Dexter Mayor Joe Weber and his daughter Beth were among the guests aboard Union Pacific's No. 844 on the Great Excursion Adventure - as it traveled earlier this week from Poplar Bluff to Walnut Ridge, Ark. The Webers, aldermen Jerry Corder and Kirby Taylor, and their wives were among UP's guests on Monday during the special steam train's visit to the region. No. 844's Great Excursion Adventure will end Friday in North Little Rock, Ark. (The ShowMe Times thank Aldermen Corder and City Administrator Mark Stidham for providing this photo.)

Flags will fly at half-mast on Wednesday through Missouri in honor of a law enforcement officer who died from injuries sustained in the line of duty during the Joplin tornado.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered flags in the state to fly at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, June 8 in honor of Master Patrolman Jefferson "Jeff" Taylor, who died from injuries he sustained following the tornado that struck Joplin.

On May 23 Taylor was struck by lightning while serving during the storms that hit the Joplin area. Taylor was an officer with the Riverside Police Department, was a member of the department's K-9 Unit with his partner, Flash, and was a member of the Riverside SWAT team.

Taylor was part of a 12-member team on officers and firefighters from Riverside that responded to the tornado disaster. Taylor died June 3 from injuries he sustained May 23.

Jefferson City, MO – A magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck near Sullivan early this morning served as a reminder of the powerful seismic zones in and around southeast Missouri and the need for citizens to be prepared for a major seismic event. Just over a month ago, Missouri participated in the Great Shake Out, a multi‐state earthquake drill scheduled in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the deadly 1811 quakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

Many Missourians, however, are unable to fully prepare for the devastation of a major earthquake due to the epidemic lack of affordable, effective earthquake insurance available throughout the state and especially in the St. Louis and Bootheel areas.

More than 40 company carriers have stopped providing earthquake insurance in Missouri in the last decade. While those companies have shed all of their exposure, others have severely restricted coverages and implemented restrictions and exclusions that most policyholders are not aware of. A recent survey by the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration found that where coverage is available, multiple high deductibles based on the value of the structure rather than the amount of damage mean that many homeowners would have to carry all or most of the risk themselves, despite being insured.

“This year’s tornado and flood threats in Missouri have only highlighted the critical role that insurance plays in rebuilding after a catastrophe,” says Larry Case, executive vice president of the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents. “Missourians, especially those in the Southeast and St. Louis, will be the victims of major financial loss when a larger quake strikes.”

MAIA has proposed several legislative solutions to the lack of affordable and effective earthquake insurance in the state, but these solutions have met resistance from insurance companies and have seen little movement in the General Assembly. MAIA recommends that homeowners talk to their insurance agents to better understand the coverage they have, and more importantly, the coverage they don’t have.

Founded in 1899, the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents is the oldest and largest association of independent agents in Missouri, representing some 4,000 independent agents, brokers and their employees. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent insurance agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.missouriagent.org.

When the whistles blow this fall, and the DHS Marching Bearcat Band takes the field and begin the parade, a new trio of drum majors will lead the musicians.

The drum majors for the 2011-2012 Marching Bearcat Band were selected at the close of this last school year. Leading the Bearcat band in field shows and parades this coming year will be a trio of drum majors - (from left) Kendra Stevenson, Joseph Greer, and Lauren Dudley.

Congratulations Kendra, Joseph & Lauren!! Go Bearcats!

(SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)

When a Girl Scout says the Girl Scout Promise, she says she will “help people at all times” and when she recites the Girl Scout Law, she promises to “be a sister to every Girl Scout.”

Girl Scouts, their families and friends now have a way in which they can help sister Girl Scouts who have been touched by this spring’s floods of horrific tornadoes.

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland - the council that now serves Southeast Missouri - continues to send its thoughts and prayers to those who have suffered from recent natural disasters across our area.

"We are proud of our Girl Scout members, sisters, and friends who have reached out to each other in this time of great need," said Anne Hyde of the council.

To assist Girl Scout members who are struggling in the wake of flooding in eastern and southern Missouri and tornadoes in western and central Missouri, the council has established a special Disaster Relief Fund.

One hundred percent of donations earmarked for this fund will be used to provide:

* Replacement uniforms, books, patches, and supplies for girls and adults

* 2011-2012 membership fees for disaster-area members

* Summer camp and program event financial assistance for girls

* Training fee financial assistance for adults

Contributions to this fund may be mailed to the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Administrative Service Center at Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, 210 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield, MO 65802. Donors are asked to write “Disaster Relief Fund” in the memo section of their check.