By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

Interest in Republican presidential candidate’s visit to Southeast Missouri has been overwhelming, and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has now scheduled an “overflow event” with the candidate before he leaves the region. 

Santorum is the guest speaker this Saturday at the Cape Girardeau County Republican Lincoln Day. The 500-tickets for the event were snatched quickly, with many still wanting to see Santorum. 

“It is so exciting to have Senator Santorum coming to Cape Girardeau on Saturday and I'm thrilled at the response we've had,” said U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.  “I wanted to make sure everyone who wanted to see him was able to so we scheduled an overflow event and the response to that is tremendous."

Due to the overwhelming response of Santorum's, Team Emerson is requesting members of the public who wish to see the Senator and were unable to obtain tickets to the Lincoln Day arrive at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport between 6:30 and 7 p.m., for the “overflow event.” 

Tickets are not required for this event and space is limited.  The hangar where the event will be held will be clearly designated

Senator Santorum is the featured guest at the Cape Girardeau County Lincoln Days at Ray's Plaza Conference Center at 3257 William Street.  The doors for this event open at 5 p.m. The event has been "sold out" since just days after Santorum's appearance was announced.

In Tuesday’s Super Tuesday primary elections, Santorum came in a close second to Mitt Romney, and captured contests in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota.

State Rep. Bil Pat Wright, R-Dexter, recently was host to Kelly Gillock, and junior at Puxico High School. Gilloclk is a member of the Puxico chapter of Family, Carrer and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and participated in the group's Legislative Shadowing Project. Gillock joined Wright for a day in the State Capitol last week to learn more about the duties of a state representative in Missouri and about state government. (Submitted photo)

By Tim Krakowiak,
Managing Editor
The SEMO Times, Poplar Bluff

Special To The ShowMe Times

POPLAR BLUFF - The names Blackwell and Baldwin have become synonymous in Southeast Missouri over the past four decades, as seen at car dealerships, along billboards and on vehicles cruising the highways.

What began with an earnest handshake agreement between Harry Blackwell of Naylor and Poplar Bluff native Roger Baldwin, ended up in a legal battle over a year ago, and reached a settlement outside of court last week.

Baldwin now owns the three dealerships on South Westwood Boulevard, while Blackwell operates the business in Dexter, plus he has acquired two additional dealerships in Malden, upon being bought out of the Poplar Bluff operation.

“My family is now in business in Dexter and Dunklin County, and we are excited about the future of these dealerships,” Blackwell said. “I want to humbly thank all of our friends and customers who, over the years, have blessed our family to no end.”

Under recommendation by the parties, the consolidated case was dismissed with prejudice Feb. 16 by Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett in Butler County, and Stoddard County Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp executed the joint stipulation the previous day.

The three multiple-count civil suits that ensued between Baldwin and his wife Jan against Blackwell and his wife Vivian, each individually and on behalf of their respective trusts, began Nov. 18, 2010.

Baldwin filed the original petition, requesting liquidation and later for the courts to appoint the sheriff of each county to auction off the real estate and divide the proceeds among the parties since, the lawsuit states, “irreconcilable differences have arisen between the partners.” Attorney Jasper Edmundson Jr. of Poplar Bluff and Ray Nickle of Jonesboro represented the plaintiff.

With the legal counsel of Joseph Blanton Jr. of Sikeston and Steve Walsh of Poplar Bluff, defendant Blackwell counterclaimed that the corporations should be sold to himself or a third party, or divided among the partners with payment of the difference in value, since Baldwin’s actions allegedly caused the “breakdown in the relationship.”

The dispute raised question as to whether Blackwell and Baldwin were in a Missouri general business partnership to begin with, or just shareholders of motor vehicle dealerships, as the venture between the owners was formed by oral agreement, not a written contract, “for no specified term of existence.”

TIMELINE

Blackwell-Baldwin opened its first dealership in 1973, the Oldsmobile Cadillac division where Raben Tire is currently located in Poplar Bluff, according to history on its former website.

In 1985, the duo bought out GMC and Ford dealerships in Poplar Bluff and the following year, acquired Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota, Pontiac and Buick operations.

