The eight finalists were Seth Mouser, Kendall Adams, Mary Kate Miller, Bailey Caldwell, Paige Chasteen, Brittany Brown, Rachael Huntsman, and Kayla Ward.
How I show my patriotism in my community
By Mary Kate Miller
There are many ways to show my patriotism in my community. As a citizen in our community, we can stand proud to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. We can participate in supporting our troops by sending care packages to our soldiers serving in other countries. We can hang the American flag outside our homes and maintain it with dignity and respect. We can stand proud and sing along with the Star Spangled Banner or stand in silence to honor the glory of our country.
I am always proud to show my patriotism to my community by pledging allegiance to our grand ol’ flag. Pledging allegiance to the flag shows that we are proud to be an American. We start our week at school by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to recite the words of the pledge to honor my flag, my country, and my God. Our American flag is a beautiful symbol of patriotism. Hanging the American flag outside of our home symbolizes our pride in our community and our country. The colors represent the building blocks in which our country was built on. The red stripe stands for courage, the white stands for purity, and the blue stands for perseverance, vigilance, and justice. The American flag must be maintained with dignity and respect. Our wonderful flag has thirteen stripes. It also has fifty stars. Each star represents a state in our nation today. The stripes stand for the thirteen original colonies.
Serving in the military and sacrificing one’s life for our country is the ultimate symbol of patriotism. We can support our troops by sending care packages to our men stationed around the world. I can show my patriotism and appreciation by sending them items they would enjoy. They have left family and friends to serve our country to ensure our freedom. A little piece of home is a small way to show appreciation.
Patriotism in one’s community goes hand in hand with one’s country. By participating in these activities, I can show why I’m so proud to be an American.
Lee Ann and Scott Nelson have been enjoying an adventure on one of the more famous biking and hiking trails in the ShowMe State.
The Nelsons have been biking on sections of the Katy Trail, the recreation trail in the right-of-way of the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. The railroad used to cut through the central part of Missouri and is one of the longest Rails-to-Trails in the country.
Most of the trail follows the northern bank of the Missouri River, and runs through communities such as Defiance, Augusta, Boonville and Sedalia.
“This is the third trip we have made to ride the Katy Trail over the past three years. We always try to ride parts of the trail we haven’t ridden before,” said Scott. Since it is over 225 miles from St. Charles, MO to Clinton, Mo, there are many options to ride.
Recently the Nelsons took advantage of the beautiful autumn scenery and road another section of the trail.
“This time we started at Weldon Spring and rode through the towns of Defiance and Augusta, to a small place called Nona and back. Round trip was about 28 miles” he said.
This section of the trail is inundated by several small, quaint wineries as well as beautiful scenery of the Missouri River and river bottoms. Defiance, where the Nelsons began their recent journey, was home to Daniel Boone.
“The folks along the trail are friendly and helpful, offering stories of the history of the railroad on which the trail now sits. We ate lunch at a small restaurant in Augusta where there were many old, historic homes with great views of the land along the Missouri River,” he added.
Their next journey will most likely lead the Dexter pair west of Columbia, toward Boonville, Franklin (where the first newspaper west of St. Louis was founded) and on to Sedalia (home of the State Fair).
Links of Interest
ShowMe Times Gallery
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
ESSEX - The Richland community gathered Sunday to honor, recognize, and say “thank you” to one of their favorite and most beloved daughters.
Addie Rasche grew up in the Gray Ridge community, the daughter of parents instrumental in the early days of Richland schools. And she has spent her adult life following their footsteps – giving of herself, her talents and love to the people in the Richland school district.
Miss Addie – the title she has been given by generations of Richland students and staff – retired at the end of the 2011 school year. The community gathered Sunday for a reception in her honor. Richland alumni, administrators, teachers, parents – the Rebel Nation – gathered in the gym for an afternoon of saying ‘thanks’.
Pat Crane was the emcee for an afternoon that included stories of and presentations to Miss Addie.
Now, to listen to Jimmie Lawrence, former Richland administrator talk, Miss Addie worked for the district for 48 years. That probably came as a surprise to Miss Addie and to others, since she was celebrating retirement after 45 years of service to the district.
But Lawrence was the Rasche’s neighbor growing up in Gray Ridge, and said he remembered her as a neighbor, student, secretary and friend.
