Dexter, MO - The Lunch Box will sponsor a Community Health Fair on Friday, August 12, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Free health screenings and door prizes available.
The Lunch Box is located at 23 W. Stoddard St. in downtown Dexter.
August Menu at the Lunch Box in Dexter
Don't forget the Annual Catfish Dinner and Bake Sale Fundraiser on August 12th
Free Health Fair also on Friday, August 12th from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Advance, MO - ENTRY FEE HAS BEEN WAIVED for the Woofstock Dog "Show Off" at the 2022 Advance Labor Day Picnic.
They need more participants or the Dog Show will have to be cancelled. Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic has decided to sponsor the event so that no one has to pay an entry fee.
PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED! Enter now, only a little over 3 weeks are left to register. Pick your entry forms up at Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic.
Forms must be completed and turned in by Friday, September 3rd to Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic at 34133 State Hwy. 25, Advance, MO 63730
To be held: Monday, September 5th at 12:30 PM at Umfleet Park
(Line up starts at 12:00 PM, Fun Dog “Show Off” commences at 12:30 PM
Categories:
1. Waggiest Tail
2. Biggest Dog
3. Smallest Dog
4. Best Bark
5. Best Costume
6. Scruffiest dog
7. Loveliest Lady
8. Fabulous Fella
9. Gorgeous Golden Oldie (7+ years)
10. Judges Pick (that they would take home)
Rules:
-No aggressive dogs! Dogs must be friendly and do well with other dogs, people, crowds and noise.
-No Female dogs in heat
-Proof of rabies vaccination given by a licensed Veterinarian must be provided
-No puppies under 4 months of age (due to disease transmission)
-Dogs must be on a leash AT ALL TIMES
-Dog owners MUST clean up after your dogs (bring poop bags)
-The actions, safety and well-being of all dogs at the show are the responsibility of the owner/handler.
-You must be registered prior to the Fun Dog Show Off. No entries will be allowed the day of the event
-Forms can be picked up at Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic or printed off the 2022 Advance Labor Day Picnic Facebook site.
-Forms must be returned with a copy of your rabies certificate and your $5 entry fee (NOW FREE) to Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic located at 34133 State Hwy. 25, Advance, MO 63730.
-The last day to register for the dog show will be Friday, September 3rd.
Dexter, MO - The annual Bearcat Fall Community Tailgate Homecoming event is just around the corner. The Dexter Bearcats will host the East Prairie Eagles on Friday, September 16th. Homecoming Coronation will be at 6:30 p.m. with kick-off at 7:00 p.m.
The Tailgate event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with music, entertainment, tailgaters giving away lots of food and freebies and this year the committee added a Tailgate Prize Pack to be raffled the night of homecoming. (more details on the prize pack coming soon). Please LIKE the following page Bearcat Fall Community Homecoming Tailgate Facebook page.
The event is FREE and open to the public to attend. Just come out and enjoy yourself prior to the game. Eat, drink, grab your tailgate supplies and most of all have fun!.
The Community Tailgate has been saving their money for a very special gift to Dexter High School. This year they should meet their goal and be able to purchase a brand new Bearcat Mascot costume with an internal fan for those hot days.
If you are interested in having a tailgate spot contact Dee Loflin at 573.380.3318. They are $75 each or $125 for 2 spots together per business. If you don't want to have a tailgate spot, but want to help the committee complete their goal you can also donate. Checks are made out to Bearcat Fall Community Homecoming and can be mailed to P.O. Box 84, Dexter, MO 63841 or dropped off at the Dexter Chamber.
After more than a 30-year career with the city of Dexter and 20 years as city collector, Crystal Allstun has decided to retire. She believes she is the longest serving female at the city collector position in Dexter’s history.
“I appreciate the citizens of Dexter for re-electing me all these years and putting their confidence in me and keeping me here. I really do appreciate them,” Allstun said. “There are so many good citizens in this town, just good people here. It’s a great place to live. A lot of people come back and retire here because it’s just a great place to be. I do appreciate the people who have done that for me over the years.”
