Dexter, MO - Sergeant Jody Laramore will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant and assigned as an assistant director in the Gaming Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO, effective June 1, 2021.
Laramore was appointed to the Patrol on January 1, 1995, as a member of the 69th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on June 22, 1995, he was assigned to Troop E, Zone 8, New Madrid/Pemiscot counties. On February 1, 1999, he transferred to Troop E, Zone 10, Dunklin County. On January 1, 2000, Laramore was promoted to corporal. He was promoted to sergeant and designated zone supervisor of Zone 11, Stoddard County, on March 5, 2006.
Lieutenant Laramore was born in Ironton, MO, and grew up in Kennett, MO.
He graduated from Holcomb High School in Holcomb, MO, in 1990.
He is a graduate of Mineral Area Junior College in Park Hills, MO, where he earned an Associate of Arts in 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, in 1994.
He completed the Law Enforcement Leadership and Organizational Change course at St. Louis University in 2015. In 2018, he completed the Police Leadership: The WestPoint Model course.
Lt. Laramore and his wife, Pam, have two children, Garrett and Lexie.
Central Gardens is excited to announce Candy Miller as their new Director of Nursing. Miller has 18 years of nursing experience. She is a 2003 graduate of Three Rivers College and holds a degree in Registered Nursing.
In her role as Director of Nursing, she strives to ensure quality of care for the residents, manages nursing staff and performs administrative duties related to all aspects of nursing.
Miller stated, After working almost 13 years in Skilled Nursing care, I was presented with an opportunity to become the Director of Nursing at Central Gardens. i was at a point in my life where I was ready to do something a little different and saw this opportunity as a rewarding change."
She is well known within the community and is familiar with many of the residents that she cares for and their families.
Candy was born and raised in Dexter and has been married to her husband, Mike, since October of 1985. They are the parents of three grown children: Brett, Matthew, and Mary Kate. They are also the grandparents to twins, Whitt and Laurel Kate.
Miller looks forward to assuming her new leadership role while continuing the process of providing quality care and services to the Central Gardens residents. She brings with her experience, compassion, and a genuine concern for those she cares for.
Central Gardens is pleased to have Candy working here and looks forward to her energy and commitment to the residents and the facility.
Dexter, MO - Dexter native Jon-Sawyer C. Smith took the oath of admission during a swearing in ceremony by 35th Circuit Judge Rob Mayer who administered the oath at the Stoddard County Courthouse on Friday, April 16, 2021 at precisely 3:00 p.m. Smith recently passed his bar and is officially a member of the Missouri Bar Association. He will now practice in Dexter at the Mayer Law Office.
Jon-Sawyer C. Smith is a Dexter native and graduated from DHS in 2010. He is the son of Pam and Kip Smith of Dexter and is married to Leeza Edmundson of Poplar Bluff this past September. Leeza graduated from nursing school at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2019 and is an RN, BSN in the emergency room at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Maryville University in St. Louis and plans for a career in medical aesthetics as a Nurse Practitioner. In the days to come, Sawyer looks forward to spending lots of time together with family. He is also a proud lifetime supporter of the National Rifle Association and enjoys "church-going" in both Stoddard and Butler Counties. His other interests include, but are not limited to his pets, the arts, hunting/fishing, public speaking, and traveling.
"Sawyer" Smith received academic and athletic scholarships to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida where he graduated in 2014 earning a Bachelor Science - Finance degree. During his time at PBA, he played baseball under Coach Gary Carter (MLB Hall of Fame '03), and interned with U.S. Congressman Allen West (R) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R). He also founded and led the Young Americans for Freedom chapter on campus; and was awarded the University's "Lead By Example'' recognition by the school president. For roughly one year thereafter, Sawyer worked in the Washington D.C. metro area, at The Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, and on college campuses throughout the country on behalf of Young Americans Foundation to advance conservative thoughts and values as a program officer.
