the mandate of both major parties that states act by early October to comply with the parties' rules that allow only four states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina -- to hold primaries before March 1. Penalties were to be imposed on violators.

The Missouri General Assembly tried and failed twice to move the state's Feb. 7 primary to March. But in the meantime, several other states have ignored the parties' requirements and also are holding February primaries -- the main reason Iowa and New Hampshire moved up their events to early January.

The national parties appear to backing off from any penalties. But so far, the Missouri GOP is sticking with its plan. 

Many are calling the March primary a “beauty contest” since the results officially meaningless as far as selecting state delegates is concerned. 

The primary will be held on Feb. 7. Filing for the primary opened Oct. 25 and ended Nov. 22.

Four Democrats will be on the primary ballot – Barack Obama, Randall Terry of Purgeitsville, WV, Darcy G.  Richardson of Jacksonville, FL, and John Wolfe of Chattanooga, Tenn. 

The field is a little larger for the Republicans. The GOP ticket will include:

• Gary Johnson, El Prado, New Mexico
• Herman Cain, Stockbridge, Georgia
• Mitt Romney, Boston
• Michael J. Meehan, St Louis
• Rick Perry, Austin, Texas
• Keith Drummond, Katy, Texas
• Michele Bachmann, Washington, D.C.
• Rick Santorum, Verona, Penn.
• Ron Paul, Springfield, Virginia

A Libertarian ballot will also be available for the primary, with one candidate, James Orland Ogle III of Sacramento, Calif.

Southeast Missouri has a white Christmas … just a few days late!

Folks woke Tuesday morning to find a layer of wet white stuff blanketed the area overnight. The snow was pretty on the trees and shrubs, but made a wet, soggy mess of roadways.

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a “hazardous weather outlook” for Southeast Missouri and portions of Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. The forecast calls for an area of widespread rain and rain/snow mix today for the region  

The snow has slowed little down – especially the 55th Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Drivers headed to the tournament – and elsewhere – should use caution, however, as NWS predicts the temperature will hover at or near freezing today.

The forecast for Tuesday night calls for temperatures around 27 degrees. Wednesday should be sunny, with a high near 45 degrees.

Photo Above: A snow-covered statue of Lt. Ken Sisler on the grounds of the Keller Public Library looks out on a winter scene Tuesday morning as an overnight snow blanketed the region. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)

Dexter’s Board of Education took steps Monday to fill the positions of retiring teachers in the district.

During the executive session the board approved the hiring of two new educators and the in-district transfer request of two teachers to help fill the positions of four retiring teachers. Hired for the 2012-2013 school year Tuesday night were:

• Josh Dowdy to fill the position of retiring Vicky Jarrell. Dowdy will teach elementary physical education at Southwest Elementary;
• James Eldreth to fill the position of retiring music educator Maria Chamberlain.  Eldreth teach elementary music at Southwest Elementary;

The board also approved the transfer request of teacher Connie Heil to fill the position of retiring teacher Betty Huffman, and the request of Chris Bolin to fill the position of retiring teacher Carolyn Carroll.

Heil will teach English at T.S. Hill Middle School and Bolin will teach business education at the middle school during the 2012-2013 school year.

The board also approved in executive session:

• The resignation/retirement of middle school cook Carol E. Myers;
• Approved the employment of Pat Blair as Southwest Elementary nurse;
• Approved the employment of Mr. Stacey Hendrick as custodian and Central Elementary;
• Approved the advertising of two elementary teaching positions in the district.

Photo Above: School Board President Herman Morse (left) and Supt. Dr. Thomas Sharp during a discussion at Tuesday's board meeting. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)

By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Clyde Vaughn was just a kid from Dexter who wanted to play a little football and decided to attend Southeast Missouri State in the 1960s. He attended classes, met the love of his life, and he sat with fellow graduates and walked across the stage to receive his degree from the then-state college in 1968.

On Saturday, the situation was a little reversed, as Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, Ret., returned to his alma mater as the keynote speaker at Southeast’s Commencement.

Vaughn told the graduates he was “just a kid from Dexter” when he attend Southeast in the 1960s, and that the best thing about his years at the university was meeting his wife Carol his sophomore year.

“I figured out I wasn’t going to play a lot of football,” Vaughn told the graduates. But he offered a bit of advice. “Marry well … that’s really key.”

Vaughn spoke to the graduates about leadership and developing the skills necessary to be an effective leader. He told the graduates they needed to be smart leaders – more efficient and effective as leaders and to have a framework of understanding the situation.

“As you move along and you move into higher levels of leadership I can tell you that in conflict you don’t have worry about motivation,” he said. “Get out there and master the field you are getting ready to go into,” he commented. “Leadership is about leading change at the highest levels. Nothing is more important than leading change. If you stand still, everybody else has passed you. See things through the eyes of others.”

He said that good leaders use humor when they can and “not to be afraid to be the butt of jokes.”

Vaughn retired in July 2009 as the Director of the Army National Guard after nearly 40 years of service to the Guard and the Army.  As director, the Dexter native was over 350,000 soldiers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and territories. He guided the formulation, development of all policies and programs of the Army Guard.

“I grew up here with a great military hero who went to Southeast,” Vaughn said. General James T. Conway attended Southeast and became in the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

“He was a great warrior; very humble. It was a really incredible knowing him and knowing that he came from Southeast Missouri,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn recalled sitting next to Conway at daily briefings with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

“Now, can you feature a couple of Southeast Missouri graduates sitting next to each other at a forum like that,” Vaughn asked.

Vaughn said he was proud of the graduates – that he saw “the kind of energy” to accomplish great things.

“You come from a magnificent university,” he concluded.

At A Glance

Southeast Missouri State University Commencement

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011
• Place: Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau
• Total number of degrees: 656
• Undergraduate: 543
• Graduate: 113
• Graduates With 4.0 – 11

Photos Above: Top Photo - Dexter Native Clyde Vaughn address the graduates at commencement ceremonies at Southeast Missouri State University. Bottom Photo - Graduate Andrew Boone of Dexter is all smiles during the recessional at the conclusion of ceremonies. (SMT photos by Annabeth Miller)