Buffalo, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcats traveled across the state to Buffalo, Missouri during one of the hottest weeks of the summer thus far. With extreme heat conditions four teams quickly chose to drop out of the competition, but not our strong and mighty Bearcats! Only Buffalo High School and Springfield Catholic remained as competitors at the two-day camp on July 20th and 21st.
Dexter competed in the day and a half camp as one of the toughest teams among the three and was definitely the toughest team on the second day. Day two was cut short due to heat and the Bearcats were able to come home a few hours sooner. Perhaps a little beaten up with three new minor injured players, a few bruises, some jerseys that moms couldn't wait to get in the wash, but through it all they strengthened their offensive and defensive lines and learned from two opponents they had never competed against.
"Springfield Catholic gave us a good look," commented Dexter head football coach Kevin Goltra. "They have two tackles who got Division 1 offers. Their offense ran out of the shotgun and are big up front. We had great success against them and were tougher on the field."
"Buffalo High School is a spread team offense and gave us a chance to look at their offense to help us get better at what we do," continued Goltra. "I was really pleased with our efforts on the field."
The full contact camp was invitation only with 42 Dexter athletes participating.
"Corbin Strong, a sophomore, is one heck of a linebacker," stated Goltra. "If he continues to improve he will be a great asset this season and for the next two years."
"Bo McMullin is a good linebacker as well," continued Goltra. "Last year I believe he was the leading tackler for the Bearcats as a freshman. He's a smart player."
"The offensive line is extremely young this year and are doing a great job," Goltra said of his sophomore offensive line. "We are a little undersized and made up of mostly sophomores, but I have been very impressed and over the next couple of years will be amazed if they keep working hard."
"Our quarterback, Ben Sindle managed the games well against both opponents. He passes the ball well and is doing exactly what we are asking him to do on the field," Goltra said.
"Defensively we are very good against the inside run game. We are sometimes good and sometimes bad against the outside run game, it just seems we have a breakdown here or there with a player, but we are improving and getting better against the outside run. There was no doubt that Dexter won the Buffalo Full Contact Camp. Our coaching staff was really pleased with their efforts and we were able to see two different styles which will only improve our efforts during the regular season," commented Goltra.
Dexter will host the Football Jamboree on Friday, August 12th at 7:00 p.m. This will be our first look at our players. This week is Dead Week for high school athletes. Practice begins Monday, August 1, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Parents, if your athlete has not had a recent physical he/she must get one before August 1st. Last year's physicals expire on July 31, 2016.
The managed deer hunt application period is July 1 - 31. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available Sept. 1 through Jan. 15. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by mail.
Get more information on managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, and apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt.
Details about managed hunts can also be found in MDC's "2016 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information" booklet available starting in July at MDC offices and nature centers, from permit vendors around the state, and online at mdc.mo.gov.
Dexter, Missouri - Bootheel Counseling Services will host their 15th Annual 4-Person Benefit Golf Scramble at the Hidden Trails Country Club on Friday, July 29th in Dexter.
Tee-off will be at 1:00 p.m. with registration at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $65.00 per person and that will include food, beverages on the course, t-shirts, and door prizes.
Golf cars will also be available for $30 each and must be requested by Thursday, July 21st.
For more information or sign up for the golf tournament please contact Jennifer Hartlein at (573) 471-0800 or DeNeen Schweiss at (573) 568-2260.
Proceeds from the golf tournament will be utilized to improve mental health services in our communities.
O'Fallon, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that James Lucas of O’Fallon became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he caught a hybrid striped bass on the Mississippi River.
The new “alternative method” record hybrid striped bass caught by Lucas on April 22 weighed 8-pounds, 6-ounces with a length of 24 3/4 inches and a girth of 18 1/2 inches. Lucas caught the fish with a throwline in one of his honey holes. MDC staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale in O’Fallon.
“I’m really excited that I caught this fish,” said Lucas. “I have been trying for over a month and a half to set this record with a throwline, and I’m just really glad all my practice finally paid off.”
Lucas added fishing with a throwline isn’t easy; it takes a lot of practice to get it down.
“I was able to locate the fish and get over the hybrid striped bass and drop my line. Then the fight was on. The striped bass put up a decent fight, but once I got him on the bank, I got that gut feeling I had the record,” he said. “I didn’t know for sure until I talked with MDC and they confirmed it.”
Lucas is familiar with state-record fish. He holds a state record for the skipjack herring in the alternative method category, which he broke on April 8.
“You haven’t heard the last of me,” he said. “I hope to set many more state records in the future. As for this fish, I plan on mounting it and putting it on the wall with the others.”
Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.
Dexter, Missouri - T.S. Hill Middle School's football season is just around the corner. Beginning Monday, July 18th - Thursday, July 21st athletes will report to the 2016 Middle School Football Camp.
The camp will be from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. each evening. Athletes should wear tennis shoes and t-shirts. They should also drink plenty of liquids prior to camp as the temperatures are going to be in the mid to upper 90s all week.
2016 T.S. Hill Middle School Football Schedule:
September 1st Doniphan (home) 5:00 p.m. 8th grade only
September 6th NMCC (away) 5:00 p.m. 7th and 8th grade
September 8th Malden (away) 6:00 p.m. 7th and 8th grade
September 13th East Prairie (away) 5:30 p.m. 7th grade only
September 22nd Sikeston (home) 5:00 p.m. 7th and 8th grade
September 27th Caruthersville (home) 5:00 p.m. 7th and 8th grade
September 29th Kennett (home) 5:00 p.m. 7th and 8th grade
October 6th Portageville (away) 5:00 p.m. 8th grade only
