Dexter, Missouri - The 3rd Annual Stuff a Bus began today and will run through Friday, December 12th. 

A huge thank you to William's Moving Co. located in Dexter for donating a truck and driver who will deliver the goodies to the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.

The High School initiated the competition between the schools three years ago to help the local Mission with food for the holidays. 

"Last year we gave 14,626 cans to the Mission," stated Judy Patterson, DHS counselor and promoter of the project. "This year we hope to make a larger donation!"

Southwest Elementary, Central Elementary, T.S. Hill Middle School and the Dexter Senior High School will all be competing for delicious treats!  The school that brings in the most cans will receive home-made cookies from OPAA, their food service company!

Items needed for the Stoddard County Gospel Mission are dry goods and canned goods such as pasta, spaghetti, canned vegetables and fruits, mac & cheese, cookies, crackers, peanut butter, and any item that is non-perishable.

Throughout the Christmas Season people come together and realize how fortunate they are and also how some families are in great need this time of year.  The Stuff A Bus event was such a great hit the past two years they hope to continue to participate for many years to come to help those in Stoddard County.

We should feel very proud to live in such a community that is always willing to give back any chance we can.  We hope to see the Stuff A Bus event continue to positively affect many families for as long as possible.

Missouri - Building on a strong opening weekend harvest, Missouri hunters went on to check a total of 167,205 deer during firearms deer season Nov. 15 through 25. The number exceeds last year’s harvest of 157,273.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports the top harvest counties were Howell, with 3,418 deer checked; Franklin, with 3,338 and Texas, with 3,170.

This year’s harvest is 6-percent larger than last year’s figure and 10 percent below the previous 5-year average for the November portion of firearms deer season. When added to the previous, urban, and early youth portions of this year’s firearms deer season the November portion harvest brings the year-to-date total to 185,890.

Twenty-five days of firearms deer hunting remain in the antlerless, alternative-methods and late youth portions of deer season. Archery deer season runs through Jan. 15.

The white-tailed deer is Missouri’s most popular game species and one of the most prolific, with an estimated population of more than 1 million free-ranging deer statewide. Missouri has nearly 520,000 deer hunters and almost two million wildlife watchers who enjoy deer.

Activities related to deer hunting and watching annually contribute $1 billion in economic activity to state and local economies, and support more than 12,000 Missouri jobs. Many Missouri meat processors, taxidermists, hotels, restaurants, sporting goods stores, and other businesses rely on deer hunting as a significant source of revenue.

The Show-Me State’s white-tailed deer resource also helps feed needy Missourians through the Share the Harvest (STH) program. STH brings together thousands of deer hunters, more than 130 participating meat processors, the Conservation Department, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, and numerous supporting organizations to channel ground venison to tens of thousands of hungry Missouri families each year through donations to local food banks and food pantries. Since 1992, Missouri hunters have donated more than 3.1 million pounds of venison to the needy through STH.

Thousands of private landowners manage their land for deer and deer hunting, and rely on deer and deer hunting to maintain property values.

Jefferson City, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced that hunters checked 5,691 turkeys during Missouri’s fall firearms turkey season, which ran Oct. 1 - 31. Last year’s fall firearms turkey harvest total was 5,929 birds. Top harvest counties for the 2014 season were Greene with 165 turkeys checked, Franklin with 163, and St. Clair with 160.

Adult gobblers accounted for 964 of the harvest, or almost 17 percent. Adult hens accounted for 1,588 of the harvest, or almost 28 percent. Juvenile gobblers accounted for 950, or almost 17 percent, and juvenile hens for 2,189 or about 38 percent.

MDC sold 14,117 fall firearms turkey hunting permits for this past season, a 5-percent drop from last year.

The central region of the state saw about an 8-percent increase in harvest from 2013 with 759 birds. The Kansas City region dropped about 1-percent from 2013 with 681 birds. The northeast region dropped about 3 percent from 2013 with 588 birds. The northwest region dropped about 13 percent from 2013 with 477 birds. The Ozark region dropped by about 9 percent from last year with 784 birds. The St. Louis region harvest increased by about 9 percent from 2013 with 528 birds. The southeast region fell by about 15 percent from last year with 687 birds. The southwest region dropped by about 4 percent from 2013 with 1,187 birds harvested.

Fall archery turkey hunting resumes again from Nov. 26 through Jan. 15, 2015.

For fall firearms turkey harvest results by county and type of bird, and other 2014 turkey harvest figures, go online to the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/27845.

Dexter, Missouri – Pastor Dave Fowler and the Sadler Chapel United Methodist Church invite any interested musicians, pickers or music lovers to an evening of music!

Bring your instruments and plan to join others in creating a joyful noise. Whether you enjoy Country, Blue Grass or Gospel the evening will be filled with local homegrown entertainers. It's an open microphone night, but you don't have to be a singer to be a part of this crowd. You can simply be a toe tapper..

"Our first event was a lot of fun for everyone," added Pastor Fowler. "and we had 20 to 30 people. People joined us as their schedule allowed and we just enjoyed the evening of great fellowship and gospel music."

Bring your instruments and plan to sing throughout the night with like-minded individuals.  Whether you enjoy Country, Blue Grass or Gospel the evening will be filled with local homegrown entertainers.  You don’t have to be famous, just have a love for music to attend.

"I love playing guitar," commented Pastor Fowler.  "and I have spoken to   several people and everyone seemed interested in participating.  The church loves having guests to sing and play for them.  I also give guitar lessons to beginners and welcome anyone to pick-up an instrument and learn to play."

Come out to the Sadler Chapel United Methodist Church on Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 p.m.  The public is encouraged to attend.  Musicians, music lovers’ young and old, even coffee drinkers and brownie bakers are welcome to attend.

For more information contact Dave at 417-274-0182 or leave a message on their Facebook page by clicking HERE.

To share this EVENT with FRIENDS click HERE.

The Sadler Chapel is located across highway 60 at the Wal-Mart exit going north.  Take the North Outer Road to the West (towards Poplar Bluff) about ¾ mile.  Turn at the first right and travel north about 1.2 miles to the top of the hill.  The church will be on your right.

Jefferson City, Missouri - For many motorists, the rest areas and welcome centers found along Missouri's highways can be a welcome sight during a long drive. Whether you need to stretch your legs, walk the dog, or use the facilities, Missouri's rest areas are there for all travelers' convenience and safety.

The Missouri Department of Transportation wants to make sure all eight welcome centers, 15 rest areas, and 22 truck-only parking sites are clean, safe, and accessible, and they are asking travelers for their input when they stop at these facilities.

"We know thousands of people stop at Missouri's rest areas every day, and we do our best to make sure the sites provide customers with a good experience," said David Belanger, MoDOT's general services manager. "If you stop at any of Missouri's rest areas, welcome centers, or truck-only sites, we would like your feedback on your experience and what we could do to make it better."

Historically, MoDOT has asked rest area visitors to rate their satisfaction on the various amenities of the rest areas through an online survey. Now that feedback can occur instantly, as the department has installed posters at each location with QR codes that will take smart phone users directly to the online survey. Snapping the QR code with your smartphone camera will allow you to submit your comments quickly and easily. The posters are located at all Missouri rest areas, welcome centers and truck-only parking.