Letters To The Editor

Corps of Engineers Prepares for 135th Anniversary
August 26th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Corps of Engineers Prepares for 135th Anniversary
Memphis, Tennessee - A milestone is fast approaching for the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as it prepares to celebrate its 135th anniversary on Aug. 30.

A year-long schedule of events and activities are planned that will highlight the agency's mission and the value it brings to this region.

"We are honored to be a part of this great community of Memphis and the Mid-South and look forward to helping the people we serve learn more about our rich history and what we do today," Col. Mike Ellicott, the Memphis District commander said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first came to this part of the United States in 1820 when the U.S. Congress appropriated $5,000 for a survey of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. That task fell to the Corps of Engineers.

When a major flood on the lower Mississippi River devastated local levee systems in 1882 and created hundreds of crevasses totaling 56 miles in length, the then newly-formed Mississippi River Commission (MRC) gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responsible for implementing their flood control plans. 

Part of those plans was the establishment of four administrative districts from Cairo, Ill., to New Orleans, each headed by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer. The Second District had its headquarters in Memphis. Consolidated with the Cairo office in 1890, it eventually became the Memphis District.

Flood control was the primary mission assigned to the districts in those early years, but in 1891 representatives from several large steamboat companies asked the MRC to improve navigation during low water conditions on the river. In response to this, the Corps constructed the first experimental hydraulic dredge - the ALPHA. It proved to be a great success and by 1901, nine Corps dredges were operating on the river.

Flooding remained the greatest concern however, and enormous floods struck the region in 1897, 1912, 1916 and 1922. Then in 1927 the most destructive flood in U.S. history took the lives of as many as 500 people along the Mississippi River, destroyed 25,000 commercial buildings and homes, and property damage exceeded $236 million (equivalent to more than $3.3 billion today).

More floods came in 1937, 1950, 1973, 1975, 1979, several in the 1990s and the most recent major event in 2011. But with each successive event the people of the Mid-South have seen less and less damage, and more savings from damages prevented by the ongoing work of the Corps of Engineers.

Today, the 450 men and women of the Memphis District work from offices in the Clifford Davis-Odell Horton Federal Building in downtown Memphis, at the Corps' Ensley Engineer Yard on McKellar Lake in south Memphis, from field offices in Wynne, Ark., Carlisle, Ark., and Caruthersville, Mo., and aboard a wide variety of vessels operating on the Mississippi River. Year in and year out, they deliver their mission of flood risk reduction, dependable navigation, environmental stewardship, emergency operations, other authorized civil works and work for others to benefit this region and the Nation.

Last Updated on August 26th 2017 by Dee Loflin




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Three Chances to Donate Blood in Stoddard County During July
July 05th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Three Chances to Donate Blood in Stoddard County During July
The American Red Cross is asking for YOUR help!

There are three days in July that Red Cross will be in Stoddard County:

Wednesday, July 12th at the Bernie Community Center in Bernie, MO from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friday, July 14th at the Bank of Advance in Advance, MO from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 15th at the First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield, MO from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets this summer. While the need for blood and platelets remains constant throughout the summer, the Red Cross experiences a drastic decline in new donors, and current donors often delay giving due to summer vacation plans. Last summer, nearly one-third fewer new blood donors came out to give than during the rest of the year. Many schools where blood drives are held and where new donors give are out of session during the summer months.
 
Blood and platelet donations often do not keep pace with hospital demand during the summer months, but every day there are thousands of lives to help save. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.
*Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
*The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.
 
Eligible donors of all blood types are needed to make a donation appointment now and help sustain a sufficient community blood supply.
*Donating blood is a relatively safe and easy process, and only takes about an hour.
*Scheduling an appointment is easy and fast through the Blood Donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
*Donors of all blood types are needed to help save lives.
 
Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.


