Dexter, Missouri - No child should ever have to experience cancer.  Little Levi Stinson of Bloomfield knows all too well the effects of being diagnosed with type B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) does to his body. 

The constant poking of needles and the ongoing chemotherapy are all too familiar to Levi.  His cancer causes the overproduction of immature, cancerous white blood cells and limits the production of normal red and white blood cells and platelets.
 

Levi is receiving his care through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the top hospitals for childhood cancer patients.  He could face up to three years of chemotherapy and he has been plagued with upper respiratory infections due to his low immune system since being diagnosed last year.

The Dexter Rotary Club will host Blood Drive in his honor on Monday, May 4th at the Sacred Heart Church from 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

They ask everyone to come out and donate blood or platelets in his name.  A donation jar will also be available to help offset the cost of travel to and from Memphis.  If you can donate even just a few dollars it will help Levi's family so much.

Dexter, Missouri – All cancer survivors in Stoddard County and a guest are invited to attend a FREE Survivor’s Dinner sponsored by the Stoddard County Relay for Life.

The event will be held on Monday, April 27^th at 5:30 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter.  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:00 p.m.

Fun, entertainment, and door prizes will be provided.

There is no need to pre-register for the dinner.  All cancer survivors whether under a current diagnosis or a long-term survivor are encouraged to attend.  Let’s celebrate their lives and their fight against this terrible disease.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Stoddard County is slated for Friday, May 1^st at 4:00 p.m. at East City Park in Dexter.

The Opening Ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. with a survivors' lap, during which cancer survivors and their caregivers will take a victory lap around the track at the park.

Dexter, Missouri - Each year the Beta Sigma Phi Sororities of Dexter award a student with a scholarship.  This student shows ambition and strives to better our world through the pursuit of exemplary goals.

They have extended helping hands to many area students, families, and are wide causes as well as offer a one time $500 education scholarship.

Destiny Robertson, a senior at Dexter High School, was selected as the recipient of this year's Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship, which
was presented to her Monday night at the yearly Beta Sigma Phi Founder's Day dinner. 

Destiny is the  17 year-old daughter of David and Ruth Robertson.

She is a member of the tennis team and has been a member of the track team her freshman, sophomore and senior years and a member of the tennis team her junior and senior year. 

She is also active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Teachers of America, FCCLA, Scholar Bowl Team, Pep Club and the Dexter Honor Society.

Destiny plans to attend Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and major in Education.

All four chapters of the sorority contribute to the $500 scholarship.

Pictured from left are Teresa Overall, Gamma Delta Masters; Vicki Taylor, Xi Lambda Eta; Destiny Robertson; Christin Stone, Beta Sigma; and Kim Fitts, Xi Lambda Psi.

Sikeston, Missouri – Dexter High School art students excelled at this year’s Sikeston Depot’s 40^th Annual Art Show.

Hayli Petty earned Second Place in the category of Wildlife.

Honey Patel received 2^nd place in Abstract Art.

Katie Coleman received First Place in Wildlife and Second Place in the category of Fibers/Collage Art.

Harley Allen earned First Place in Still-Life Art.

Janie Lindsey received Third Place in Landscape and Honorable Mention in Abstract Art.

MaKayla Waldner received First Place in Fibers/Collage Art.

Reagan Miller took Second Place honors in the Portrait Art Division.

Shown in the photo front row from left to right:  Hayli Petty, Honey Patel and Katie Coleman.  Back row from left to right: Harley Allen, Janie Lindsey, and MaKayla Waldner.  Not available for the picture was Reagan Miller.

 

Poplar Bluff, Missouri – The 15^th Annual Juried Regional High School Art Exhibit was held on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  Twenty-one area high schools participated in the annual event.

Honey Patel of Dexter High School received Best of Show for her artwork entitled Out of the Shadows.

Josh Ladd took first and second place honors in the category of Painting.

MaKayla Waldner placed second in the Mixed Media category.

Katie Coleman took first place in the Drawing category.

Shown in the photo are MaKayla Waldner, Honey Patel, Josh Ladd, and Katie Coleman.