Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri - The first-ever observance of Vietnam Veterans Day in Missouri will be held on Saturday, March 30, as a day to give special recognition to veterans of the Vietnam conflict. Last summer, Gov. Jay Nixon signed into law a bill designating March 30 of each year as the day to give special honor to Vietnam veterans.
As part of the recognition, the Governor will hold a ceremony at his Capitol office recognizing four military veterans, one each representing service in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Those veterans will be presented with special service medals, coins and certificates authorized by the state of Missouri for those who served during the Vietnam War.
The veterans being honored are Stephen Hill, of Webb City, (Army); John Albright, Sunrise Beach (Navy); Michael Puckett, Camdenton (Air Force); and David Coleman, House Springs (Marines). Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, Adjutant General of Missouri, will join the Governor in recognizing those veterans. The ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m.
“These four veterans represent the thousands of men and women who bravely served our country during a difficult time in our nation’s history,” Gov. Nixon said. “Most times, they returned home to no public celebrations or welcomes – something we as a country should not have let happen. This day in Missouri is part of the renewed, ongoing effort to give the proper recognition due to those veterans, and to again thank them for their service and sacrifice.”
On Tuesday of this week (March 26), Missouri observed the first-ever Veterans of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom Day in honor of the nation’s military veterans who served in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. That date was designated in another state law enacted last year.
Written by
Jessica Snider, SMT Writer
Dexter, MO- Yesterday many people witnessed a huge and much deserved send off for the Lady Bearcat Basketball Team.
Things kicked off as a pep rally got underway before the girls were set to take off for Columbia.
There were many students, teachers, coaches, parents, and fans in attendance for the pep rally and send off.
Among those people were a few fans who have a special place in their heart for senior Brittany Harris.
Aside from academic and athletic excellence, Brittany also has a talent for putting a smile on many resident's faces at Central Gardens where she is employed.
All the residents who come into contact with Brittany at Central Gardens Residential Care in Dexter have nothing but good things to say about her. Thanks to Michelle Starnes (Central Gardens activity director,) a few of the residents got to venture out yesterday to help send off the Bearcats and wish Brittany good luck!
Pictured in the photo from left to right: Brittany Harris, Phylis Renbott, Carol McGee, and Lottie Joseph.
Neal E. Boyd's dream is held within his love and passion to honor his mother, who is currently battling breast cancer.
"She is doing great, still it has instilled in me a sense of urgency to get this music out this year," said Boyd. "Family, friends, and fans have asked for me to do a Christmas CD for three years, and I feel it's time for new music and for it to come out this Christmas."
Kickstarter as a method for funding has been around since 2008, so it's not a totally new concept. Similar to past fundraising of the Silicon Valley days, is a fun and rewarding way that consumers to personally and financially attach themselves to a project like Neal's Christmas album.
From the positive side, Kickstarter can create a forum for ideas that many times would not receive funding from normal funding methods. It is noted that for every great project, there are 10 to 20 ideas that do not merit your attention, or your money. So be careful.
With Neil E. Boyd's project, this is a local guy that has a proven track record of providing excellent material. The crowd-funding method is perfect as Neil can offer those that pledge funds to his project, known as "backers", specific rewards for different levels of contributions. These rewards range from personal "Thank You" letters to autographed pictures to VIP tickets to the artist Christmas concert.
It's very simple to learn more as Neal has provided you with a personal message to the project located on his Kickstarter site. Click the Kickstarter icon here to visit that site. Personally take your ownership in Neal E. Boyds "My Christmas Wish" album. Your pledge opportunity will end on March 22nd, 2013, so you need to hurry to make this "Christmas Wish" come true for Neal.
Neal E. Boyd Biography
Known worldwide as “The Voice of Missouri,” Boyd was born in the rural town of Sikeston, MO, the son of an African-American father and a Caucasian mother who separated before he was born. Along with his older brother, a hard-working single mother raised him, so money was frequently tight or nonexistent. Always overweight, Boyd had a difficult childhood, but his love of music helped him through, particularly after he discovered Opera in junior high when his older brother was forced to do a school project involving classical music and brought home a CD of The Three Tenors. His brother had little appreciation for classical music, but Neal was so enamored by the passion and skill of the famous trio that he started learning to sing in Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo's operatic styles.
Blessed with a strong and expressive lead tenor voice, Boyd’s unique talent was eventually discovered in the halls of Sikeston Junior High School by choir director William T. Grega, now of Parkview High School in Springfield, MO. Boyd began singing in school choirs and stage productions throughout high school, continuing to sing and compete while attending college at Southeast Missouri State University, where he studied with Dr. Chris Goeke, and then at the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he studied with Professor Ann Harrell. He would go onto win the Music Teachers National Association Vocal Collegiate Championship in 2000, which led to his solo recital debut at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall in March 2001.
