The Puxico School District Retired Employees group met on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Puxico Nutrition Center with about a dozen people in attendance. Mr. Ira Tucker, who is spearheading the group, introduced Mrs. Renee Trout, Assistant Program Director for the Stoddard County Children's Home.
Tucker did open the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer by Pam Parsley.
Trout, who has been employees with the Children's Home about a year and half is excited to see a new facility, that will look just a like a home, built in Dexter.
"This may be the only opportunity for a very long time to make such a change, and we hope it will last us a long time as well." commented Trout.
The home currently located in Bloomfield served over 150 children in Stoddard County in 2022.
"These children have been through the court system. as we are an emergency placement center," stated Trout. "Some children stay over night and others stay a few months just depends on their situation and placing them with a relative or possibly back home."
“The entire county is represented and we have a good relationship with our area schools,” commented Trout. “Keeping them in their school and their classroom may be the only familiar place or stability these students have. Even if a student lives in Puxico and is staying at the home in our care they will get them to their school.”
"We are licensed by the state to house 10 children at any one time. The facility is open 24/7/365 and we must have two staff 24 hours per day," continued Trout. "They do receive some funding from the state depending on the number of students."
There is a healthy child exam with 24 hours to make sure they aren’t suffering abuse or have any issues that need to be taken care of immediately. Some of these children only go to the doctor when they are really sick, but they may not be given good care at home.
A history on the Stoddard County Children's Home states that In 1970 Circuit Court Judge Flake McHaney commissioned a volunteer group to determine the needs of a temporary shelter to care for these children. The group, spearheaded by County Juvenile Officer Melvin “Churn” Williams and Verna Godwin, incorporated a not-for-profit agency for the purpose of establishing and operating a children’s home.
Many volunteered time, money, and materials, and the home opened for operation in October 1980.
“We are so thankful to be in this community and the support we receive is just wonderful,” stated Trout. “Currently our home is over 120 years, we honestly don’t know the age of the home. We currently have 15 part time and/or full time employees and there are always two on staff 24/7/365.”
With a gift of land from the Regional Healthcare Foundation and a substantial bequest from the Norman B. Harty Trust, they are expanding operations to further meet the needs of abused and neglected children in Stoddard County.
“We are trying to raise another $500,000 to continue what our vision is for the children,” continued Trout. “We want to put in a walking track in our fenced in area for the kids to walk and ride their bikes. That’s big thing, these young ones love to ride bikes.”
Mrs. Trout asked if there were any questions from the group.
Question? - When will this facility be up and running?
“September of 2023 the building should be built, but the transition of moving will be sometime after that.”
Question? - Can you keep the children more than 30 days?
“Yes, our licensure is for 30 days for an emergency placement. We can have children longer. Sometimes It’s just a matter of where they go next and waiting for them to get placed. Our goal is to serve the children of Stoddard County.”
Question? - How old can you take children?
“We can take from birth to 18 years old.”
Question? - So it’s my understanding that if the student is from Puxico and they are staying at Dexter, you will still get them to their school? They don’t have to change schools?
“They are with us and our staff and they will continue to go their school. We drop them off and pick them up. They do not ride a bus. They need that sense of comfort to have the same teacher and friends at their school and I think it makes a big difference in their well being.”
Everyone clapped and was very pleased with her presentation and explanation of the Stoddard County Children's Home.
The Keller Public Library is pleased to announce that they received a $2,554.00 grant from @Institute of Museum and Library Services to improve their library technology.
These grant funds will be used to purchase two new computers for our public computer lab.
This equipment upgrade will help ensure that their technology is continually improved and maintained to offer their patrons the best service possible.
This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. #IMLSGrant
T.S. Hill Middle School's 6th grade classroom knocked the fundraising for Wreaths Across America OUT OF THE PARK!!!
Terry Bryeans and his 6th Grade Social Studies classes hit a new all-time record of 2,566 wreaths sponsored which is over $25,000 in donations!
These wreaths will be placed on the graves at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield during the Wreaths Across America (WAA) on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
Our mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach and is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. This is an amazing event!
Dexter, MO - Everyone loves seeing Mr. Walter Rushing on the corner waiving his flags at everyone who passes by him. Brandy, Meghan, Tina, and Terri are having a birthday party for him and YOU (the public) are invited to attend.
Mr. Rushing will be 83 years young on Christmas Eve and we couldn't be more proud than to celebrate with him.
The Birthday Party will be at Pizza Hut in Dexter on Friday, December 23rd from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
This is a drop-in event, but if you would like to eat some pizza (it's his favorite) and stay awhile and visit I am sure he would enjoy all the attention!
If you would like to send him a birthday card please send the card to ShowMe Times c/o Walter Rushing, P.O. Box 84, Dexter, MO 63841 then I can deliver to him at his birthday party!
Let's support him as he supports our community by making us smile and feel patriotic when we see him waiving his American flags at the corner of Grant and S. Park Lane, next to Keller Public Library.
Sparklight in Dexter, Mo recently held a Hoodies and Goodies Drive. They collected new and gently used hoodies and also raised money to fill student esource supplies.
Along with a donation of hoodies that were collected at the local Dexter office, Sparklight donated $400.00 to the Dexter Middle School for their student closet needs.
Pictured left to right are Sparklight employees Mark Whitehead, CSM; April Mondy, CCSI, Rebecca Robinson, CCSII; and Scott Kruse, Middle School principal.
