ESSEX - Teachers, staff and administrators are busy this week preparing for the arrival of students and the start of the 2011-2011 school year on Thursday.

Seven new teachers and administrators have joined the Richland team for the new school year. They include:

 Frank Killian, superintendent; 1993 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University;

 Stephanie DePew, physical education teacher, assistant volleyball and softball coach; 2005 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University;

 Lisa Gerlach, high school science teacher, 2010 graduate of Truman State University;

 Elana Ison, K-12 Counselor; 2012 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University;

 Hayley Jennings, business teacher, 2004 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University;

 David Reynolds, boys physical education and boys basketball coach, 2010 graduate of Williams Baptist College;

 Kayelean Vance, high school special service; 1993 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University;

 Carrie Wyman, second grade teacher, 1997 graduate of the University of Missouri.

School bells will ring for Richland students this Thursday, Aug. 11 with a full day of classes beginning at 8 a.m. Buses will run the first day of school.

Photo above: New teachers being welcomed at Richland Schools include (seated, from left) Stephanie DePew, Lisa Gerlach, Haley Jennings, Kalelean Vance, Carrie Wyman; (standing, from left) Frank Killiam, Elana Ison, David Williams. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)

Van Buren, MO - As the temperatures soar and the summer nears an end, there are more and more people headed to Van Buren for a weekend getaway. It doesn't take long to understand why people absolutely fall in love with the cool waters of the Current River.

From Big Springs State Park to the infamous Jolly Cone, all ages find a great time in Van Buren. But at the end of the day, the river floating and camping are the number one attractions to the area.

A large group of area residents from Dexter, Dudley and Essex have begun to find their way to "The Current" on a more regular basis. You will find these groups located on all parts of the river and enjoying the river in their own ways.

Some have vacation homes, some stay in campers and some simply make a day trip to "The Current". However the plan is laid out, a trip to "The Current" always equals fun.

However, life on the river has changed to some degree. A major upgrade to the styles, sizes, and colors of floating tubes can be found parading down the river. Typical canoes and regular tubes are still popular, but you will also find large river rafts, kayaks, and river jet boats. There are even occasional jet skis that are running different parts of the river.

Of course, there are literally thousands upon thousands river floaters loading into group transports to move upriver to find their way down the river. Many floaters take their floating cooler loaded down with provisions for the group, and others even adapt their Dewalt radios to play music as they lazily move down the river.

A quick lunch of hot dogs and cold cuts set up on a gravel bar is always a must. There is simply nothing that taste better than a meal on the riverbank.

One of the best areas is found with the tent canopies that line the gravel bars. You will normally find these to be larger groups of friends that meet at these specific locations each weekend. These groups normally hold tight to these areas and visit with all the passing floaters.

If you haven't been to the river lately, there is still time. It's a beautiful attraction that is approximately a one-hour drive from Dexter with the Hwy 60 improvements. It's worth the the trip and don't worry, the kids can sleep on the way home.

Remember when … Dexter had just one of those “new fangled” electronic signs that displayed the time and temperature? The Citizens Bank on South Walnut Street was the first business in town to have a time & temperature sign … and that’s all the sign displayed. Now, a number of businesses have display signs that let us know if we are running late to school, work an church – plus remind just how hot it really is outside. Today’s signs are digital displays, with messages and sometimes even graphics! The newest edition of digital sign in town is at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Stoddard Street. It’s a great addition to Downtown Dexter!! (SMT Photo)

Entries are still being accepted for the Miss Dexter and Miss Heartland pageants to be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3 and 4.

The pageants are sponsored annually by the DHS Vocal Music Department.

The Miss Dexter Pageants will be held on Saturday, Sept. 3. Contests include the Little Miss, Little Mister, Petite Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Dexter pageants.

All contestants in the Miss Dexter pageants must reside in the Dexter R-XI School District. The pageants will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Little Miss and Mister Dexter contests. All pageants will be held in the DHS Auditorium.

On Sunday afternoon, the Miss Heartland Pageants will be held. Pageant director Jamie Sepulvado clarified this week that the Miss Heartland Pageants will continue the tradition of being open to all girls from throughout the region.

Miss Heartland Pageants scheduled and their age divisions include:

* Baby Miss at 1:30 p.m., birth through 17 months
* Tiny Miss at 2 p.m., 18-35 months
* Wee Miss at 2:30 p.m., 3-5 years
* Petite Miss at 3 p.m., 6-8 years
* Pre-Teen Miss at 3:30 p.m., 9-11 years
* Jr. Miss Heartland at 4 p.m.,12-14 years
* Miss Heartland at 4:30 p.m., 15-19 years

An entry fee of $25 is required for each contestant.

Entries forms are available at the Bunny Patch in Downtown Dexter, may be downloaded from the ShowMe Times by using the links below, or by contacting the pageant director at via e-mail/: Jamie Sepulcado

Miss Dexter Entry Forms

Little Mr. & Miss Dexter

Petite, Jr. & Miss Dexter

Heartland Pageants Entry Form

Heartland Pageants

A SMT News Report

Parents, students and teachers can pay a bit less for school supplies during the Missouri sales tax holiday this Friday through Sunday.

During the three-day holiday period, certain back-to-school purchases such as clothing, school supplies, computers and other items defined by state statute can be exempt from sales tax. The sales tax holiday, adopted in 2003 by the state Legislature, typically runs from the first Friday in August to midnight Sunday night. The holiday comes as schools are readying to open their doors for the new school year.

Beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday and ending midnight Sunday, the state's 4.225 percent sales tax won't be assessed on school supplies, computer items or clothing.

State law gives local jurisdictions the option of whether to participate in the sales tax holiday. Area cities not participating in the sales tax holiday include Bloomfield, Cape Girardeau, Malden and Poplar Bluff. In addition, Stoddard County is not participating.

The items exempt from sales tax during the back-to-school sales tax weekend include:

• clothing — any article with a value of $100 or less.
• school supplies — not to exceed $50 per purchase. This can include textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, handheld calculators, maps and globes. • computer software — taxable value of $350 or less
• personal computers — not to exceed $3,500. These can include a laptop, desktop, compute system, mouses, printers and other hardware.
The tax holiday also benefits teachers, who often pay out of their own pockets for school supplies, particularly for students who come to school without them.

Related Link

Missouri Department of Revenue