Eventually he earned his BA in Music from MU and his BA in Speech Communications and Political Science from SEMO, graduating from both universities simultaneously in May of 2001. After teaching music for a year in his hometown of Sikeston, MO, he later attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA to study opera — which led to a lead role as the slave "York" in Michael Ching's World Premier Opera Corps of Discovery, A Musical Journey, commissioned by MU. But Boyd had grown into a practical man, and he shifted his focus to a more practical business career, becoming a successful insurance agent for Aflac.
All of that ended, though, when Boyd auditioned for NBC's #1 national talent show America's Got Talent. He ended up winning the 2008 competition, earning millions of fans in the process, and headlining his own show in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand followed by another at the Las Vegas Hilton Theatre where both Elvis Presley and Barry Manilow have performed.
Most notably, in 2000, he sang at the memorial service for former Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash during his U.S. Senate run against then Senator and later U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. In 2005, he sang the National Anthem at the inauguration of Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. Boyd has performed numerous times for the last seven Missouri Governors, as well as performed for U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush. In February 2010, he performed a private concert in St. Louis, MO for current President Barack Obama.
Boyd was originally signed to Decca Records/Universal Music in 2009 and released his debut album, "My American Dream," that same year. It was less Operatic and more Pop-Classical, a fusion of contemporary singing with a trained classical twist, which is a genre he will continue on his Christmas album.
Written by
Jessica Snider, SMT Writer
Despite the snow steadily falling to the ground, today marks the first day of March and Spring should soon be arriving.
In a month where the weather can change in an instant, spring sports begin in full swing, and the second half of the school year is mid-way through, Reale Cook is in the ShowMe Spotlight as the March Calendar Girl.
Reale is the daughter of Shannon and Karen Cook. She is a Junior at Dexter High School where she is involved in Future Teachers of America, the Kickin' Cats Dance Team, and Honors Choir. Reale is also a member of the ShowStoppers from Southeast Missouri and Dexter Honor Society.
Reale was a top twelve contestant in the annual Miss Dexter Pageant hosted by the Choral Department at Dexter High School.
Photo Courtesy of Shannon Putnam.
Essex, Missouri - Baylee Taylor has been a Richland Rebel all of her life and has played many great volleyball games throughout her years on the Richland volleyball court. Taylor is one of many seniors in the graduating class of 2013 that plans on attending college. In fact, she has her sights set on playing collegiate volleyball and majoring in Sports Medicine.
Today, Taylor officially signed her Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Crowley’s Ridge College in her upcoming school years. She had numerous supporters that came to the signing that took place earlier this morning at Richland High School as she took the first step towards her new, bright future. At Taylor’s side were both of her parents, Lisa and John Taylor, along with the Head Coach of Taylor’s new volleyball team, Cindy Henry. The other members from the Lady Rebels Volleyball Team and the Junior High Volleyball Team also attended the signing as they wished their former teammate good luck. Richland’s Principal, Cindy Rhodes, and the Superintendent, Frank Killian, were also in attendance to show their support.
Taylor has played volleyball for a majority of her life and will continue playing in the future. She has played all four years of high school for the Lady Rebels and also played in junior high school. She has played on the Varsity Team since her first season during her freshman year and has continued to work hard and improve throughout the previous years. She has been under the direction of three different coaches and has learned and picked up on many different skills that each mentor had to offer.
Most of Taylor’s supporters and fans believed that all of her hard work, sweat, and tears had finally paid off when she was recently chosen for the 2012 All-District Team, but little did they know that she would continue to advance forward and would sign with Crowley’s Ridge College.
She will begin her first official volleyball season at Crowley’s Ridge College this summer with the rest of her new teammates in Paragould, Arkansas. She will be taught and mentored by the Head Coach, Cindy Henry, who focuses her coaching on fundamentals, attitude, and conditioning.
Aside from playing volleyball throughout the four years of her high school career, Taylor is a very active club member and is the current FFA President of the Richland Chapter. She is also involved in Beta Club, Student Council, FBLA, FCA, Pep Club, and Library Club. In previous years, she has also been a member of the cheerleading squad and was the catcher on the softball team, along with being a junior writer for Richland’s newspaper: The Rebel Yeller. She has also participated in the Richland Rebel Marching Band in previous seasons as a member of the flag corp.
Richland is showing Taylor just how proud of her they really are by having her banner hung in the gym. The banner was presented to her by her high school coach (her mother, Lisa Taylor) and her team members, who all signed it for her. There are also many pictures of Taylor on the volleyball court throughout the years that have been posted in the high school hallways.
The Richland students and faculty will be torn to watch Taylor go but are very proud of her and find peace in knowing that she is an amazing addition to her new volleyball team at Crowley’s Ridge College. The school and community will continue to cheer her on in the years to come and know that she will accomplish even greater things in her future as she attends college.
Congratulations, Baylee!
