Above, CAR members (from left to right) Steven Green (Branson) , Kay Stevenson, Kendra Stevenson, Tyler Stevenson (Dexter), Miles Coleman, Laurie Coleman, Hays Coleman (Poplar Bluff) and Mary Bess Green (Branson) stop for a photo during the formal dinner party. (Photo submitted by Kay Stevenson)
Zach Hedrick, SMT Writer
Life sometimes seems to be filled with uphill battles that people endure. Many times, you endure them yourself or at the very least, know of others that are enduring struggles.
Such is the case with Brett Dorton as he discovered a college friend's son was recently diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma, a type of malignant tumor mostly found in young patients. This struck a nerve in Brett and inspired him to action for his friend and their family.
Keith Ingram Dismuke, II (Ingram) is approaching four years old, and is battling anaplastic ependymoma. In April of 2012, this family was unexpectedly tossed into a storm of life. Ingram's dad, Craig, recounts that gripping day on the Team Ingram blogsite known as Ingram the Conqueror.
Ingram got the nickname from his dad because he loved to conquer towers of blocks. His nickname now takes on a whole new meaning in his battle of anaplastic ependymoma. Captured by the significance of this life changing event, Brett renewed his passion for St. Jude's and the contribution they make to young lives.
"Several years ago I ran the St. Jude Half-Marathon in Memphis," commented Dorton. "I was inspired by the St. Jude Heroes that were running the race in an effort to raise money for the hospital and the children that are being treated there."
Dorton was moved to a point that he increased his training and entered the Chicago Marathon the following year as a St. Jude Hero. He noted that "running that race for St. Jude's was an unforgettable experience."
With his running shoes placed in his closet, Brett felt that a 3 month break would be appropriate to regain his strength and recover from the grueling marathon training schedule. That was 3 years ago and finding his way back to the running trail has not been easy. The combination of his own family and his demanding work schedule at First Commercial Bank, Brett has searched for the inspiration to get back to a training schedule.
"In April, I found out that my college friend, Craig Dismuke, had received the news about Ingram's illness." noted Dorton. "It gave me purpose to train, to run and to raise funds for St. Judes."
Ingram's tumor in his brain was successfully removed in surgery, and now Ingram Dismuke is a patient at St. Jude in Memphis. Team Ingram has set a goal of raising $100,000 for St. Jude's this year. You will find additional information on here for Team Ingram.
Ingram's sister, Madison Dismuke provides an incredible overview of the reasons why St. Jude's is worthy of support.
Brett has taken a portion of the Team Ingram goal to assist the Dismuke Family. It's a passion and an inspiration that needs the help of our community. Please visit Brett's St. Jude Hero Site to make your donation today.
"Cancer is the Great Equalizer. It does not care if you are male or female, old or young, or American or Chinese. Cancer doesn't care how wealthy you are or what type of health insurance you have," noted Brett.The financial burden that is connected to these times is overwhelming. Thanks to donors like you, no family ever pays St. Jude for the life saving treatments that are performed on their child. Donations to St. Jude continue to improve the treatment of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases through its groundbreaking research.
Inspired sacrifice and caring are keys that continue to make St. Jude's the incredible resource it is, not only to the Ingram Family but to other families in our area.
Consider what your role will be to help St. Jude's this year. You may choose to participate in the St. Jude's Marathon by joining Brett and others to run or walk the half Marathon in Memphis. You may simply plan to attend to show your support, to catch your own inspiration, and encourage others that are participating. You may simply wish to make a donation in support of Brett and other participants (Brett's St. Jude Hero Site). However, do something to encourage this great work.
The staff at the ShowMe Times offers it's prayers, appreciation and encouragement over all areas of the St. Jude's Research Hospital.
Age Spots – by Ruth Dockins
No matter what kind of program or service the government comes up with there are people who are immediately ready to take advantage of the program as well as anyone who participates in the program. The following article was emailed to me from Missouri’s SMP Program. The program that is designed to teach us how to detect fraud, report fraud, and avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
The following is an approved press release regarding a FTC Consumer Alert for a scam.
