By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

Crews are moving dirt and starting construction of a new business at one of the busiest intersections in Dexter.

Construction has begun on the new USA Drug at the northwest corner of One Mile Road and Business 114 in town. Construction crews will continue work throughout the summer and fall, with an anticipated opening date sometime in mid-or late November 2011.

The new store will be on a 2.2-acre site and have 15 thousand square feet, said Gain Robinson, vice president for real estate for USA Drug Stores in Little Rock, Ark.

“We will combine Overturf and David’s Pharmacy into this the new location,” Robinson said. A similar USA Drug is being built in Malden.

“The new store will offer a larger selection of items - and will include snacks, household goods and other items as well as cosmetic and health care needs,” he said. “The new store will also have a double-lane drive-through pharmacy window.”

Robinson said the store would be staffed by familiar faces.

“The staff at both locations (Overturf’s and David’s Pharmacy) will be at the new location,” he said. “We are not doing away with anyone – we are combining both staffs at the new store.”

Robinson said that combining the stores was advantageous for the company, since it already owns the two existing stores.

“This just makes financial sense,” he comments.

Robinson said the general contractor is Staley Construction out of Little Rock and the project is being financed by Montgomery Bank.

In 1984, the first USA Drug store opened in Pine Bluff, Ark. Over the past 20 years, the USA Drug family, which includes USA Drug, Super D Drugs, May's Drug Stores, Drug Warehouse, and Med-X Drugs has grown to more than 150 stores with retail outlets in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.

USA Drug pharmacies were designed to handle large numbers of customers while providing a down-home, friendly atmosphere. USA Drug strives to maintain a continuously evolving retail format to better provide our customers the best products and services at the lowest prices.

Photos Above: Top photo - A USA Drug store of the same design that will open in Dexter this November( photo courtesy USA Drug); Bottom photo - Construction workers are busy at the site of the future USA Drug at the corner of Business 114 and One Mile Road in Dexter. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)

An Incredible Menu Filled with Taste!

Once an auto repair shop, then a doughnut shop, this key location in downtown Dexter has become an incredible dining spot for our community. Many area residents have found the Corner Stop Café and feel strongly that this is one of Dexter’s best-kept secrets.

After one visit, you too will better understand the passion that Alan and Phyllis Kull put into the food and service. From the delightful French Dip to the very tasty burrito plate lunch, diners will quickly find a special touch in the preparation of the food with a touch of seasoning and more than adequate portions.

Phyllis handles the customer contact with a friendly and kind smile that invites you to make this a regular stop. She is assisted by Jamie Mazlinski, who has a special wit combined with an eagerness to take her smile and put in on the customers face. It’s a great place for a quick lunch during the noontime business week.

Presentation is many times overlooked in the dining experience but not at the Corner Stop Café. A large degree of detail and pride is given to the color and presentation of each dish. Customers will be delighted with the attention given to the beauty of the food.

Wonderful selections of green salads, pasta salads and fruit plates are available for customers seeking a lighter menu. However, a full menu of sandwiches and sides are also quick and easy to be served.

Each day, Alan will prepare and serve a daily special. Often, you will find these specials to be “Kull family favorites” that have been long proven through guests and family members.

Alan's mother came to Dexter and made it their home twenty-five years ago. As Alan and Phyllis traveled here from their Colorado home for visits, they were captured by the community. These visits to Dexter fueled a passion and dream of restaurant ownership. Phyllis often would pass by their current downtown location and felt that this was the spot for their dream to come true.

In March of 2010, they stepped out on faith in their dream and opened the Corner Stop Café. Business has continued to grow due to the support of both the downtown merchants and many others that have found this quiet little treasure.

Be certain to stop in and dine with the wonderful people at the Corner Stop Café. You then will be a believer in the best-kept dining secret in our community.

The management and staff at NewWave in Dexter began business in new surroundings Monday morning with the opening of the company's new local office. After months of planning, remodeling and work, the company opened for business July 11 in the facility at North One Mile Road and Nina Street. Staff members were busy throughout the weekend moving equipment and offices into the newly remodeled new facility. General Manager Mike Burns (standing) and service representative Randy Stewart discuss the company's new NewWave Home Security System with a customer on Monday afternoon. The company will host an Open House at the new enhanced offices from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, July 21; the public is invited to attend.

