Article by
Contributing Writer
Aleshia Flowers
High School Students, Little Ones, Trunk-or-Treats for Everyone!
This year’s Trunk-or-Treat event at Dexter High School will be of excitement and fun for kids of all ages! Over the past 10 years, Bearcat Lane has transformed from a run-of-the-mill street curb to a popping Halloween block party for students.
Trunk-or-Treat is an event directed by the school’s Student Council and co-hosted by each of the various clubs on campus. Since its beginnings, the event has grown from a conservative gathering to a vast sea of eager attendees. This year approximately 500 children from the surrounding area are expected to attended the event.
“Trunk or Treat is a safe, one-stop, trick or treating experience for the young kids,” commented Jennifer Miller, Dexter High School Student Advisor.
Each year candy is donated by high school club members, Southwest and Central Elementary students, and community supporters. High school students line their cars along the pavilion, trunks opened and decorated. Rather than being filled with the odds and ends of daily life, the trunk is filled of candy for children to stuff in their Halloween sacks.
Elementary students that attend are sure to receive plenty of Halloween treats and enjoy fall games as well as a costume contest earlier in the night. High school students compete for best car décor and costume combination. While each team hopes to win the competition, the biggest prize is seeing the faces of eager children as they travel down the line admiring every costume and receiving each piece of candy with as much excitement as they received the first.
“The High School kids enjoy it as much as the younger kids,” added Mrs. Miller. “It gives them the chance to act like young kids again.”
Recent events in local news remind parents, now more than ever, that they can never be too safe. Parents enjoy Trunk-or-Treat because it allows children to have a protected trick-or-treating experience without the hassle or worry of going door-to-door. A special thank you to the students at DHS for helping keep our community safe by providing a fun alternative for youngsters!
ShowMe Times 2011 Trunk or Treat Gallery
Trunk-or-Treat at DHS, October 31, 2011
Social media has been around for quite sometime, but why is it that as of lately social media websites are off the charts with their popularity? From Myspace, to Facebook, and even Twitter, the number of people visiting these websites daily is astonishing!
It has recently occurred to me that many people would prefer getting their daily news from a social media site rather than actually sitting down to watch the evening news on the television. For some people this may be bothersome, but for others they see it as simply the way the world is evolving.
Think about it, everywhere you go you’re more than likely to see someone with a handheld device held close to their face as they interact socially while still being on the go. With the latest news, tweets, and Facebook status updates being available to us in the blink of an eye, why wouldn’t we take advantage of it?
Social Media can be used for many positive things in today’s society. While we’re being honest with each other, we can all admit it’s much easier to login to Facebook to catch up on what’s happening than it is to sit down, turn the TV on, and wait for the current events portion of the daily news. That’s not knocking the news, though. Many people would prefer to hear someone talking while delivering the news as to holding a handheld device and reading it.
Social Media is great for keeping up with people you haven’t seen in years, catching up on great things happening within your community, and just a good way to stay socially active with your peers. I think many people take for granted how easily news can be accessed through our iPhones or other smart phones. We’ve all, at least once, heard someone comment on how they used to have to get up to change the channel on the television and how it’s crazy that we can simply control the television with a remote while remaining on the sofa.
It’s gone much farther than remotes, however. In today’s society, with the touch of a button you’re immediately connected with your friends and able to communicate however you like. Whether it be tweeting your opinion on something, letting your Facebook friends know how you’ve been doing, or even uploading pictures of your latest family vacation.
In other words, it’s simply amazing what social media has done for people in today’s society. It’s much easier to keep a friendship with someone you’ve lost touch with while using today’s technology.
There may be a few down sides to the vastly spinning social media world, but for the most part it has greatly enhanced many people’s communication and has made it easier to stay up to date with the ever-changing world.
May we continue to enjoy these leisures of technology, but never take for granted what we have!
Zach Hedrick, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri - A life is often judged by the accomplishments of a person. What if the accomplishments of a person and their path in life has been humbly kept quiet. Typically, you only know that a humble natured person is just "nice". That's it ... "They are a nice person". Wouldn't you like to really understand the complete "Paul Harvey" version of that person.
Mary Northern is one of those individuals whose path of life has been one of a humble servant. Deep within her pleasant, loving, expressions, she daily shares joy with everyone she comes in contact. A quiet smile and a sweet touch of her voice will often make a person feel that they have just encountered a person whose life has been filled with blessings. It seems safe to assume that the joy and happiness she pours into the lives of others must certainly be the results of a joyful life.