It’s enough to make you sick. No sooner had the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Care Act than scam artists began working the phones. Claiming to be from the government, they’re saying that under the Affordable Care Act, they need to verify some information. For example, they might have the routing number of the person’s bank, and then use that information to get the person to reveal the entire account number. Other times, they have asked for credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, Medicare ID, or other personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, cautions you not to give out personal or financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails, or knocks on your door. Scam artists want your information to commit identity theft, charge your existing credit cards, debit your checking account, open new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, write fraudulent checks, or take out loans in your name.
If you get a call from someone who claims to be from the government and who asks for your personal information, hang up. It’s a scam. The government and legitimate organizations with which you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
Then, file a complaint at ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you think your identity’s been stolen, visit ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT. You also can file a complaint with your state Attorney General.
For more information about the federal health care law, visit HealthCare.gov.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace andto provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Produced in cooperation with the Office of the Washington State Attorney General
By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor
Two of Dexter's hometown heroes were honored on Monday (July 16) afternoon at Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post 59.
Tom Love and the late Jerry Seabaugh were honored with the Veterans Service Award from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder - an award honored for continuing, distinguished community service after an individual's time in the military has ended.
"I'm doing this to recognize wonderful volunteers and veterans, whose service to us all did not end with their 'hitch' in the military. I'm here today to recognize not one, but two, of Missouri's hometown heroes," Lt. Gov. Kinder said. "This is a first - I've [given this award] all over the state, and no other town has had two of these winners."
Love served in the Marine Corps from 1962 to 1968; he achieved the rank of Captain during the Vietnam Conflict. He has continually put in hard work at AL Post 59, and even opened up Gobbler Ridge Farms and founded the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility. Situated in the woods just southwest of Bloomfield, the DVWF is on lease at no cost to Post 59, and the post's members manage the farm for these visitors. The facility is fully handicap-accessible, and it provides a place where families can hunt, fish, take photos, spend the night in the cabin, and just enjoy the beauty of the scenery.
"I just want to thank the group and Senator Rob Mayer for this presentation," Love said after receiving the award. "I appreciate the generosity, and I accept this in honor of the vets that benefit from what we're trying to do here."Seabaugh, who passed away on June 16, 2012, was a Sergeant in the Missouri Army-National Guard, and was nominated for the award due to a heroic act eight years ago.
In 1994, State Representative Sue Scheer was caught in a flash flood in Jefferson City. Rep. Scheer was attempting to reach her apartment when a rush of water from a flooded street engulfed her car. Though he could not swim, Seabaugh, with no concern for himself, entered the floodwater and pulled Rep. Scheer from her rapidly-engulfing car and to safety. For his act, Seabaugh was awarded the Soldier's Medal by President Bill Clinton, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Missouri Army-National Guard's Award of the Valley Forge Cross.
"They say that adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it; Sergeant Seabaugh's heroism and patriotism were clearly revealed that April night in 1994," Lt. Gov. Kinder commented, "and his actions certainly saved that woman's life. It is my honor to present this award posthumously to the family of Jerry Seabaugh."
Lt. Gov. Kinder also pointed out programs enacted during his tenure that benefit Missouri Veterans, and noted them as a strong source of pride for the state.
"In my years in Jefferson City, I've been privileged, honored, and humbled to advocate for veterans. My first year on the job in 2005, we were able to pass, with Senator [Rob] Mayer's assistance, the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund. This fund is to assist the families of guardsmen and reservists who leave a job in the private sector to go into active duty," he said. "We know they suffer a drop in income, and sometimes they fall behind on a car payment, a house payment, or a utility bill, and we want to be there with a cash stipend to help them through that rough patch. That's not charity - that's emphatically done, heartfelt thanks for a job well-done."
Photos Above:
Top: Members of the late Jerry Seabaugh's family accept the Veterans Service Award from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, Sen. Rob Mayer, and former Rep. Billy Pat Wright.
Bottom (from left): Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Tom Love, Carmen Love, and Sen. Rob Mayer pose with Love's award.
Below are videos of Lt. Gov. Kinder's remarks before presenting the Veterans Service Awards, as well as a photo gallery from the event.