Distracted driving is at epidemic levels in the United States. Smart phone use, texting, and even simple phone conversations are proven distractions. Employers are responsible for the safety of the fleet, and must address how technology is used when employees are driving on company business. To deal with the growing problem, OSHA has expanded the ban on cell phone use to include employees of all industries and license types.

Distracted driving takes both the eyes and the mind off of the road, which are examples of both risk taking and complacent behavioral issues. Texting, web surfing and phone dialing are particularly dangerous because they take the driver’s eyes off of the road (risk taking). Even hands-free devices are considered dangerous because the driver’s mind is off of the road (complacency). But many drivers incorrectly consider hands-free devices as a safe alternative.

The current OSHA policy is to use the General Duty Clause (Section 5a1 of the OSH Act of 1970) to enforce a cell phone and texting ban while driving. The General Duty Clause states that employers shall furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or physical harm to employees. OSHA will determine whether or not company policies or behaviors contributed to or condoned the cell phone use that resulted in a crash. OSHA also reserves the right to investigate credible employee complaints about work-related cell phone use or texting.

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Revised OSHA policy
OSHA’s revised policy now includes all private employers in the United States, and all employees that drive for the company regardless of license type. All industries are affected including home health, construction, and sales service drivers.

This is big news for employers because it affects every employer with workers driving on company time regardless of the type of vehicle or license. It also affects operations and communication. Are your employees taking business calls often? Does the office call or message workers often? Are employees making sales calls on the road? Do dispatchers call the drivers? Or are they simply handling personal business? Many employers have company drivers and don’t know it. Do you have employees taking in the mail or going to the bank? What about employees making parts runs? They are considered company drivers and shouldn’t be using the phone.

When OSHA is notified of a fatality the investigation phase begins. OSHA will respond and begin their investigation of the incident, and of the employer’s safety, documentation, and prevention efforts. During this phase, cell phone records will be requested and company cell phone policies and enforcement policies may be questioned.

Zero tolerance for distracted driving
Just about every employee on the payroll has a cell phone or smart phone, whether it’s the company’s or their own. Young workers use texting as a favorite method of communication. MEM has always recommended that employers ban the use of cell phones, texting and smart phones while driving. MEM also recommends that companies adopt a written seat belt policy. The recent changes to OSHA regulations add another reason why employers need to implement a cell phone/phone distracted driving policy. Find some resources for building a policy in MEMIC WorkSafe Center's defensive driving tutorial.

Written policies are needed. But remember that a policy that isn’t enforced is simply a hollow threat. Make sure that employees don’t use cell phones while driving. If cell phone use is discovered, disciplinary action should result. If a fatality occurs, a policy statement won’t really help much without a meaningful policy. Keep records of both training on the policy and document any disciplinary action. OSHA cares only about the fact that the fatality happened, and that the policy obviously didn’t work. Fines may be levied.

Vehicle crashes are the number one way to die on the job. Do your part. Reduce the contributing behavioral factors of both complacent and risk taking behaviors that result in crashes. Develop written policies. Enforce the rules. Lead by example and do your part to create an accident-free work environment.

Mark Woodward is a Loss Control Specialist at Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Company in Columbia, Missouri.

The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held at ribbon-cuttng celebration to mark Luvleigh Creations joining the Chamber. Luvleigh Creations has recently moved to a new location on 16 South Walnut in Dexter. On hand for the celebration were (front row. from left) Alderman Jerry Corder, Mayor Joe Weber, owners Dawn Ledler and Leigh Ann Carrillo, Chamber directors Kevin Bishop and Mendy Bell, and Chamber Executive Janet Coleman; (back row) Alderman Terry Battles, Tyler Wagner, store employee Mandy Crowe, and Nick Boemler. This was the 13th ribbon cutting celebration hosted by the Dexter Chamber in 2011.(SMT photo)