Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Bloomfield, Missouri – Saturday morning every grave at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield will have a wreath. For six years, people, businesses, and churches in Stoddard County have contributed money to make sure each and every gravesite will have a beautiful wreath.
Tomorrow morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. more than 2,000 wreaths will arrive and be placed on the graves. You can participate!
Ken Swearengin, director of the Veterans Cemetery said, “Wreaths Across America will have Randy Dunn as master of ceremonies while ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the military will be placed as memorials. Army, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Merchant Marines and POW/MIA veterans will be honored for their sacrifice.”
Wreath Across America is a non-profit organization and formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project. Arlington will conduct their ceremonies at the same time as Bloomfield.
No matter the weather tomorrow, rain, sleet or snow the wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves. It will be a powerful image: a veteran’s headstone and an evergreen wreath wrapped in red ribbon. It’s an honor to participate. It’s a time of remembrance and a kind gesture of gratitude.
Please come out and honor those who have given so much. The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Columbia, Missouri - With winter break approaching quickly, the University of Missouri Police Department is advising students, faculty, staff and community members to take extra precautions before traveling for the holidays.
“Millions of people in the U.S. anxiously look forward to spending time with extended family over the holidays each year,” said Mike Laughlin, crime prevention officer with MUPD. “Unfortunately, some criminals are very aware that we may have to be away from our homes while visiting family during this holiday season.”
Laughlin offers the following tips for individuals who are traveling for the holidays:
Before you Leave:
• Stow valuable possessions out of sight or take them home when traveling.
• Be sure to lock windows and doors (including the patio door) before leaving.
• Ask someone who is staying in town to watch your residence and change which lights are on to make it appear someone is home.
• Do not leave bicycles outside.
• Write down the serial numbers of all valuable electronic items. Store those numbers somewhere other than inside the home.
• Visit http://www.mupolice.com/cp/ to register bicycles and laptops, and access the printable form to record the serial numbers of valuable possessions.
If Driving to your Destination:
• Check the car’s fluid levels and tire pressure to ensure safety.
• Try and maintain at least one-half tank of gas while on the road.
• Let someone know when you are leaving and when you are scheduled to arrive.
• Wear your seat belt.
If the weather is bad, allow extra time for getting to your destination. Have provisions in the car in case you get stranded (first aid kit, coat, flashlight, blanket, etc.)
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - An iconic children’s book will come to life across Southeast Missouri with “The Velveteen Rabbit” a musical adaptation of the classic tale. The show will be performed on November 16 at 2 p.m. at the Dexter High School Auditorium, at 7 p.m. on November 16 at the Sikeston Field House, and on November 17 at 2 p.m. at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center in Poplar Bluff. Admission is $5 per person.
The show, which is part of the Patrons of the Arts 2013-2014 season, is a production of the Imaginary Theatre Company, a professional touring ensemble from St. Louis.
“This is the second season that the Patrons Society has booked the Imaginary Theater Company to come down from St. Louis and present,” said Robert Cook, Director of the Tinnin Center.
It is the first seasons that Three Rivers and the Patrons of the Arts have expanded performances beyond the Tinnin Center. The Patrons group is partnering with the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and the Sikeston Public School Foundation to bring performances to those cities. In addition to “The Velveteen Rabbit,” other Imaginary Theater Company productions performed in all three cities will be “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” in January and “The Tortoise and the Hare” in February.
Through the use of literature, folk tales, fairy tales, and new adaptations of classic works, the Imaginary Theatre Company provides the finest in theater for young theater-goers.
“The audience response is always wonderful. Children and their parents truly enjoy these whimsical performances,” said Cook.
Based on Margery Williams’ famed literary classic, The Velveteen Rabbit tells the story of a little boy and his stuffed bunny who wonders what it means to be “real.” After years of adventure and devotion, the bunny becomes a truly beloved friend and is magically transformed into a real woodland rabbit. Join us this holiday season and share in a heartwarming musical tale that celebrates the rewards of loyalty and the wonderful, surprising power of love. The show is appropriate for all ages and family audiences.
“The Velveteen Rabbit” is sponsored in Dexter by Bootheel Recycling, C. A. Walker Construction, Inc., Cypress Point, Edward Jones: Charlie Flannigan & Ben Worley, Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, First Midwest Bank of Dexter, First National Bank of Dexter, Holden Law Office, Mary E. Worley, Dexter Realty & Appraisal Services, Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County, Southern Bank of Dexter, The Metro Gallery, and Tyson Foods, Inc. The performance in Sikeston is sponsored by Carrie Yanson and the Sikeston Public Schools Foundation.
Tickets can be purchased online at trcc.edu/tinnin.
Tickets are also available at the the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and the Center at Dexter; the Sikeston Public School Foundation offices and the Center at Sikeston; and the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce and the Three Rivers College Business Office.
For a study guide for this production or for more information about the Imaginary Theatre Company, visit www.repstl.org. For more information on upcoming Patrons of the Arts performances, visit trcc.edu/tinnin.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
United States - This isn't a local story, but hopefully you will be inspired by this amazing 17 year old girl who loves to run! Cross-country running hardly gets the recognition that it deserves. It's a difficult sport, just ask any Bearcat Cross Country Team member here in Dexter. The story of this young athlete is truly remarkable.