Allstun started her career with the city as a part-time employee with the Dexter Police Department in December 1991.
Allstun first moved to city hall at the request of Mayor Willis Conner. Conner reached out to the Chief of Police Steve Fish, after the city collector at that time, Pearl Swinger, was forced to take a leave of absence due to illness. Conner was seeking someone to help out at city hall on a temporary basis until Swinger’s return.
“Steve said I have this college student who is willing to come help,” said Allstun. “So I came over to help for a few days because at that time we expected the collector, Swinger, to be able to come back.”
Unfortunately he would not be able to return and later passed away.
Gail Simmering was then appointed to the city collector position. This opened up a full-time position at city hall. Allstun, who at this time had graduated from Three Rivers College with a business degree, would continue to serve as assistant collector under Simmering.
“She (Simmering) was huge influence,” said Allstun. “I worked under her for 10 years and I learned a lot. She was a great mentor, she did a very good job, was very thorough, so that is where I learned a lot of skills in what to do and how to handle everything.”
Upon Simmering’s retirement in 2002, Allstun ran for the city collector position for the first time. She emerged victorious over five other candidates seeking the position. Allstun said though Simmering endorsed her, there was no incumbent in the April 2002 election. Simmering retired at the end of her term and Allstun was not yet elected.
“I consider people up here at work family and even extended departments the same way,” said Allstun looking back on her career. “Because you are here eight hours a day with people, so they get to know you on a personal level and you as well. It will be weird not to be around people I have been in contact with day in and day out all these years. They know me, they know my family, they know things about me. So they are kind of like a family and that’s going to be kind of different for me not having that interaction.”
Allstun then spoke of her love of the city.
“There is a lot of good people in the town anyway and you (meet) customers over the years and you get to know them as well,” said Allstun. “I won’t have any of that interaction. So that will be a little different for me. I think on a social level it's going to be a little different than what I prepared for.”
Allstun has no set plans for her retirement except to enjoy it.
“I really don’t have anything else I’m going to do other than enjoy life,” said Allstun. “I want to be able to spend some time with my mother who is older in age and starting to have some health issues. Just be around family and enjoy time that I have.”
Allstun spoke highly of Kendra Williams, who will take her seat on Aug. 15, 2022.
“She actually was my assistant when she came to work for the city about 17 years ago. The treasurer retired at that time so she moved to the back office and became treasurer, so she started out with me and she is ending with me me,” laughed Allstun. “I am confident that she will be fine - she and I always worked together very well even in the beginning. Of course everything has changed as far as systems and programs. We are training and I am confident she will be fine.”
“I am thankful, I am just very thankful I can even do this (retire). I am not leaving on any bad terms or anything,” said Allston. “When I decided I was going to this, I went in to (city administrator) Trevor (Pulley) and told him this has always been my goal. I am not mad or upset with anyone this has just always been my goal and I am able to do it. It’s just something I was able to do so I took the opportunity."
Looking back on her career Allstun said she has had the opportunity to contribute to several upgrades at city hall.
Allstun said she was influential in going to the electronic meter reading systems now used by the city. She said she also assisted with new programs that allow for more customer options including web payments, draft payment options and tax payment options. Allstun said these systems are now in line with what the county uses. She said it is not all the paper copies like in the past, electronic filing is now an option.
“The biggest thing would probably be the meters. We went to electronic meters in in 2007 with that program,” Allstun said. “I was able to get that passed, I worked on that for quite awhile.”
She also said she wrote some grants under Simmering. These grants allowed renovations to the vault at city hall and a secondary vault to be built.
“As with any job you have your highs and lows but it’s been a good job,” said Allstun. “I have learned a lot over the years and met a lot of people. I’m happy.”
“We want to thank Crystal Allstun for the numerous years she has dedicated to the City of Dexter,” said City Administrator Trevor Pulley.”We would like to wish her well in her retirement.”
Photo and article submitted by Josh Ayers, Editor, Dexter Statesman.