“She graduated from high school, and I asked her if she was going to go to college,” Lawrence recalled. Miss Addie said she hadn’t planned on college. “So I just told her that I thought we needed her at the school, and that’s where she stayed for more than 48 years.”
Joining Lawrence in recognizing Rasche was another Richland superintendent, Carrell Odom.
“One thing I learned early on about Miss Addie was that she loved her family,” said Odom. “There is no doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Rasche taught her things about this school system. Also, she loved to do things for other people. I’ve never met anyone who got more out of working and doing something for someone else.”
Former Richland administrators Clyde Dixon, Ken Latham, and Brenda Campbell were also on hand for the program.
A special bronze plaque was presented to Miss Addie, honoring her years of dedicated service to the district. The plaque is identical to the two hanging in the school hallway, honoring the contributions of her parents. This new plaque will be placed adjacent to them, marking the contributions of the Rasche family to the Richland schools.
Generations of Richland Rebels filled the gymnasium for the program and attended the reception in the school cafeteria. In the cafeteria, Miss Addie’s former colleagues placed her desk from the high school office, and it was from this familiar spot that she greeted friends. Generations of students and families filled through, giving her hugs, posing for photographs, and showing their love and affection for the longtime school secretary
The program included music from the Wyman family, and RHS student Joe Foster played the piano as guests left the gymnasium for the reception.
Photo Above: Karen Lane (right) and daughter Michelle, stop to greet Addie Rasche during a reception in her honor at Richland Schools. Rasche has retired after more than 45 years as the RHS secretary. Karen is the librarian at Richland; Michelle an alumni of RHS. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)
ShowMe Times Gallery
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
A Dexter teen has pursued her dream by working hard and keeping the dream close to her heart.
So it should come as no surprise that this weekend McKenzie Mitchell made the Final 5 and won two prestigious awards at the Miss Missouri Teen USA pageant. The pageant was held this weekend in St. Charles.
In addition to being named in the Top 5, the Dexter teen was named the Most Photogenic at the pageant on Saturday night. The award is named for Melana Scantlin, Miss Missouri USA in 2002.
Then on Sunday, Michell participated in a series of interviews with each of the five pageant judges for four minutes. According to her mother, Ann-Marie Mitchell, three of the four judges were former winners of the Miss Teen USA crown.
“She was over the moon when it was over,” Ann-Marie said.
McKenzie impressed the judges during the interview process so much she received for Courtney Chilcutt Interview Award, named for Dexter native Courtney Chilcutt Lungren, herself Miss Missouri Teen in 2002.
Ann-Marie had friends on “pins and needles” during the course of the pageant on Sunday, keeping folks back in Dexter up-to-date with posts on Facebook. When she posted that McKenzie had won the Courtney Chilcutt Interview Award and placed second in the pageant, a chorus of congratulations from friends was posted.
McKenzie is a senior at Dexter High School and the daughter of Dr. Kevin and Ann-Marie Mitchell and big sister to Drake. After graduating this spring from DHS, she plans to attend University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in the fall.
Photo Above: McKenzie Mitchell (right) and her mom Ann-Marie, backstage during the Miss Missouri Teen USA Pageant this weekend in St. Charles.
Second Photo: A young McKenzie Mitchell (center) with Miss Missouri USA Melana Scantlin (left) and Courtney Chilcutt of Dexter, Miss Miss Teen USA, in 2002. McKenzie won prizes this weekend named in honor of these two women.
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
The fog was just beginning to disappear Saturday morning as a hearty crew of folks set off on a run to help a young Dexter teen fighting for his life.
The “Miles for Kyle” walk/run was organized to help young Kyle Wade Stearns. On Oct. 1 the 16-year-old was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He is under treatment at Children’ Medical Center in Dallas.
Huddled early Saturday morning, folks browsed and placed bid on silent auction items, kept hands warm with coffee, and prepared for the run/walk. The route took participants from the Church of Christ on North One Mile Road through Hickory Hills to the West City Park, across Business Highway 114 to Downtown Dexter and back to the church.
To help the family with medical bills for Kyle’s treatment, a local group – Katch A Kure for Kyle – has been organized. Saturday’s event included a 5K run/walk as well as a silent auction.
Ted Mason, whose son Drew is a good friend of Kyle, has helped organize the group lending a hand to the Stearns family.
“We are from a small town with big hearts,” he said.
Mason has established a website for Katch a Kure for Kyle as well as a Facebook page to keep Stearns’ friends up-to-date and to accept donations.
