Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bernie, Missouri – The Bernie Parents as Teachers program has announced their second student of the month for May as Deken Stone. The Bernie PAT chooses two students each month.
Deken just turned four and is the son of Ryan and Melanie Stone and enjoys playing outside, riding his bicycle, and hanging out with the children and teachers at Sunshine School.
During a recent Parents As Teachers visit with Mrs. McGarity, he enjoyed bowling and counting the pins as he knocked them down.
Deken looks forward to this upcoming school year when he will attend preschool at Bernie.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bernie, Missouri - The Bernie Parents As Teachers program has announced one of their two students of the month for May, Jameson Robert Beaird.
He is the 7 month old son of Alex and Lindsay Beaird and little brother to Ethan and Tatum.
Jameson enjoys playing with his feet, putting his pacifier in his mouth (he just learned to do this on his own), listening to classical music with headphones (this is his Dad's doing), and playing in his Little Einstein bouncer.
Jameson also enjoys playing with Mrs. Williams when she comes to visit and really likes the high contrast tracking toys she brought him. Recently, Jameson has learned how to sit up steadily on his own. He can also roll anywhere he needs to go.
Congratulations Jameson! For more information about Parents As Teachers in Bernie go to their Facebook page by clicking HERE.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri - Members of the First Christian Church in Dexter stand behind only a portion of the Easter “baskets” they prepared for Stoddard County families in need and donated to the Stoddard County Mission.
Seventy-five families in need will benefit from their efforts.
Holloway’s Distributing in Puxico delivered paper and laundry products worth nearly $6,000 to the mission. The items were also donated from the church, purchased with proceeds from the “Billie’s Closet” event held in November.
Billie’s Closet is a fundraising endeavor in honor of Billie Harty. When she passed away in June of 2013 her husband, Norman decided to donate her personal items to his church, the First Christian Church of Dexter. Doing this Norman though the items could be purchased at auction and the proceeds could go toward helping local families.
It was decided that a gala evening titled, “Billie’s Closet” would be held at the church in November. The event netted several thousand dollars. In conjunction with the Easter Baskets presented to the Gospel Rescue Mission, Holloway Distributing out of Puxico delivered a truckload of paper products, and laundry and dish soap to the Mission — nearly $6,000 worth of household products, all paid for with proceeds from “Billie’s Closet” event.
“We are so fortunate to have these items on hand for our families in need,” Slavings said upon delivery Wednesday. “This act of kindness is one of the most generous gestures we’ve ever experienced from one local entity, and it is greatly appreciated.”
Pictured above are (front) Debbie Vanslyke, Kellie Reese, Carolyn Carrier, Kim Williams, Mission Director Kim Slavings, Jansen Williams, Nona Robinson, and Debbie Stidham. In back are Sean Vanslyke, Gary Williams, Pastor Michael Williams, Mission Food Pantry Manager Marty Starnes, and Larry Thompson.
What wonderful people we have in our community who come together to help such a wonderful organization. The Stoddard County Gospel Mission helps those who are less fortunate.
"The Stoddard County Gospel Mission operates on donations from the local community. Gently used items are donated and sold for a minimal price in the Mission’s Thrift Store. Money from sales in the store help to support the overall operation of the store and keep the food pantry stocked with food for approximately 1200 families in Stoddard County each month."
“That means a lot of food each month is needed to help with these low-income household needs,” says Kim Slavings, director.
Food drives are a necessity to keep food on the mission’s shelves. Most recently, US Bank and Family Video sponsored food drives to assist in the mission’s needs. In June, Allen Christian Buick GMC sponsors a Stuff a Truck event. In September, the local Faurecia plant holds a Food Drive Challenge, and in November the Boy Scouts Food Drive contributes to the mission’s needs.
Rotary Interact Students of Stoddard County and other schools in the county have also brought in food items. In December, Dexter Schools sponsor a coat and food drive to benefit the mission.
“It is our hope that other businesses and churches in the county will be inspired to keep in mind the less fortunate within our community, as has members of the First Christian Church. We so much appreciate all who continue to have a part in helping us help others.”
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bloomfield, Missouri – Ceremonies are planned at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery on Monday, May 26th at 1:00 p.m. Keynote speaker will be BG Charles Kruse (Ret).
Charles Kruse received a BS in Agronomy from Arkansas State University in 1967, and a Master’s of Science in Plant Genetics in 1974 from the University of Missouri.
Charles was appointed by Governor Kit Bond to the University of Missouri Board Of Curators in 1983 and in 1985 Governor John Ashcroft appointed him as Director of Agriculture for the State of Missouri.
In 1992 he was elected President of the Missouri Farm Bureau, and he held that position until he retired in 2010. During that time he served on the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors as well as the Executive Committee.
In 1966, he enlisted in Dexter’s 1221nd Army National Guard Company as a Private. His military career spanned 26 years and he retired with the rank of Brigadier General.
Please welcome him as he pays homage to those who fought for our country. Each year Memorial Day is traditionally set aside to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield for their tribute to fallen solders, prisoners of war, those missing in action, and those who served our country then you have missed a very emotional tribute.
Please support our troops near and far and those who have died for your freedom by attending this breathtaking ceremony on Memorial Day.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Stoddard County, Missouri – Bargain hunters are ready for the 100-mile Yard Sale! This is the 16th year for the annual event. The Memorial Day Weekend tradition stretches from Jackson to Kennett along Highway 25. Yard sales, garage sales, back-of-pickup truck sale will be in towns throughout southeast Missouri.
Along the way shoppers will find bargains and vendors selling all types of food.
Fifteen years ago, Ellen Lowe was traveling to trade shows and flea markets across the country and had a brilliant idea of having a yard sale that ran along Highway 25. She invited dealers to come and began marketing it herself. Soon local chambers of commerce such as Dexter realized the potential and the effect it would have on the local economy
"It's a fun weekend that people look forward to each year," says Traffic Engineer Craig Compas, "but we want people to remember that there's more traffic and more congestion along Route 25 this weekend than any other and drivers need to keep that in mind."
MoDOT will do its part to bring the safety message to the forefront. Message boards will be in place along the route to alert drivers of the unusual traffic patterns and promote safe driving.
"We really want drivers to be alert-to be aware of their surroundings, to be aware of sudden stops and to look for pedestrian traffic," Compas says. "It's a big event locally, and we want everyone to enjoy themselves and be as safe as possible."
For more information, contact Compas at (573) 472-5310 or call MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).
The sale begins in earnest on Friday, with folks checking out the bargains throughout the holiday weekend. It’s highly recommended that buyers bring cash, since many “yard sale merchants” will not accept personal checks or credit and debit cards.
As the old saying goes, “One Mans Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure!”
We hope everyone finds something at the 100 Mile Yard Sale and have a safe and fun weekend.
