By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama used an election-year State of the Union address Tuesday night to frame the national debate not as a referendum on him but as on how to save the American dream. This was Obama’s third State of the Union address since becoming president.
He boasted that the nation's economy has improved, although slowly, from the depths of the recession. "The state of our union is getting stronger," he said.
But he said the middle class has been losing ground, and he urged a new agenda of taxes and government spending to change the direction of the economy.
Reaction to Obama’s address from Missouri’s delegation in the Congress has been mixed.
“I find it hard to reconcile the president’s statements about energy policy with his effort to block the Keystone XL oil pipeline. His statements on raising taxes are inconsistent with his responsibility to help create jobs. And the burdensome, aggressive regulations of the federal bureaucracy continue to undermine the manufacturing and agriculture sectors of our economy and make job growth difficult in rural America,” 8th District U.s. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau. said.
Emerson also noted the president has delayed the release of his budget proposal, while the U.S. Senate has gone 1,000 days without passing a budget.
“The president and the Senate must meet a basic test of accountability by showing the American people how they plan to spend our tax dollars, and they are failing. At no time in history has it been more important for our country to reduce its national debt and work towards balanced budgets. Without a blueprint of federal spending, the president and liberals in the Senate continue to grow the federal government at taxpayer expense. Nothing in the president’s speech tonight should reassure Missourians that his plans for a larger, more intrusive and more powerful executive branch of government have changed," she said.
Emerson participated in the bipartisan seating arrangement started last year through the efforts of the Center Aisle Caucus and other congressional organizations.
Missouri Republican U.S. Senator, Roy Blunt, said the most important domestic priority is job creation.
“Tonight we heard a lot from the President about ‘economic fairness’ and ‘American values.’ The most important American value in the economy is the value of an individual to get a job, and hopefully to get a private sector job,” Blunt said.
“Particularly, his focus on ‘energy security’ contradicts all of the facts. I was just in 26 Missouri counties where the discussion was about: Why are my utility bills going up? Why is the power plant closing? Why didn’t the President move forward with the Keystone Pipeline? More American energy is the shortest path to more American jobs, and while the President seems to understand that in his speech, the regulators who work for him clearly work against that all the time,” he said. “We need to work together to meet the number one domestic priority in the country, and that’s more private sector job creation. The President needs to understand that, or else we’re not going to solve the problems of this economy.”
Democrat U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill called the priorities laid out by the president a “starting point.”
“The vision President Obama laid out to bolster manufacturing, like we did at the Ford plant in Kansas City, and invest in our workforce is a starting point that we all should be able to support. Missouri’s middle-class families can’t endure more partisanship, brinksmanship and political games,” she said.RepublicanAddress to the Nation
Links of Interest
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt's Statement
Cancer Survivor To Speak
At Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Banquet
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
It all started in 1999 as a way for good friends to get together and do something good for others in the community. Today, it has given hope and a helping hand to those fighting the most horrific of diseases.
The Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Foundation has worked these years to genuinely help people in need. The organization has been so successful that it is now within realistic reach of giving $1 to those in the region who are fighting cancer. And it is during these long, dreary winter days that organizers begin thinking about summer, golf and the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Golf Tournament.
Scott Kruse of the Foundation announced Monday that former Major League Baseball pitcher and cancer survivor Dave Dravecky will be the guest speaker at the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Banquet on Friday, June 1.
“We are excited that Dave Dravecky will be with us this year,” Kruse said.
Dave Dravecky’s story is one of hope, courage and perseverance in the midst of dark and overwhelming uncertainty. In 1988 Dave was at the top of his game and life. Not only did he have a wonderful family but he was reaching his all-star peak playing the game of his childhood dreams. His 5-1 opening day victory over the Dodgers was overshadowed later that fall by the discovery of cancer and the removal of half of the deltoid muscle in his pitching arm.
For baseball fans worldwide Dave Dravecky etched his name into history on August 10, 1989. Defying all odds, after battling cancer in his pitching arm, Dave came back to pitch once again in the Major Leagues. People were on their feet cheering and anticipating the game while he stretched and warmed up. He became an inspiration not only to cancer fighters, but to all who needed hope that day.
As Dave took the mound, no one could deny the miracle that was taking place. After being told by his doctors, “Short of a miracle, you’ll never pitch again,” Dave pitched a 4-3 win for the San Francisco Giants. Sadly, Dave’s comeback was short-lived. Five days later, in Montreal, Dave threw "..the pitch that could be heard round the world. Dave’s arm had split in two. As he tumbled to the ground, his mind filled with doubt and fear. Little did he know that the dream he had since he was a little boy, was simply a platform for his purpose to share hope with the suffering around the world.