The joys of "Miss Mary", as she is affectionately known by many, are abundant and they continue to multiply. Her gifts that bless the hearts of others are a commitment and a passion that she developed early in her life. Mary remains convinced that through her own challenges of life, God continues to have a special purpose for her.
The path of life is often filled with bumpy side roads. Many times, the side trips are paths that people do not choose but are required to endure. They are not pretty nor are they enjoyable, they simply are difficult times filled with hurt, heartache, and challenges.
Some people share these experiences openly in a hope to offer encouragement and hope for others that are going through similar circumstances. Others remain very private about those experiences, sharing with only a few very select and close friends. Mary has been one to remain private and simply share her expressions of love to her family and to others.
As a young girl, Mary Northern was an active, happy person. She was involved in an accident in her late teen years that left her body paralyzed for a period of time. Her injuries were significant and doctors at Barnes hospital told her that she shouldn't have been able to survive these injuries.
After an extended time in Barnes hospital, many surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, Mary regained her ability to walk using a cane. Her near death experience convinced Mary at a young age that God had a special purpose for her life.
The miracles of Mary's life continue to unfold as doctors informed her that she would be unable to have children. Again, God had a different plan for Mary's life as she later married and had two children who are the pride of her life - Scott Northern of Dexter and Shelley Silvey who resides in Joplin, Missouri. Her reward became even greater as she was further blessed with 7 grandchildren.Convinced of God's purpose for her life, Mary began a life of pouring her love and testimony into the lives of families with young children in the Dexter area. Only seeing her abilities and ignoring any disabilities, Mary set out to make her life count for something.
Counting her blessings, Mary found that loving others and showing kindness to others were her greatest gifts she could offer. She began to share her life and spirit with local working mothers, who needed someone to watch their children during the day.
Mary initially babysat children in her own home when her children were small. As her own children began to attend school, she began her own special ministry of babysitting for families in their homes. Mary literally raised children from birth to school age, while these children enjoyed the familiar comforts of the family's own home.
One family in one home was not the type of babysitting that brought about the same financial rewards of keeping multiple children in her own home. But her ministry was not about quantity but quality. Her gift involved a deeper development of the special relationships with the babies and their families by working on a one to one basis.
Far more than childcare, Mary found it important to guard the quality time a working mother would have with her children by providing a clean home and often times, a home-made meal ready to be served to the entire family at the end of the day. Mary was an angel to these fortunate families that were blessed enjoy her ministry and friendship.
Additional hardship came into Mary's life in 1992 when she required additional back surgery to fuse her lumbar spine. Although this surgery was a medically necessity, it left her wheelchair bound and unable to continue with her babysitting ministry.In 1998, the transit hoped to offer Saturday services to their clients but were challenged by budget constraints to afford a dispatcher for that day. This was "Miss Mary's" opportunity to yet again, serve others. Again, only focused on her abilities, she stepped in to volunteer three days a week and has done so ever since this time. Mary became a part of the puzzle to help make the transit's Saturday service available to others in our community.
"Mary has been a loyal friend to the transit for many years. She not only rides the transit, but she volunteers her time as well," commented Rachel Garrett, manager at Stoddard County Transit. "We here at Stoddard County Transit always look forward to Mary's generous words and smiling face."
Rachel also added, "Her co-workers always look forward to delicious baked goods and the occasional ham and bean dinners that she opens her home for."
The choir sings every Monday at Central Gardens where Mary is a resident. Mary is known as the "Cookie Queen" at Central Gardens as she always provides homemade refreshments for the residents after the groups musical presentations.
"Mary is a great asset to the Senior Center. She is our Activity Director and has been active in the Center for several years." commented Dena Rawson, administrator at the Dexter O.A.K.S. Center. "She bakes and brings sweet treats to the center occasionally and shares with everyone.""I might add she is one AWESOME cook," continued Rawson. "She has treated my staff and me to dinner in her home."
Mary Northern has a convincing way of letting others know that she truly loves and cares about them. Sometimes it's through her gifts that you know are from the heart and other times, it's simply a sweet smile and 'hello'.
"Mary has a kind heart and is up for helping in any way I need her. She sings in the choir here at the center on Thursdays. Everyone here loves Miss Mary and she is very deserving of any recognition that she gets," complimented Dena.
What has inspired Mary to continue to serve through tough obstacle when many would have retreated into an attitude of "Why me". Mary simply states "Why not me," and states that "I can't imagine not doing for others."