Lastly, they purchased Scism Motors in Bloomfield in 1997, which was relocated to Dexter two years later. Today the dealership, solely owned by Blackwell, includes Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models.

On Jan. 12, former Lincoln Lacy Motors in Malden, now called Harry Blackwell Motors, announced that Blackwell purchased the operation from Jim Lincoln. There are two Dunklin County locations, according to general manager Charlie Thacker, one that includes Ford, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep and the other, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick.

During a brief interview, Baldwin said: “It’s too early to say a whole lot right now,” but he would release a statement once he gets the signage at his businesses in town updated.

Asked why he decided to stay in the business, he replied: “Just family.”

Descendants of both Baldwin and Blackwell have followed in their parents’ footprints in the auto dealer business.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times

The Stoddard County GOP opened its doors Saturday evening, and a host of candidates running for office rush in.

The annual Stoddard County Lincoln Day Banquet was held at the Dexter Elks Lodge Friday, and candidates and their campaigns kept a steady stream of speaker at the platform. With an election year with an abundant crop of new candidates seeking statewide office, it appeared at times that the stream of speakers was never-ending.

Stoddard County Republican Party Chairman Wayne Jean was the host for the evening, and his job for the banquet was to be gatekeeper, host and timekeeper. More than 20 candidates were on hand hoping to speak to the crowd of county Republicans.

By coincidence, Scott County Republicans were holding their own Lincoln Day event, so many of the statewide campaigns were shifts candidates from Scott to Stoddard and visa-versa. More than 300 were on hand at the Elks Lodge on Two Mile Road in Dexter.

Several speakers throughout the evening spoke of the growth of the GOP in Stoddard County, from the days when Senate Leader and Dexter native Rob Mayer said that “Wayne Jean, Mike Keathley and Charlie Kruse met in a phone booth” for county GOP meetings, to a banquet attracting statewide candidates and filling a large banquet hall.

State Republican Executive Director Lloyd F. Smith told the party paithful that he placed great importance on the 2012 election cycle, and encouraged them to be informed and to take heed of the election.

"We have a rendezvous with destiny. Our kids and grandkids will depend on what we do this election. Don't wake up the Wednesday after the election and say 'oh boy, I wish I had talked to this person or made this phone call.' You are the boots on the ground; you will make the difference," Smith said.

Candidates speaking to the Dexter crowd included (* denotes incubent):

U.S. Senate

• John Brunner
• Sarah Steelman

U.S. House of Representatives

• Jo Ann Emerson *
• Bob Parker

Governor

• Bill Randalls
• Dave Spence

Lt. Governor

• Peter Kinder *
• Brad Lager

Secretary of State

• Scott Rupp
• Bill Stouffer

State Treasurer

• Ed Martin

State Senate – District 25

• Doug Libla
• Billy Pat Wright

• Bob Thrower

State House – District 163

•  Kent Hampton *

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced a number of work projects in Southeast Missouri, which may impact motorists.

Route 60 Bridge near Dexter

Work to replace the deck of the Route 60 bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad in Stoddard County is expected to begin Monday, March 5. The bridge is located east of Route 25 near Dexter.

This project will not involve a road closure due to the traffic volume in the area. Westbound traffic will be diverted onto the eastbound lanes from County Road 517 to County Road 531. In addition to reducing traffic to one lane in each direction, a 16-foot width restriction will be in place.

Completion is anticipated in late August, weather permitting

Route F in Stoddard County

Two different projects on Route F in Stoddard County are on the project board with MoDOT.

Route F from Route 60 to Route J will be reduced to one lane as MoDOT crews perform edge rut repairs. Work will take place through Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting.

Route F will also be closed Monday, Feb. 27 while crews replace a pipe beneath the roadway. This section of roadway is located from County Road 420 to County Road 424.

I-55 in Scott County

Interstate 55 in Scott County from Route M at Scott City to Route 77 will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.

Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, Feb. 27 through Friday, March 2 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

For More Information

• MoDOT Customer Service Center - 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636)
• Missouri Department of Transportation