Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Mark your calendar and get ready to donate some blood! During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross invites everyone to support their communities by giving blood or platelets, volunteering, taking a class or making a financial donation.
Did you know that the Red Cross began to collect blood for the U.S. Military in 1941? Dr. Charles Drew was the medical director during that time and in 1948 the Red Cross implemented the first nationwide blood program for civilians.
What a great organization with over 70 years worth of blood donations.
The American Red Cross will be in Dexter on March 18th from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Pleasant Grove Community Church. The church is located at 13798 E. State Highway H in Dexter, Missouri.
Bell City High School will also sponsor a blood drive with the American Red Cross on March 21st from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. The school is located at 25254 Walnut Street in Bell City, Missouri.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies and about 40% of the nation’s blood supply. They also teach skills that save lives, provide international humanitarian aid and support the military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
If you wish to donate blood, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org to make an appointment. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Several youngsters braved the cold weather Tuesday to listen to Susie Grobe and Kristi Booker read and make crafts at the Keller Public Library Story Hour.
Susie and Kristi each read a story book to the children before they spent the rest of their hour making crafts.
Each week the library has a special guest and a few weeks ago, Cluck, the Chicken came to the library with Mr. Tony Rustin from Pizza Hut. Some of the children laughed and wanted to shake Cluck's feathers. Other children were very frightened of Cluck and it took a few minutes of coaxing to get those children laughing and singing songs.
Next week, Betsy Taylor and Riley Dillinger will be the guest readers. The "St. Patrick's Day" Library Story Hour will begin at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12th. Hope everyone comes out and bring the little ones for a fun filled hour of singing, reading and making crafts.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Due to inclement weather in the state of Missouri, many cities have rescheduled the statewide tornado drill for Thursday, March 7th at 1:30 p.m. However, the Alert did broadcast throughout the state as planned.
There were some cities who could not activate their Outdoor Warning Sirens as the temperature was at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This cold weather could damage the sirens. Illinois decided to postpone their statewide drill until Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. due to the snow storms in their region.
Many area schools also postponed their drill, including Dexter Public Schools. The City of Dexter will also activate their sirens on Thursday. The weather just did not cooperate with us today. We will try again on Thursday.
Missouri’s www.stormaware.mo.gov website includes detailed videos showing how to take shelter in specific types of buildings, houses with and without basements, mobile homes, schools and important information about tornado sirens and weather alert radios. This site also includes links to free severe weather texting services that can alert people across Missouri to upcoming severe weather.
The National Weather Service provides safety tips and educational information about each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week on the St. Louis Forecast Office site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=severeweek.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – It doesn’t seem like it’s that time of the year already, but it’s time to set our clocks forward, time to start preparing our Springtime activities and it’s time to test area tornado sirens and have drills in our schools and businesses.
Missouri will conduct the 39th annual Statewide Tornado Drill on Tuesday, March 5th at 1:30 p.m. However if severe weather is in the forecast, the drill will be moved to Thursday, March 7th at 1:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri’s local emergency management offices urge Missourians to use Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 4th – 8th, as an opportunity to plan and prepare for how they will react and shelter in response to severe weather.
“Severe Weather Awareness Week is a perfect opportunity for school, families and businesses to revisit what they will do if severe weather hits while at school, home or work,” said State Emergency Management Agency Director Donald L. King. “As we all know, tornadoes are a common threat across Missouri, and advance planning and preparation for what you will do when a warning is issued are essential to reacting quickly and sheltering properly.”
On Tuesday, the Missouri outdoor sirens and weather alert radios will sound; indicating Missourians should seek shelter during the statewide tornado drill.
The Dexter Public School System and the City of Dexter will be participating in the Statewide Tornado Drill.
The City of Dexter’s Outdoor Warning System test will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5th and a second test will be at 7:00 p.m.
The outdoor warning system test will use the “Westminster Chimes” sound during the test. After the test, an all-clear message will be sent.
Missouri’s Stormaware.mo.gov website includes detailed videos showing how to take shelter in specific types of buildings, houses with and without basements, mobile homes, schools and important information about tornado sirens and weather alert radios. This site also includes links to free severe weather texting services that can alert people across Missouri to upcoming severe weather.
The National Weather Service provides safety tips and educational information about each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week on the St. Louis Forecast Office site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=severeweek.
Monday is “Preparedness Day”
Tuesday is “Tornado Safety Day”
Wednesday is “Flash Flood Safety Day”
Thursday is “Severe Thunderstorm Day”
Friday is “NOAA Weather Radio Day”
Tornado Myth: “Opening the windows in your home before a tornado will reduce damage by balancing the pressure inside and outside the structure.”
FALSE! Homes are damaged and destroyed by the extremely strong winds in a tornado, not pressure.
Tornado Myth: “Tornadoes never strike the same area twice.”
FALSE! Tornadoes can strike any area at any time, regardless of past history. For instance, Cordell, Kansas was hit by tornadoes on the same day, May 20th, three years in a row. Also, three different tornadoes hit the same church in Guy, Arkansas on the same day.
There's no time like the present to get prepared and with this week being Severe Weather Awareness Week, there is a lot of information out there on the internet. Stay safe!
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – VFW Post 2659 is having a Membership Drive during the month of March and would like you to join!
“Any new member that joins during March 2013 will get their membership dues and fees paid,” commented Steve Rahm, Commander of the Dexter VFW Post 2659. “After that membership dues are $25.00.”
Currently there are 63 members from the Dexter area, including folks from Puxico, Bloomfield and Bernie.
They take pride in their organization and their eligibility qualifications. There are three primary requirements to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. One is you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, second you must have had honorable service in the Armed forces of the United States and third you must have had service entitling you to the award of a recognized campaign medal or as set forth in the Congressional Charter and By-Laws and Manual of Procedure and Ritual. This means if you have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you are eligible to join.
Why should you join the VFW? There are so many businesses across this great country of ours that support and appreciate your service. They have teamed up with the VFW to offer wonderful family discounted pricing on many services and it’s their way of saying “thank you for what you have done to protect our freedom.”
There are scholarships, travel discounts, financial services, real estate services, insurance programs, health care services, prescription discount cards, computer assistance and even identity theft protection assistance.
You can get an application card from the Commander, Steve Rahm or Senior Vice Commander, Jim Bland. You may also contact Jack Mathis at 573-624-2936.
The Dexter VFW Post 2659 meets the fourth Thursday of each month and their next meeting is March 28th at 6:00 p.m. They are located on Highway 25 North next to the Eagles Lodge.
You may also go to their website, www.vfw.org and learn more about how “Veterans Are Serving Veterans” all over the state of Missouri. Once you are a member you will receive the latest news about veterans, a membership car, and you can become a Life Member or even a Legacy Life Member.