She doesn't like to think of herself as handicapped, and she expresses that making other people happy makes her happy. She feels she has spent her life trying to do for others so that she does not miss the calling God one day saved her life to perform.
Mary claims many Bible verses as her inspiration, but she particularly loves verses claiming God's promises. She loves the promise that God will not put more on a person than they can handle together with the help of God. Mary gains daily strength by relying of God's word for direction in her life and service.
Many times, our world has a way pulling our focus toward temporal and material things of life. The purity and simplicity of the servant's heart found in Mary Northern is a lesson for us all. Creating happiness and spreading joy through the gifts that God has given to Mary has become a way of life for her. Through the struggles and tough times, it's easy to see that Mary Northern considers it a privilege and a blessing to be in God's grace and serving others.
Written by
Jessica Snider SMT Writer
Jordan McGowan has been playing and enjoying the sport of basketball since he was in the third grade. Throughout his years of playing the sport, his interest and talent has only grown.
McGowan is a Bernie High School graduate and is now a member of the Three Rivers basketball team.
During his high school career, Jordan McGowan had nothing short of very impressive varsity basketball seasons. “We won second in state my junior and senior years,” McGowan recalls of his talented high school team. For most basketball fans around the area, we know that Bernie’s talent is to not be taken lightly, especially when they step out onto the basketball court.
Jordan McGowan was all state both his junior and senior basketball seasons. It’s safe to say many people throughout the local area have recognized his talent.
McGowan has recently started his sophomore year at Three Rivers and has high hopes for the upcoming basketball season. “It’s looking great, we have a great group of guys coming in and we have done well this preseason,” McGowan commented.
McGowan says his experience at Three Rivers has been great and he has enjoyed it so far. When asked what he likes best about being at Three Rivers he replied, “my teammates.”
His freshman year at Three Rivers was an eye opening experience for him and the basketball team did a pretty nice job throughout the season. “It was great, we finished the year with a 21-14 record with a trip to the big dance and ended the season there in the top sixteen in the nation,” McGowan recalls.
The Three Rivers Raider boy’s basketball team has been in and out of the gym practicing for the upcoming season for a while. As Jordan said, the season is looking good with some talented players joining the team. The team hopes to come out strong and even improve from their last season’s record.
The team will begin competing in many tournaments starting in the next few weeks or so. A complete schedule of the Raiders Basketball Team can be viewed by going to www.raidersathletics.com
It’s a very neat experience for Jordan McGowan to get to be playing the sport he loves even after his high school years. Many fans from around the area have enjoyed watching McGowan and his incredible talent on many courts he played on throughout his time on the Bernie Mules basketball team.
We wish Jordan continued success in school and in playing basketball, and hope people will be interested in attending a Three Rivers basketball game or two this upcoming season.
Zach Hedrick, SMT Writer
Not very long ago Kerry Gilbow was thinking about what he could do to help the cause. As he was brainstorming, he thought of where his strengths lay. As a bricklayer, mason, and business man he came up with the idea to make granite plaques that a person or business could display to show their support of 18 Fore Life. Mark Booker and Jim Rainey got on board to help with the planning of this fundraiser and it took off.
These desk plaques are made of solid granite. They are professionally made, beautiful pieces people could buy in support of the cause. He sells them for $1075.00. With the purchase of one of these beautiful pieces $75 dollars goes to the materials and cost for etching.
"The wonderful thing about this project is that with the amount being donated being $1000 it can be designated specifically to a love offering for a family in need of relief from cancer expense. In other words, a business or individual buys a desk plaque and the money they donated can go directly to someone they know or to the fund in general," commented Kerry Gilbow.
The Granite Desk Plaque Project, is going to allow 18 Fore Life to speed towards their mission of giving away the $1 Millionth dollar!
"Kerry Gilbow, Jim Rainey, and Mark Booker are incredible people. They would do anything for anybody and it is an honor to have them on our 18 FORE Life team," commented 18 Fore Life co-founder Scott Kruse. "They have been part of what we do from the very start."
With everyone's help this organization can continue to give assistance to those families that are in need. Sometimes a little bit of support and attention to peoples needs is all that they need to keep up their fight against this terrible disease.
18 Fore Life has also joined one of the biggest social medias around, Facebook. Be sure to visit 18 Fore Life's Facebook and Like it. This will help to spread the word about the amazing work that they do.
