Jessica Snider SMT Writer
Starling Guinn has always been an active supporter of the Small Wonders program at the First Baptist Church. Now a resident at Central Gardens Residential Care Facility in Dexter, Starling receives a treat from the young children of Small Wonders from time to time that brings incredible joy to his soul.
Starling served in many capacities as a volunteer for the Small Wonders program. For three years, he was a regular at the school three and four times per week. His primary responsibility was to make certain that the facilities were kept Spic N' Span.
Starling was self proclaimed as the "Sanitation Engineer" of the school. But when Starling Guinn was on the job, anything and everything he could do to help the program was in his job description.
"I was easily attached to the kids at Small Wonders," commented Mr. Guinn.
Many time, Starling was the grandfather figure who comforted many kids during his three years of volunteering at Small Wonders. Whenever a child was crying, or a child was sad, Starling would take them under his loving wing and comfort them. It can’t be denied that most of those children will never forget Mr. Starling.
Now residing at Central Gardens, the roles have been reversed for Mr. Guinn. The love and the comfort he used to give to the young kids is now passed out to Starling and the other residence at Central Gardens. These young kids frequently stop to see him to put a smile on the faces of Mr. Guinn and his friends. The teachers and kids see it as their way of returning the favor for all that Mr. Starling has done for them.
Yesterday, forty kids from Small Wonders made a stop in Central Gardens. The visit was appreciated by all of the residents, including Starling Guinn. The kids entertained their audience by singing a number of fall songs for the residents. The kids also brought smiles to the faces of the residence as they passed out their artwork of colored pumpkins. It is not hard to keep a smile on your face in the presence of the children from Small Wonders.
Starling and his wife, Betty, passionately loved and supported the ministry and program of Small Wonders. They believed in the availability of a quality childcare for these young kids and often purchased needed items for the Small Wonders operation. Starling has a love for giving to others and all who have ever met him appreciate his passionate heart.
Starling has recently noted that he thinks Central Gardens is the next best place to home. He continues to spread his joy among residence and staff members there. You will often catch him stopping by the kitchen every morning to tell the workers how much he appreciates and loves them.
It is hard to not be touched by the loving heart that lies inside the small framed body of Starling Guinn. He is a man who has always cared more for the happiness of others more than he did his own. Starling enjoys seeing others smile and often is the reason for the smiles that others wear on their faces. (whether he realizes it or not).
A person cannot be in the presence of Mr. Guinn without being effected in a positive way. His commitment to his faith, enthusiasm for life and the ability to find happiness in all situations is infectious to other.
You can always count on a smile and Starling asking you "how you are doing". But his smile is always a little wider and brighter after the visit from the Small Wonders' kids. He is truly a blessing to those around him!
Starling is pictured in the above photo with the 40 kids from Small Wonders on their visit Wednesday.
If you were to watch the Arkansas State Marching Band you would see several former students from Dexter. Tim Moore and Daniel Chappell are Juniors at Arkansas State University. These two are graduates of Dexter who took what they learned on to ASU to participate in the Marching Band.
Tim Moore is a Music Education Major who graduated from Dexter in 2009. Everyone probably remembers Tim as the big football player who would come out on the field with half of his football uniform on and play his trumpet. Tim had a love for football but his music ability is what has helped him move on and get a higher education.
"I don't know about the others but I chose ASU because it wasn't too far from home and they offered me a great music scholarship." Tim commented.
Tim's younger brother Brandon, a former Dexter student and football player, is also attending ASU and a member of the ASU marching band. Brandon was a graduate of Dexter in 2012 and is attending Arkansas State as a Music Composition Major.
Arkansas State University is a rapidly growing college and has a lot to offer to its students. One of the attractions to it for these Dexter graduates is its close proximity to their hometown.
Another student at ASU from Dexter is Lauren Dudley. Lauren is a Music Education major at ASU and plays the saxophone. Like several other Dexter students she is taking advantage of what she learned and her love of music and turning it into a career.
For ASU student, and former Dexter student, Shelby Chappell it was a good fit. She liked the idea of being close to home and her brother also attends ASU. Shelby started playing music in the 6th grade on the bassoon and plays the bassoon in Wind Ensemble at A State.
Shelby is a talented musician and plays the trombone in the marching band at ASU. Although she is a talented musician Shelby is using her musical abilities to get a major in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology.
When asked why she ended up at ASU with all of her former Dexter band-mates, Shelby replied.
"My brother goes to school here too, so the campus and some of the band directors were familiar and I was also offered a band scholarship which will help me pay for college.
