It was just short of a year that the waters started to rise in Southeast Missouri and then the Corps of Engineers blew up the Birds Point Levee. Debra Tarver and Twan Robinson, of the Village of Pinhook, visited the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City to give a presentation to state leaders on how the flooding impacted their lives. Pinhook, population of 54, was wiped out by the engineered breach of the levee. Flood waters swallowed their houses and left irreparable damage to all houses and structures. Once the water subsided and residents were allowed to return, they found their homes looted and some destroyed by fire. Tarver and Robinson shared with legislators their goal to keep the Pinhook community and their terrible loss in the minds of lawmakers. After ten months without aid, the community is patiently dedicated to seek funding in order to rebuild their village outside of the flood zone and reunite their community. Tarver and Robinson shared a moment with State Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville following their presentation. (Photo submitted)
It's March! Time for leprechauns, and green and even ‘March Maddness’. And Leah Noyes is helping to usher in the month in the ShowMe Spotlight. Leah is the 18-year-old daughter of David and Vicky Noyes and is quite the musician. Leah plays the piano and has participated in the Federation of Music Clubs Festival each year since she was in elementary school and won a bevy of Gold Cups along the way. Leah has also earned All-District Band honors all four years at Dexter High School, is a member of the academic ten percent of her class and a member of the Dexter Honor Society.The ShowMe Spotlight is a monthly feature of the ShowMe Times, featuring one of the Top 12 finalists in the annual Miss Dexter Pageant sponsored by the Dexter High School Choral Music Department. (Photo by SMT Reader Shannon Putnam. Thanks, Shannon!)
Since it’s March, we offer this Irish Blessing:
Link of Interest
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
A Dexter native who has worked both as a small businessman and as officer in the U.S. Army has thrown his hat into the ring for political office.
Bob Thrower, 48, was introduced to the Stoddard County Lincoln Day Banquet Saturday as a candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 159 District.
Thrower graduated from Dexter High School in 1982 and Southeast Missouri State University in 1987. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 1997, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 2000.
“When I went to college I had no idea what I wanted to do while I was in college, so I became an Army officer,” Thrower said.
Thrower retired after serving in the military for 20 years as a Lieutenant Colonel. He returned to his hometown and was a small business owner before returning to work for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Thrower said his work with DOD was a “great job” but he wanted to return to his hometown roots and run for the Missouri House of Representatives. So he left his federal career, returned to Dexter, and has entered the political race.
“Education in Missouri right now is teetering between success and failure,” he said. He mentioned the loss of accreditation by Kansas City and the erosion of the school system in Missouri’s second largest city. “We’ve got to fix it. And like any problem, don’t think it won’t impact us down here, because it will. The knee-jerk reaction will be to throw more money into the program. But we need to fix the program.”
Thrower said Missouri’s economy still runs on the back of small business.
“We seem to take for granted that small business owners will be willing to take the risk. We need to do more to support them, but apparently that’s not the case. Today a lot of those on the left are wanting the businessman or businesswoman to feel guilty for being successful,” Thrower told the crowd. “I don’t want them to feel guilty; I want them to feel welcome here in Missouri. I will support legislation that will promote the growth of small business and on top of that, I support Right to Work legislation.”
Thrower described himself as a fiscal conservative, a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and supports right-to-life legislation.
Thrower is seeking the seat currently held by State Rep. Billy Pat Wright. Wright is a candidate for the 25th Senatorial seat currently held by State Senator Rob Mayor. Mayer is prevented by term limits from seeking another term in the Missouri Senate. He announced to the Lincoln Day gathering that he is a candidate for Circuit Judge position, serving Stoddard and Dunklin counties.
Thrower is the only candidate from either political party to announce for the 159th Missouri House of Representatives.
