In addition to a recent donation to the Regional Healthcare Foundation’s Mother-to-Mother program, the “Being Faurecia” team presented a check on Tuesday to Dexter Police Department’s Officer Lori O’Dell, who is the coordinator and director of the local D.A.R.E. Program at the fifth grade level.
Emphasizing that “Children are Our Future,” Being Faurecia Champion Angela Roberts, (at left holding the D.A.R.E. mascot) along with Team Member, Kim Pierce, with Human Resources at the local plant, are shown presenting the $500 contribution to O’Dell to be utilized as she instructs her D.A.R.E. students.
Dexter, Missouri - It was a great year for the 2015 DHS Bearcat Art Splash. They had way more businesses willing to participate than they were able to accommodate with students artists this year.
This group of incredibly talented art students is among some of the busiest high school students on the Dexter Bearcat campus and yet they still found time to paint eight business locations this year for homecoming.
Organizing and running this event takes a lot of time, a special thanks to County Wide Insurance and Tracy Horton for making this event special during the homecoming activities.
The art students painted 5 large windows and 3 small windows in Dexter. The DHS Bearcat Art Splash program collected $550 for the art students and the Art Club at Dexter High School.
They paid out $225 in prize money and $200 was shared among the students who painted the windows. The additional $100 went to the Art Club.
Josh Ladd and Emily Ladd painted their Bearcat at County Wide Insurance Agency and earned a 3rd Place finish and $50. (See photo below.)
Taylor Ivy and MaKayla Waldner painted the cute Cheerleader and football player at Ben Franklin and placed 2nd receiving $75.
First place went to Brianna Gourley with her “Blow Away the Eagles” painted at First Midwest Bank (Downtown). She received $100 for her incredible work and efforts.
Congratulations to all of the art students for their hard work, long hours, and talent! A shout-out to County Wide Insurance for sponsoring the 2015 DHS Bearcat Art Splash again this year.
Shown in the photo above are from left to right (Each student received $25 for participating!) front row: Madison McConnell, Brianna Gourley, Marissa Pilgrim, and Emily Ladd. Back row: Reagan Miller, Janie Lindsey, MaKayla Waldner, Taylor Ivy, and Joshua Ladd.
Below are the other business participants and the name of the artist who painted their window. Madison McConnell pained Dexter Senior Center. Taylor Ivy pained County Wide Abstract. Regan Miller painted Farm Bureau Insurance, Travis Miller Agent. Regan Miller also painted along with Janie Lindsey First National Bank and Marissa Pilgram painted first State Bank & Trust's window.
Snider has spent 33 years in the banking business with the last 14 years at Dexter's First Midwest Bank.
Snider is pictured at center holding a resolution read in his honor given by the bank. Also pictured are from left, Community Bank President Steve Millington, Board Member Larry Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Directors Norma McLane Smith, and Bank Executive Vice President Jack Huffman of Dexter.
Snider retires as Senior Vice President of First Midwest. Congratulations Mark on your retirement!
Among those receiving a white coat was Alex Rybolt of Dexter. He is a 2013 graduate of Dexter High School and is the son of Scott and Julie Rybolt.
A college tradition since 1996, the White Coat Ceremony symbolizes the students' entrance into the Doctor of Pharmacy program and the ethical responsibilities they now have as student pharmacists.
Nearly 250 students were welcomed into the professional program on Friday, August 21st.
Dr. Brenda Gleason, associate dean of academic affairs addressed the students. "Professionals hold a place of privilege in our society because they are experts who can be entrusted to make decisions and take actions that benefit those they serve rather than themselves," she said. "The price of this privilege - this trust - is an unwavering commitment to professionalism."
In recognition of their new role as student pharmacists, the class recited the Pledge of Professionalism, led by class president Luke Neumann, and were called to the stage to receive their white coat.
Keynote speaker Dr. Peter Vlasses, executive director of the Accreditation council for Pharmacy Education, addressed the class. students also observed the tradition of reading heartfelt notes left in their coat pockets by alumni, family members, and donors who chose to sponsor the cost of their coats.
Bloomfield, Missouri - On Friday, the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery honored National POW/MIA Day with their annual ceremony made possible through the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and Ken Swearengin, Director of the Cemetery.
Also on hand were the Stoddard County Veterans Honor Guard, VFW Auxiliary Post 4556 from Piggott, Arkansas, Daughters of the American Revolution, and members of the Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post 59.
Paul Schuerenberg, Vocational Community Employment Coordinator for the Veterans Administration welcomed everyone in attendance and gave a brief history of the National POW/MIA Day.
“It was July 19, 1979,” stated Schuerenberg. “when the first commemoration was held to honor America’s POWs and MIAs.” Congress passed the first resolution and a national ceremony was held in the National Cathedral.
“Today,” Schuerenberg continued, “we honor the sacrifices and remarkable determination of veterans captured as prisoners of war, and we remember those who remain unaccounted for, and we wish their families some small comfort in knowing that America has not forgotten them.”
Keynote speaker was Seth W. Barlage, Associate Medical Center Director with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
Barlage said, “Throughout our history, when enemies of freedom were on the march, great Americans took up arms and stopped their advance. They answered their nation’s call to duty.”
“More than 142,000 American servicemen and women were captured from World War I to the Gulf War. Twenty thousand are alive today. They endured the uncertainties, deprivations, and hardships of hostile captivity. The true cost of wartime imprisonment may never be known.”
Two of those servicemen were present today. Jay Barber who was captured in North Korea and taken prisoner on December 3, 1950. He spent nearly three years in the hands of the North Koreans. He was a member of G Company, 2nd Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division during the Korean War. On August 5, 1953 he was finally freed.
Edward Bender of Cape Girardeau was captured by Germans in 1994 during World War II and is now 97 years old. He flew B17s for the U.S. Air Force. He spent one year and four days in prison camps throughout Germany and Poland before being freed.
Barber and Bender met for the first time Friday morning. They were honored for their service, their courage and their ability to survive and return home to their families.
Lilly Hoggard and Pamela Wayer of the VFW Auxiliary Post 4556 placed yellow roses for each conflict. A touching POW/MIA Table Ceremony was performed narrated by Gary Kitchen SFC USA RET while Bloomfield student Allison Statler played Amazing Grace on her violin.
Representing the armed forces were James Adams SFC USA RET (US Army), Tom Love CAPT USMC RET (US Marine Corps), Carl Bess PO1 USN RET (US Navy), Michael Williams CAPT USAF (US Air Force), and Justin baker CW04 USCG RET (Us Coast Guard).
Donna Reynolds, Chief of Voluntary Service, VA, Chris Luecke, Voluntary Service Specialist, VA, and Bennie Hicks, Voluntary Service Assistant, VA presented gifts to former POWs Barber and Bender.
Firing of the Volley was by the Stoddard County Veterans Honor Guard and Bloomfield student John Lancaster performed TAPS.