These former band members are using what they learned at Dexter High School and more specifically the band, to help themselves succeed in life by getting an education.The marching band at Dexter sometimes does not get the attention that other activities in high school may get. The students that make up these bands put in many hours of practice and determination to succeed. As members of the band many of our students like, Shelby, Lauren, Brandon, Tim, and Daniel will get to use the talents that they have learned to go on and have success in other walks of life.
The Red Cross serves more than 3,000 hospitals nationwide, including many Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. Currently, all blood types are needed, especially O negative, B negative and A negative. Type O negative, the universal blood type, can potentially be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.
Another way to honor military personnel is by making a contribution to support Service to the Armed Forces, a Red Cross program that offers resources for deployed service members and their families, provides emergency communications, and supports hospital outreach and veterans programs. Learn more at redcross.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities are at the following locations:
*Butler County
Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Poplar Bluff High School, 1300 Victory Lane in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
*Cape Girardeau County
Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 804 N. Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Nov. 5 from 2-6 p.m. at Nell Holcomb School, 6547 State Highway 177 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Do It Best, 5422 Nash Road in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
*Stoddard County
Nov. 1 from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at Stoddard County Ambulance District, 501 W. Business Highway 60 in Dexter, Mo.*Dunklin County
Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Senath Hornersville High School, 800 State St. in Senath, Mo.
Nov. 15 from 3-7 p.m. at Malden Elementary School, 505 Burkhart in Malden, Mo.
If you would like to donate blood simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood, teaches skills that save lives, provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org
The Mystery Clue will be performed with special guest appearance by Neal Boyd, winner of America’s Got Talent. Dinner will be served by Tasteful Creations Catering, drinks provided, music by Semo DJ and lots of fun to be had by you! Social Hour starts at 6pm with Dinner and Play to follow.
The proceeds raised will go to benefit the Ozark Family Resource Agency which helps children and families in the Poplar Bluff and Doniphan area. For more information go to www.ofra.org and have a good time while helping out others in need.
The Missouri Department of Higher Education will use the grant to create a statewide system for reverse transfer among the state’s two- and four-year institutions, both public and independent. A reverse transfer policy will enable students who have accumulated sufficient credit, in combination from those institutions, to earn an associate degree. Nearly 2,000 Missouri students are expected to be able to earn associate degrees as a result of the two-year grant.
“This will particularly help those students who transfer from a community college before earning an associate degree but who are unable to complete their degree at a four-year university, because of financial or other reasons,” Gov. Nixon said. “The reverse transfer of the credits they earned at the four-year school can help put an associate degree in their hands, strengthening their value in the job market.”
The Lumina Foundation grant supports the provisions of House Bill 1042, signed into law this past June by the Governor. The bill authorizes the Coordinating Board of Higher Education to develop a reverse transfer policy among Missouri’s public colleges and universities, and requires all two- and four-year public institutions to create a core of at least 25 undergraduate courses by July 1, 2014, that are transferable among all public institutions.
The grant will help the state:
*Develop statewide technology and communication infrastructure, and appropriate supporting policies;
*Provide a venue for institutions to share information regarding both best practices and barriers to implementation; and
*Provide guidance and direction to focus institutions on collaboration and cooperation in support of House Bill 1042.
Gov. Nixon has held several statewide higher education summits with leaders of the state’s universities and colleges, both public and independent, to develop and implement strategies for increasing the number of Missourians with post-secondary degrees, and to prepare students for careers for high-demand occupations.
“Some 750,000 Missourians have college credits but no degree, and by 2018, nearly two-thirds of all jobs in the United States will require some kind of post-secondary education.” Gov. Nixon said. “Higher education is the key to Missouri’s sustained economic progress and quality of life, and essential to our nation’s ability to compete and win in a global economy.”
The Lumina Foundation joined with four other national foundations – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Kresge Foundation and USA Funds – in the initiative called, “Credit When It’s Due: Recognizing the Value of the Quality Associate Degree.” The foundations today announced a total of $6.4 million in grants to support initiatives in Missouri and 11 other states.
‘Credit When It’s Due’ will provide a way to fairly credit community colleges for their work in preparing transfer students; clarify the value of sub-baccalaureate degrees by awarding them consistently; help individuals – especially those who drop out of college before earning a baccalaureate degree – by providing them a post-secondary credential with proven currency in the labor market; and promote efforts to more clearly define the learning outcomes inherent in all associate degrees,” said Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation.