Dave's Comeback
After Dave’s comeback and fall from the mound, with the weakened bone, the cancer returned yet again. The arm was not going to get better at this point so Dave decided to retire from his dream, the game of baseball, in November of 1989. Slowly the treatment and the cancer ate away Dave’s arm. Finally, the arm along with Dave’s shoulder blade and left side of his collar bone had to be amputated for fear the cancer would spread and take Dave’s life.
Dave Dravecky has been speaking professionally for the past decade, delivering inspirational and motivational speeches to a wide variety of audiences across the country.
The Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Charity Golf Weekend will be June 1 and 2. The banquet will be held on Friday, June 1 at the Elks Lodge on Two Mile Road in Dexter. Ticket sales will be announced later this spring.
The next day, Saturday, June 2 will be the Charity Golf Event at Hidden Trails Country Club in Dexter. The tournament is a 4-person scramble with tee times at 7 a,m. and 1:30 p.m. A Silent Auction and dinner will follow.
What’s Happening
- What: The Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Charity Golf Event
- When: Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2
- Where: Banquet at Dexter Elks; Golf Tournament at Hidden Trails Country Club
Links of Interest
Photos Above: Top - Scott Kruse of Dexter accepts the Organization of the Year honor on behalf of the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Foundation from the Dexter Chamber of Commerce this past Saturday; Bottom - former major league pitcher Dave Dravecky.
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
It was a festive evening as the Dexter Chamber of Commerce recognized another year of Dexter businesses and leaders at the Annual Awards Dinner Saturday.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of a set of five annual awards recognizing top organization, small business, business, industry and educator of the year. Bill Hampton, coordinator of the Three Rivers College Center in Dexter, was the emcee for the program held at the Dexter Elks Lodge. Chamber Present Kenny Pope presided.
Awards presented at this year’ s banquet include:
- Organization of the Year: The Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Foundation
- Small Business of the Year: LeGrand’s Communications
- Business of the Year: Allen Christian Buick GMC
- Industry of the Year: U.S. Poly
- Educator of the Year: Jeannie Cato
The evening also included presentations to retiring Chamber board members Scott Chesser, Kevin Bishop and Ed Gargas.
Entertainment was provided by local musicians Pete Parysek and his pupil, DHS student Joseph Greer.
The evening was capped off with a rather lively session of drawing for the centerpieces provided by local businesses - "dirty Santa" style.
Photo Above: Sheila LeGand and husband Ronnie graciously accept the Small Business of the Year Award at Saturday's annual Dexter Chamber of Commerce Banquet. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
Editor's Note: A complete report of Chamber of awards will be published at a later date.
ShowMe Photo Gallery
Dexter Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet
T.S. Hill Middle School has a new program - Headed To The Top - which reqarded students each quarter who meet a set of basic criteria - and they are rewarded with an afternoon of fun.
"It's simple," said middle school principal Scott Kruse. "You make it, we reward you with an afternoon off and something fun! "
Kruse said the criteria is spelled out for the students.
- C's or Better
- 3 days of Absence-excused or unexcused, must be at school!
- NO discipline referrals
- Fines and Fees up to date.
- Contract for the signed and turned in at the beginning of the quarter
And so each quarter the students have a chance to Head To The Top. And this week they had the day of fun with an afternoon at Dexter Bowl.
The music was popping, and kids were hanging out chatting with friends, playing video games, and there was action on the lanes on Friday when the eighth grade group had their fun. Everywhere kids reported having a good time; giggles, and laughs and smiles were proof positive.
Kruse reported that 209 students from the middle school - Grades 6, 7 and 8 - had an opportunity for a fun afternnon at Dexter Bowl in the Headed To The Top program.
ShowMe Times Gallery
WASHINGTON – Southeast Missouri’s representative in the United State Congress voted to block an increase in the national debt late Wednesday afternoon.
U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson today voted to block an increase in the amount of debt the U.S. Treasury is allowed to incur to satisfy the financial obligations of the United States. The Budget Control Act of 2011 provides Congress with the opportunity to prevent the President from authorizing an increase in the debt limit, although the measure must win passage in both the House and the Senate to become binding.
“Our country is deeply afflicted by debt. As anyone who has struggled with debt knows, this is not a problem that can be solved overnight. It requires discipline and tough decisions. Even today, we as a nation are paying for spending decisions made years ago,” Emerson said. “In just three years, this administration has added roughly $5 trillion to the national debt. We can’t afford this kind of fiscal irresponsibility, and we have to stop it.”
Emerson has now voted twice to prevent increases in the debt limit through the Congressional Resolution of Disapproval.
“We are the kind of nation that pays its bills and I am very proud of that fact, but I would also like us to be the kind of nation that acts with commonsense when it comes to making decisions about spending. It’s downright reckless to reach the limit on our national credit card, and then to simply raise the limit to suit this terrible bad habit,” Emerson said.
A debt level of $15.194 trillion triggers an increase in the debt limit of $1.2 trillion. The vote in favor of stopping the accumulation of debt won passage in the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 239 to 176.
