Bloomfield, MO - The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce held their annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Boat House Wine Co.
Zach Pounds, Chamber Board Member, presented the Business of the Year Award to GoSEMO Fiber.
GoSEMO Fiber is the broadband subsidiary for SEMO Electric Cooperative. With operations starting in the Spring of 2017, GoSEMO has now connected over 7,500 southeast Missourians to their services.
GoSEMO Fiber believes local business bringing local services. Which is why they strive to be involved in community activities, striving to always put community first.
This is shown in their yearly involvement in multiple food pantries as well. They also help by offering free Wifi hotspots to the community as well as free internet benefits for schools.
GoSEMO is also recognized as a MASA 2021 Missouri Friend of Education.
The GoSEMO Fiber team along with their electric teammates and contracted partners are glad to be on the journey to bridge the digital divide in our area. They truly make a difference with the great service that they provide to our communities.
Congratulations on being the 2021 Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year!
Pictured from left to right: Jason Pounds, Loyd Rice of GoSEMO Fiber, and Herman Morse, 151st MO State Representative.
This spring marks the eleventh anniversary of our father's passing. We lost Dad from this life on March 14, 2011, following a lung cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2010. After his passing, our family established the Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign (celebrating Healing, Optimism, Prayer & Example). The idea for the H.O.P.E. Campaign was born as our family was keeping vigil by Dad's hospital bedside, before he was finally discharged home on hospice. So many people were sharing stories with us about ways in which Dad had helped them in one way or another over the years. Dad was always helping others, and the H.O.P.E. Campaign was one way we could ensure he was able to continue helping people. We planned to raise money in order to help others who were battling cancer.
A couple of weeks after we buried Dad, our mother, Kathy, was re-diagnosed with breast cancer, this time, Stage 4. She had battled initially in 1998, and then, in 2011, the cancer came back in her bone. Our family became even more committed to the fight against cancer, and we were determined to focus our support not only on Mom's healing, but also on our previously committed mission of supporting others who were facing the same scary battle. We have raised funds annually since 2012, whether it be a fish fry, t-shirt sales, pork loin sale or a raffle. Time and again, our wonderful community has supported our family's little mission, and we've been able to gift financial "love offerings" to families battling cancer and other life threatening illnesses to help with their treatment and care.
In November of 2012, tragedy struck our immediate family again, and we lost our sister, Sara, unexpectedly in her sleep. There are no words to explain the deep and saddening loss of both Dad and Sara. Our family and community pulled together once again to support us through this devastating loss. We feel so blessed to be so loved, and we desire to return the love and give back as we are able, while also honoring the lives and memories of our loved ones. Through the H.O.P.E. Campaign, we are able to do this on a small scale, by providing for other families the feeling of love, support and hope that we felt following each of our parents' diagnoses as well as the love and support we felt following our family's tragic losses.
We were absolutely devastated following the losses of Dad and Sara, and completely broken when Mom was re-diagnosed, but Mom never gave up hope. She was an inspiration to us all, and her faith and trust in God reminded us all that He is in control. She battled valiantly for nearly five and a half more years, until she was reunited with Dad and Sara in Heaven in August of 2016. Our family pulled together once again, closer than ever, and God continues to help us get through each day. We do not have answers to God's why, and that's not ours to know right now. We still have moments of deep grief and pain, but we also have moments of complete joy and hope. I know you all can relate, even if your story is different than ours. Dad, Mom and Sara are all deeply loved and we miss them every single day. We feel nudged by God to continue this work, and we could not do any of it without you. Thank you.
The Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign was established in March of 2011, and in 2013, we officially teamed up with The Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity out of Stoddard County, with a shared mission of benefiting area cancer warriors. Dad and Mom were both recipients of 18 FORE Life's love offerings in 2010 and 2011. We are honored to work with 18 FORE Life to help benefit others. Ben Kruse and Dad were friends this side of Heaven, which makes the partnership between the two charities even more special for the families. In 2016, following Mom's passing, the Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign was renamed the Larry & Kathy Jones Family H.O.P.E. Campaign.
