The Industrial Development Authority of Stoddard County donated $1,000 to Ezekiel's Closet in Dexter, Missouri from their Special Allocation Fund.

Ezekiel's Closet is a charitable organization empowered to improve the lives of foster families and their foster children. "The sad reality is most kids are taken from their homes with only a trash bag," stated founder Carrie Mosbey. "We are changing that.  We believe every kid deserves access to basic necessities such as toiletries, clothing and a toy (or maybe two!)"

If you would like to donate or help financially click HERE.

Taken from their website: Ezekiel’s Closet serves foster and kinship families in Stoddard, Dunklin, Butler, Scott, and all surrounding counties. We offer 24/7 access to essential items to Missouri licensed foster parents, Missouri DSS caseworkers, CASA volunteers, School Resource Officers, and kinship providers. We are so blessed to be able to serve and will do our best to provide the items you need to support your kids. Everything we have is donated by our community and given to families caring for foster kids for free. Our prayer is that your family will feel seen , supported, and valued by our community.

Pictured are Peter Coutavas, IDA and Crystal Chamberlain, volunteer at Ezekiel's Closet.

Stoddard County Industrial Development Foundation donated $1,000 to the Stars and Stripes Museum today.

This is an annual donation by the foundation.

Pictured are Laura Dumey, Stars & Stripes Museum and Peter Coutavas, IDA.

Marlie Hatton and Cameron Bell spoke at the Rotary Club about their time at Missouri Girls and Boys State which is held each year for students entering their senior year.  The event is held at Lindenwood University - St. Charles and is in its 84th year.

The Rotary Club sends one girl and one boy to State.  Cameron Bell had the opportunity to attend Boys State.  He had the privilege to be on the City Council and voted on several city ordinances. He also attended a commerce class where he learned about business in America and how the economy works together as a whole.

"This opportunity given to me by the Rotary Club was amazing and I can't thank them enough," stated Bell.  "I learned a lot about government and how it works."

Marlie Hatton attended Missouri Girls State also held at Lindenwood University this past summer. 

She discussed her time at Girls State with the Rotary Club as they sponsored her to attend.

"I mentioned how I was in the school of Journalism and media because I plan to minor in journalism in college," stated Hatton.  "I was in Covington City in the county of Price.  I was the city's treasurer and I also ran all the finances for MGS Journalism team. I was on my county's council where I voted on different laws and such."

She got to meet Governor Mike Parson which she felt was pretty amazing and got to hear so many great speakers throughout the week.

Her city actually had three state officials speak by the end of the week, the Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer.  They also had some senators.

"This experience was truly life changing and I will forever recommend everyone going into their senior year to do this," commented Hatton. "I also got to meet some people that I know will be lifelong best friends.  I just will forever be grateful that I got to go and experience everything there.  There was a lot to offer and I took full advantage of experiencing everything there.  I only got 4 - 5 hours of sleep each night, but it was truly rewarding."

"The experience that the Rotary Club gave me was amazing and I can't thank them enough," concluded Hatton..

A Missouri family wants to honor their late, young son after he lost his cancer battle.  Jamie Tweedy was diagnosed with Ganglioneuroblastoma, a form of cancer, after being initially diagnosed with Pneumonia. After several years and rounds of treatments, Jamie died in May of 2024 a day after Mother’s Day. 

To keep his memory alive, the Tweedy family hopes to fundraise and donate a locomotive train piece to the local city park in Bloomfield, Missouri. 

“Jamie absolutely loved going outside, playing with friends, and going to the park with his family. He became extremely attached to a "train park" in the town we lived in before his diagnosis. We would visit the park often and everytime we came back to town we had to stop by it rain or shine, whether he was asleep or awake, and whether he was feeling good or not...we still stopped by,” the fundraiser reads. 

More details about the effort, as well as the GoFundMe, can be found on their social media page. You can read more about Jamie's Journey by clicking HERE

To donate please click HERE, the GoFundMe page is set up and ready for your kind donation.  The Bloomfield Park Board is already in the process of raising money for equipment at the park.  A grant has been written and they hope to hear very soon if they qualified for the grant monies.  While there is still more work to be done, they are trying to make a difference with an all volunteer team.

"As a Park Board Member myself, I am excited that Jamie's memory will last forever and on a piece of equipment he would have enjoyed playing on with his friends.  I want to thank everyone who has already donated and those that will donate to make the Bloomfield City Park event better," Dee Loflin, owner ShowMe Times, Bloomfield Park Board Member and Bloomfield Chamber Board Treasurer/Member.

Here is what you will find on the GoFundMe Page for Jamie.

The 32nd Annual Fourth of July Patriotic Parade for Kids will be held on Thursday, July 4th at 10:00 a.m. 

This annual parade will begin at the corner of Elm and Vine streets in downtown Dexter, across from the License Bureau with the Dexter Fire Department leading the way.

The youngsters guided by Uncle Sam (aka Jason 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 and videos. (ShowMe Times will be there!)

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 17 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