Dexter, Missouri - The children at Small Wonders Child Development Center were excited to see several of the Dexter High School football team show up to demonstrate some plays and talk about football.

The children were dressed for the occasion in their red and black showing their Bearcat pride!

Peyton Pollock, quarterback for the Bearcats handed off the football to DJ Dowdy who ran as "fast" as he could and was "tackled" by children who were giggling, laughing and screaming as they ran after him. 

Everyone seemed to have a great time.  Some of the little girls were surprised to see a "girl" football player.  Miss MaKayla was introduced by Coach Peden and he told the youngsters that even little girls can grow up and play football if they work hard and practice!

The players invited the children to come out and watch a football game and cheer for the Bearcats!

Thank you Coach Peden and all of the football players who took time out of their schedule to stop by and see the youngsters at Small Wonders.  Memories that will last forever!

Small Wonders Child Development Center is located in the First Baptist Church at 311 N. Walnut St. in Dexter, Missouri.  For more information about the daycare please contact them at 573-624-3688.

Dexter, Missouri - When the students at Dexter High School were asked to bring in shoes for the people of Nicaragua.  They gave in true spirit. 

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) gathered Friday morning for prayer and breakfast and discovered over 300 pair of shoes had been collected by the students.

"This is amazing,"  commented Kurt Lovelady, Math Teacher and co-organizer of the shoe drive.  "I showed the students last week a photo of what these people were wearing on their feet instead of shoes and the students couldn't believe what they saw.  They were dismayed by the fact that the people had plastic two liter bottles cut in half wrapped with twine and were using them as sandals."

We are so blessed to live in the greatest country on earth and to see people living in poverty the way these people do is truly heartbreaking, especially seeing the children.

Pam Jolliff of the First Baptist Church is organizing the mission trip.  A team goes every year to Nicaragua to help the people there.

Shown in the photo are FCA officers, Kendra Stevenson, Madison McGowan, Shyann Jines, and Mary Kate Miller.

Submitted by Jill Temples

SMT Writer

Bloomfield, Missouri- The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring “Make a Difference Day” Saturday, September 28th to assist anyone in Bloomfield that needs help.  This includes members of the Bloomfield community that do not have the ability to clean up their yard or home.

You may register your group or organization to help with Make a Difference Day!

Registration will begin at 7:00 am at the small pavilion in the park in Bloomfield.  Jobs will be assigned with work starting at 8:00 am.

Lunch will be provided at the park for all volunteers starting at 12:30 p.m

Please contact Goldie DeGroot at 568-9996 or 568-2584 or Paula Yancy at the US Bank 568-4553 to learn more or to register your group or organization.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact one of the above people by September 20.

Please help us take pride community wide on Saturday, September 28th!

Submitted by Jill Temples

SMT Writer

Bernie, Missouri- The Fitness Connection’s Second Annual Bernie Fall Festival 5k run/walk will be at the Bernie City Park on Saturday, September 28th at 1:00 p.m.

Pre-registration will be$20 and you will be guaranteed a t-shirt.  Registration will be $25 on race day. T-shirt pick up is from 12:00-12:45 p.m. and the 5k run/walk will begin at 1:00 p.m.

Registration forms can be picked up at Fitness Connection, Bernie High School, Bernie City Hall, and the First Community Bank.

Medals will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female finishers in each age category.

Come out and support Fitness Connection in their 2nd Annual Bernie Fall Festival!

Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Dexter, Missouri - Today, September 18th is National Cheeseburger Day.

To celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, gather some friends together, head out to the Stoddard County Fair and order a delicious Cheeseburger from the Dexter Rotary Club! 

Bill Boone from Southern Bank will be glad to serve you a fresh hot CHEESEBURGER from the grill!

There are many theories to the beginning of the cheeseburger dating back to the 1920′s.  One story suggests that Lionel Sternberger is reputed to have invented the cheeseburger in 1926 while working at his father’s Pasadena, California sandwich shop, “The Rite Spot”.  During an experiment, he dropped a slice of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger.

There are other claims the invention of the cheeseburger:

A cheeseburger appeared on a 1928 menu at O’Dell’s, a Los Angeles restaurant, which listed a cheeseburger, smothered with chili. for 25 cents.

Kaelin’s Restaurant – Louisville, Kentucky says it invented the cheeseburger in 1934.

1935 – A trademark for the name “cheeseburger” was awarded to Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver, Colorado.

According to it’s archives, Gus Belt, founder of Steak n’ Shake, applied for a trademark on the word “cheeseburger” in the 1930′s.

Happy Cheeseburger Day!  We'll see you at the Fair!