Last Updated on July 05th 2017 by Dee Loflin




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Letter to the Editor - SSM Health Thanks Senators
June 05th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Letter to the Editor - SSM Health Thanks Senators

SSM Health thanks State Senators Gary Romine and Doug Libla for their hard work in fighting to keep utility costs low for our Missouri hospitals, physician’s offices, home care, and outpatient centers.

Keeping utility costs down is an important part of managing our operations and providing high quality care that is affordable and sustainable to our communities.

Their work during the 2017 regular session, as well as during special session, deserves recognition.

We know both are working tirelessly not only for their constituencies, but also for our patients, employees and all Missourians. We cannot thank you enough, Senators!
 
Jessica Pabst and Mike Rosenblatt
SSM Health


Last Updated on June 05th 2017 by Dee Loflin




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Your Help is Needed for Dexter Prom
March 30th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Your Help is Needed for Dexter Prom

​Parents,

It is that time of year to ask for help with prom food, prom food workers, and of course, project prom workers.  Junior and Senior parents supply the prom food for the event.  It can be store bought or homemade.  Typically we have things like chips and dips, fruit and veggie trays, finger sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes, etc.  Really anything that is easy for the students to eat.  The juniors that attend prom bring 2 2-liter drinks to supply beverages for the event.  The school supplies the paper products. Please let me know what you are willing to bring for our food tent.

I also need parents to work in the food tent during prom:  The times are 7:30-8:30, 8:30 to 9:30, and 9:30-10:30.

We are also looking for a few props for prom:  
Any kind of artificial trees and plants (the bigger the better), or LARGE tree branches we can use as trees, and park benches.  This will all be well taken care of and returned to the owners.

I am also looking for some colorful rain boots that someone would like to get rid of.  We need a couple of pairs, if possible.

Finally, we need workers for project prom.  You DO NOT have to be a junior or senior parent.  I just need willing adults to help. We have moved everything up 30 minutes this year, so project prom doors will open at 11 and the grand prize drawings will start at 2:30, with the event being over at 3 am, rather than 4.

I need help from 10:45-until 2:45 with project prom.  If you are willing to stay the entire time, that would be great, but if you can only work a couple of hours, let me know.

Once again, thank you for all of your help and your support!!

Judy Patterson​

--
Judy Patterson
Dexter High School Counselor
judyp@dexter.k12.mo.us
573-614-1030



Last Updated on March 30th 2017 by Dee Loflin




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Letter to the Editor - From Tila Hubrecht
October 30th 2016 by Dee Loflin
Letter to the Editor - From Tila Hubrecht
Some might wonder why so much controversy surrounds proposed Constitutional Amendment 3- it’s only after one cuts through the sound bites and ads laden with adorable kids that the true deception of this Trojan horse tax scheme is revealed.

North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, known as the makers of Camel and Pall-Mall cigarettes, has spent $9.5 million and counting to amend Missouri’s constitution. The reason Big Tobacco is pouring millions in Missouri is as sinister as the language buried within Amendment 3.

RJR controls 75% of Missouri’s cigarette market, and it’s using our kids to gain the other 25%. Market analysis shows Big Tobacco stands to gain nearly $500 million annually in sales if Amendment 3 passes, while spending less than $500 per Missouri pupil.

Amendment 3 automatically rebates 3% of taxes paid by consumers back to tobacco sellers and restricts funding for the enforcement of tobacco laws; it bans research funding on the harmful effects of tobacco smoke, including its impact on young children.

As a longtime leader on anti-abortion issues, I am deeply concerned Amendment 3 will enshrine abortion and abortion services definitions in our constitution for the first time in our state’s history.

As a dedicated advocate of Parents As Teachers, I understand the significant impact that early education can have on our children. However, in the case of Amendment 3, something is not better than nothing.

I urge voters to join me in opposing constitutional Amendment 3 and voting no.  

Rep. Tila Hubrecht, R- Dexter


Last Updated on October 30th 2016 by Dee Loflin




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