With the help of our wonderful family, friends and community, the H.O.P.E. Campaign has raised over $137,000 since 2011, and since 2000, 18 FORE Life has sent out over $3 Million in love offerings to families all over Southeast Missouri and beyond. Our prayer is that we can honor the memory of our Dad, Mom and sister by helping others, and in some way give hope and strength to others, in a way in which it's been given to us-- during both Dad and Mom's battles with cancer. Cancer has hit very close to home, and we've had a fire lit within each of us. We can't stop fighting and loving and supporting until cancer is no more. We're so grateful for all the individuals and organizations that are out there, fighting against cancer. We also realize there are many other very difficult life situations, and while the focus of our campaign, because of our family history, is support of cancer warriors, we also want to remember, support and pray for others who find themselves facing tragic events and other life threatening illnesses.
Thank you, and God Bless,
Lora Jones Galati, Kyle Jones and families
Dexter, MO - A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the opening of Foxtrot Coffee's Dexter location at 309 N. One Mile Road.
Pictured in front from left: Dexter Chamber Executive Director Alisha Trammell, Sarah Ann Hill, Lydia Grace Hill, Allie Hill, Hannah Hill Tiffany Wright, Lee AnnTally, owner Ken Hill, MacKenzie Raley, Finn Brown, Dexter Mayor Jasen Banken, Dexter City Administrator Trevor Pulley and alderman Terry Battles.
Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet on Friday, March 4, 2022 at The Lair Event Center. The meal was catered by Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse. Both Representative Herman Morse and Senator Jason Bean were on hand to present resolutions to the award recipients.
Tara Barker presented the 2021 Dexter Chamber Citizen of the Year Award to Scott kruse.
"Scott has done some remarkable things for our community throughout his time here. In 2000, along with his brother Ben and a small group of friends, he created the 18 Fore Life Charity. Ben Kruse, a part of the heart behind 18 Fore Life, departed this world too quickly, but Scott was determined to carry on his legacy and keep their dream alive. his driving force and energy has been funneled into countless volunteers and events that have allowed the charity to send out over 3 million dollars in Love Offerings as of 2021."
"He continues to make not just Dexter a better place, but the world as well. He is actively raising money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. He organized 10 Pins for Ben, a local bowling tournament benefiting St. Jude. he participates annually in the St. Jude Marathon each December in memphis, and even recruits runners for the 18 Ore Life Marathon Team. St. Jude has even selected Scott to run and raise money for them at the Boston Marathon, which a a huge honor."
"Not only has he made a difference in the fight against cancer, but he makes a difference every single day as the principal of T.S. Hill Middle School. I promise you he is always encouraging someone or helping to make someone's school day a little bit brighter. I think all our middle school years would have been better with him as principal. he is respected by not only students, but parents, teachers, staff, and the community.
"Dexter is a better place because of his presence. We are all better people for knowing him."
Congratulations to Scott Kruse, 2021 Dexter Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year!
Pictured from left is Dexter Chamber Executive Director Alisha Trammell, Representative Herman Morse, Kruse, senator Jason Bean and Barker.
Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet on Friday, March 4, 2022 at The Lair Event Center. The meal was catered by Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse. Both Representative Herman Morse and Senator Jason Bean were on hand to present resolutions to the award recipients.
Dexter School Board President, Ben Worley, presented the Dexter Chamber 2021 Educator of the Year Award to Mrs. Brenda Mason.
"Google defines a teacher as 'a person who teaches'; however teachers are so much more than that. They are counselors, friends, support systems, a safe haven, and then they just so happen to teach as well."
"All our teachers go above and beyond for their students, but one has stood out this year. Mrs. Mason is a preschool teacher at Southwest Elementary."
"For twenty-seven years, Mrs. Mason has continually poured into her students and set them up for the big world of elementary school. She is an amazing teacher who cares about her students as if they were her own children. She goes above and beyond what is considered "teacher's job".
"Her classroom is one of the first a child will ever step into. It is because of her love, patience, and kindness that these preschoolers get the best learning experience. She is truly devoted to giving her all to the position she has been trusted with at Southwest Elementary.
Congratulations Mrs. Brenda Mason, 2021 Dexter Chamber Educator of the Year.
Pictured from left is Alisha Trammell, Herman Morse, Mason, Jason Bean and Worley.