In 2017, Sawyer completed graduate school in Waco, Texas earning a Master Arts - Journalism degree from Baylor University. While at BU, he worked as a freelance political reporter / writer / videographer and also as a teaching assistant to his department professors. Sawyer's interview-article titled 'American Sniper - Widow Enters GOP Political Arena,' which featured Taya Kyle (widow of slain Navy Seal Chris Kyle), was published and circulated by Newsmax Magazine. In 2020, Sawyer finished law school and earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. While at MC, he served as Federalist Society president and focused his studies in the practice areas of criminal, civil, and constitutional law. Sawyer gained legal experience during law school working inside the Missouri State Public Defender's Office and alongside his late father-in-law, Poplar Bluff attorney, Jasper Edmundson.
Now, a decade later, Sawyer has returned home to his roots in the Southeast Missouri Bootheel. Sawyer was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2021 and is authorized by the Missouri Supreme Court to practice law. He is an Associate of Dustin L. Mayer - Managing Partner at Mayer Law Office in Dexter. His areas of practice include criminal defense, plaintiff's personal injury, estate planning, business law, and family law. Sawyer also belongs in membership to the American Bar Association and American Agricultural Law Association. In the near future, Sawyer plans to travel to Jefferson City to be sworn for admittance into the Bar for the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri.
"In middle school, I became infatuated with reading John Grisham novels. I read them all in short order. I actually came home from school one day and told my parents that I wanted to be a lawyer. They made me write it down on notebook paper and we still have it today. That was 15 or more years ago. The evidence shows that my accomplishment is shared with my mom and dad. They deserve credit for my story being possible."
"My legal career actually began in high school when Rob Mayer allowed me to answer the phone and file some papers as a part-time job at his law office. I was observing him and also John Ringer and Brad Jarrell. It's interesting how things have come full-circle with me going to work now for Dustin Mayer and then Judge Mayer swearing me in, here, over a decade later. In fact, Mrs. Nancy Mayer was my fourth grade teacher. Our families just have a lot of history and I'm so grateful to all the Mayers."
"I met my wife Leeza in early 2017 and I enrolled in law school that summer. I knew from our first date that she would be the one. And I was right about that. She has stood with me through my hardest challenges in life. The lowest of lows and the highest of highs. I attribute a lot of whatever success I've had in recent years, to her. We are so happy being newly-weds and pursuing our dreams together."
"I simply love my community, my state, and my country. And I will serve them all with ethics and zeal in the legal profession. May God always bless our nation and keep the U.S. Constitution the law of our land."
"More than anything, Jesus Christ is my strength. I am completed by his grace and I will honor him forever the best that I can."
Amos 5:24 "Let Justice Roll!"
Dexter, MO - Newly appointed Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout held a luncheon on Friday, April 16, 2021 for the Dexter Police Department.
Randy Kinder Excavating provided the meal to the police officers and the food was catered by Dhafer's Steakhouse & Fine Dining in Dexter.
Newly appointment Chief Hank Trout presented retiring Chief Trevor Pulley with a plaque.
"I want to start by saying congratulations to Trevor Pulley, as he has now been appointment the new Dexter City Administrator," stated Chief Hank Trout.
"I also want to thank him for having the confidence in me to lead this department, thank you Trevor," continued Trout.
Chief Trout described Trevor as dedicated, hard-working, professional, intelligent, confent, self motivated, and a family man.
"If you strive to be a good officer or leader, you can look at Trevor's character and his work ethic and if you work as hard as he does, you will be successful," stated Trout.
"Trevor Pulley had a vision to make the Dexter Police Department better. He did more in the past three years than most have done in the past twenty years."
He upgraded the computers and made sure the new records management system was up and running with the help of Josh Benton. He updated the Dispatch Center and he had the new squad room added so the officers had the room needed to help make their daily tasks achievable. He helped build the new Evidence Room where and having a conference/Training Room available as well.
Dexter, MO - Newly appointed Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout held a luncheon on Friday, April 16, 2021 for the Dexter Police Department.
Randy Kinder Excavating provided the meal to the police officers and the food was catered by Dhafer's Steakhouse & Fine Dining in Dexter.
The 2020 Police Officer of the Year was announced during the luncheon.
"This officer has shown an aggressive proactive approach which has led to numerous drug arrests over the past year," commented Chief Trout.
"With his dedication to keeping our community safe, it is our honor to give this award," continued Trout.
The 2020 Dexter Police Department Officer of the Year is Corey Martinez.
