Dexter, Missouri - The 29th Annual Fourth of July Patriotic Parade for Kids will be held on Monday, July 5th at 10:00 a.m. This annual parade will begin at the corner of Elm and Vine streets in downtown Dexter.
The youngsters guided by Uncle Sam aka Mayor Banken will gather on the steps of the U.S. Post Office on Stoddard Street to salute the American Flag with the Pledge of Allegiance. They will sing a few patriotic songs and pose for those everlasting photos.
The parade will follow its traditional route down Elm Street to Stoddard Street with kids on bicycles, tricycles, wagons, scooters, golf carts, on foot or in strollers. You may even see a few patriotic dogs in the parade.
The parade will get moving again, east down Stoddard Street to Poplar Street, where it will turn south at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) back to Vine Street and turn west returning to the Bankens' front yard where they will be treated to lemonade and a small snack.
The "just for kids" parade was started by Janice Barney, Lisa Greer and Jean Rahm. The parade leadership has passed to a new generation, as Kristina and Jason Banken, now host the holiday parade each year. The Banken family began hosting the parade 14 years ago, and have continued to build upon the Independence Day tradition.
Children are invited to participate. They may walk or bring their bikes and other means of transportation for the parade. Parking will be available for grown-ups in the city parking lot on Vine Street across from the Dexter Municipal Building
Dexter, MO - The Keller Library Summer Reading Program kicked off on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at the Park Lane Gym with a Tails and Tales theme. Dee Loflin talked about turtles and brought Missouri animal furs.
Loflin had three box turtles from Missouri and a Sulcata Tortoise that is indigenous to Africa.
"Myrtle the Turtle has been in our family 4 generations," commented Loflin. "She currently lives with my daughter, Jessica Georger, but has lived with my grandmother and my father. She is estimated to be about 80 years old and is considered the oldest turtle of this species in Missouri."
"Elvis is probably around 50-60 years and is totally blind," continued Loflin. "He was found on the road covered in dried mud. We took him to the Dr. Ward in Advance and that's when we discovered he was totally blind."
"Danni has been with us for several years," stated Loflin. "She loves to be petted."
Chomper is a favorite among the children. He is a Sulcata Tortoise and is only five years old weighing about 30 lbs. He will live to be over 200 years old and may end up weighing more than 250 lbs.
In addition to the turtles Loflin also displayed several animal pelts which included deer, buffalo, a red fox, racoon, skunk and a coyote. Loflin also displayed deer antlers, turkey legs, a buffalo vertebrae and a donkey skull for the children to examine.
"It's always a joy to see the kids touch and feel the furs and skulls," continued Loflin. "Many never get the opportunity to see these animals in the wild, but to feel their fur is a real treat. The turtles are also a big hit with not just the children, but we have many adults who want to pet them as well."
The program will continue Wednesday, June 23 at 11 a.m. with Bookish Beats presented by Debbie Koening with the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.
Pictured: Children's librarian Chris Hillis (left) and Keller Library Director Jordan Myers with Chomper.
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!"