Sami Stoner, a legally blind girl from Lexington, Ohio, has inspired thousands across the country with her story of positivity, dedication and overcoming personal obstacles.
The 17-year-old athlete has never let her inability to see keep her from her dreams of running cross-country.
As an eighth grader, Stoner was diagnosed with Stargardt Disease, a form of juvenile macular degeneration that quickly took away her central vision, sparing only some peripheral sight. Although the condition prevents her from driving, it hasn't kept her from running, a sport she took up before her vision deteriorated.
During her first two years at Lexington High, Stoner ran alongside a friend, Hannah Ticoras, who sacrificed her own times to escort Stoner safely from start to finish. But after Ticoras graduated in 2011, Stoner faced a dilemma.
Enter Chloe, an energetic golden retriever Stoner met last summer through Pilot Dogs Inc., a Columbus nonprofit that matches visually impaired individuals with guide dogs. The pair began running short stretches together during their month-long orientation in Columbus, eventually working up to the five-kilometer distance of Stoner's cross-country races.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association at first denied Stoner's request to compete in sanctioned races with Chloe, but the governing body ultimately relented, clearing the duo to debut at a Galion, Ohio, meet last September. Under safety measures agreed upon with the OHSAA, Stoner and Chloe start 20 to 30 seconds after other competitors and must finish outside narrow finish-line chutes, Harris said.
Although Stoner is ineligible to score -- only the fastest seven varsity times count at most meets, she said -- she finished in less than 30 minutes for the first time last fall. She credits trust in Chloe for bolstering her confidence and shaving seconds off her times. "She's always focused on what's ahead of us," Stoner said.
Approaching life with uncommon verve despite her disability, those close to her say, Stoner strives to be a positive role model for other visually impaired people, including a young girl she began mentoring recently.
But she's not stopping there. Now, Stoner has her sights set on the future. She hopes to compete at the collegiate level next year at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, her school of choice.
Stoner, who began losing her vision in eighth grade, has been overwhelmed by the support she's received in her community and beyond.
"I can't even wrap my head around how much support we have," she told USA Today. "It's been so incredible. We're lucky to have it."
And of course, she couldn't have done it without her dog, Chloe. The Golden Retriever runs with Sami for miles, often through the woods. Chloe is now considered another member of the cross-country team.
Sami's father, Keith, is hopeful about his daughter's career as a runner, saying, "I don't see a lot of limitations in her future."
Sami herself is no less optimistic about her future as a runner, and her attitude has been relentlessly positive.
"If you love something enough, you'll find a way to do it," she told ABC News, "Even if you have struggles."
Pretty impressive and we should all remember that nothing is impossible if we just set our sights on a goal and GO FOR IT! Every person who reads this should be inspired by her positive attitude!
Dexter High School has a Cross Country Team and will be hosting a Meet this Saturday, October 26th at 10:00 a.m. Please come out and support the Bearcats as they run and enjoy a sport they truly enjoy and love! Go Bearcats!!!
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri - October is Fire Prevention Month and according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a home structure fire was reported every 87 seconds in 2009.
Is your family prepared for a fire emergency? October is National Fire Prevention Month and it serves as an excellent time to examine your preparedness. Do you have a home fire escape plan? Have you changed smoke-alarm batteries within the last year? Do you know the main reasons for fires starting in the home? Get more information on Fire Prevention Month and Week at the NFPA’s website.
With Fire Prevention Week 2013 last week, State Fire Marshal Randy Cole is urging Missourians to learn about and take simple steps to prevent kitchen fires. More fires occur in the kitchen than in any other room of the house. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and of home fire-related injuries.
“Kitchen fires, especially those involving grease, can spread quickly and be very difficult to put out,” State Fire Marshal Cole said. “There are other fire risks in the kitchen, too, including toasters, toaster ovens and overloaded outlets and extension cords. That is why it is essential to know how fires can start in the kitchen, understand the ways they can be prevented and have an action plan for what to do if a fire starts.”
Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates will be emphasizing are:
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
• If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
• If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
• When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from the stovetop.
• Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
• Keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen exit. Make sure you know how to operate the extinguisher. Fire extinguishers are never a substitute for calling the fire department, even if a fire is small.
Fire Marshal Cole suggests creating a family fire safety plan that includes learning about kitchen fire hazards and how to avoid them, as well as developing a home fire escape plan. Families should regularly practice these plans and explain them to children, revising the plan as the children grow up.
Cole adds that having a working smoke detector is essential to ensuring your family is alerted in case of a fire and suggests replacing smoke detector batteries at least once a year to help ensure they will work when needed.
The end of Daylight Saving Time, 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, when clocks are adjusted to “fall back” an hour, can serve as an easy reminder.
Fire Prevention Week is recognized annually by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and fire departments and safety agencies across the country. According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and related injuries. In 2011, there were 370,000 home structure fires resulting in 2,520 civilian deaths across the nation.
For more than 85 years, fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record. For more information on “Prevent Kitchen Fires,” visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