Written by
Zach Hedrick, SMT Writer
The apostle Paul wrote words of encouragement to his young friend Timothy in II Timothy 4:7 when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Ms. Frances echoes Paul’s sentiments on life, but adds “I am here for God’s purposes. He has given me this race to run, and I will finish this race in His timing. We are all here for God’s purpose, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have a purpose. He has called me to the encouragement ministry.”
Ms. Frances’ story began on a small farm near Kingsville, Missouri where she was raised with one sister. She remembers growing up in First Baptist Church of Kingsville where she says she accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at the age of 9. Her mother was her greatest Christian influence as a child, and she followed her mother’s example, becoming active in church ministry early on.
In high school, Ms. Frances played the piano at church and taught Sunday School for kindergartners. She states she felt a special affection to children, and has always been like “candy to kids.”
She was a very well-rounded teenager as she was class president, editor of the school paper, played piano, tuba, and violin, along with playing on the girl’s basketball team. The “I Dare You” award was also given to her as the student noted to have the most potential and the greatest community involvement.
After high school, Ms. Frances attended The State Teaching College at Warrensburg for two years, and later completed her four year degree by going to school in the summers. Her first job was at a one room schoolhouse known as Locust Grove School.
It was during this time she met her future husband. One of her eighth grade students had an older brother who rode her to school on a horse.
One day he asked Ms. Frances if she would like a ride, and she accepted. The young man spurred the horse causing Ms. Frances to turn around and put her arms around the young man to keep from falling off of the horse. She states she later told her husband those spurs “cost him almost 56 years of marriage” and the spurs are still in the family!
After eight years of marriage, Ms. Frances finally had her beloved son Steve. She states that she had prayed diligently for a child, and after his birth she modeled Hannah in the Bible and “dedicated the child to the Lord.” This son is known to those in Dexter as “Pastor Steve” of the local First Baptist Church.
Ms. Frances loved being a mother, and stopped teaching after the birth of her son, but continued to be active in her local churches. The family moved to Raytown, Missouri when Steve was in kindergarten, and First Baptist Raytown is where Ms. Frances’ current ministry found its early beginnings.
It was here that she taught 2nd grade Sunday School, and she began writing notes to all of her students. She states that the ministry took off in the early 1970’s as Steve graduated from school, and she had more time to devote to this valuable tool of encouragement.
Her initial emphasis was note writing to children, high school, and college students, and this is her passion. However, her list soon grew to include the children’s parents, those with illness, recent baptisms or rededications, soloists in church, those noted in the local newspaper, and almost an endless list of other occasions which she deems worthy of a note of encouragement.
After the death of her husband in 2001, Ms. Frances followed her son Steve and his wife Cheryl to Lake St. Louis where Steve was the pastor at a local church. It was here she developed a friendship with Ellie Young who became her prayer partner.
This partnership survived Ms. Frances’ move to Dexter in 2008 when she again followed Steve and Cheryl as they began their ministry at First Baptist Church Dexter. Ms. Frances states that she and Ellie talk by telephone every Tuesday for about two hours and pray over a wide range of prayer requests. However, the only personal request Ms. Frances has of Ellie is to pray for her arthritis in her hands so that it won’t hinder her card writing ministry.
Ellie has another powerful impact on Ms. Frances’ ministry in that she provides all the beautiful note cards that are used for encouragement.
There are few accomplishments or noteworthy achievements that get by without a card from Ms. Frances. She literally sends out hundreds of cards each month, and over 350 cards at Christmas time.
Times have changed from the three cent stamp in 1942 to the forty-five cent stamp today, but Ms. Frances heart of love and encouragement has not changed. She remains an extremely humble, gentle soul who seeks no glory for herself, but only to glorify Christ by showing a practical expression of His love towards others.
It is hard to get one up on Ms. Frances – if a thank you note is sent to her for a note, often a thank you for the thank you note is sent in return! She should be an example for all of us that age is not a defining factor in the ability to an active part of God’s ministry here on earth. After all, she is still “running the race” with a smile on her face and usually a pen in her hand.
