Catching the attention of the ‘Today Show’
What’s in a number? … First Baptist Church pastor Bill Miller and his wife Mary Beth Miller, welcomed new granddaughter Molly Miller on September 9, when she was born to Andy and Allison Miller in Fayetteville, Ark. Little Molly’s birth even made the “Today Show” due to the coincidence that she was born exactly one year, one month and one day after her older sister Campbell. Molly was born on 9/9/09 and Campbell was born on 8/8/08 … and it wasn’t planned! A video clip of this segment of the “Today Show” is being circulated by e-mail and the Millers or most anyone in their congregation would be glad to share it with you.
Art History award … Recently the Southeastern College Art Department (SCAD) of art history held a symposium to honor the 2008-09 winners of the Larry W. Forrest Writing Competition. Graduate student Ellie Grix, daughter of Dr. Gary and Carol Grix, was among those named a Larry W. Forrest Scholar. The competition is an 11-year tradition at the college recognizing students’ original research and exceptional writing skills. Grix said winning the competition just before graduating was a wonderful way to wrap up her studies as an art history student. Her paper was titled “Jan Steen’s Merry Company on a Terrace and the Tradition of the Pordigal Son in Netherlandish Art.” Her paper has also been accepted into the Southeastern College Art Association’s annual conference to be held in Mobile, Ala. where she will read her paper before a large group of artists, professors, and museum personnel from across the southeastern states. Grix hopes to work for a museum as an art historian in the near future.
High praise … Over 130 High School students volunteered to work at the Tour or Missouri start of phase 3 in Farmington. Organizations represented were the AFJROTC, World Café Club, FBLA, FCCLA, FCA, NHS, and HSC. The Air Force Junior ROTC and the World Café Club volunteers handled the tear down and clean up duties. The students had the starting site completely cleared in less that 40 minutes after the race started. The Tour’s staff was impressed with their work and said the students were the best clean up team they’ed had so far. Way to go!
Birthday blow-out … Jack Bryant’s 80th birthday was celebrated recently at the St. Francois Country Club with a large group of his family and friends. Guests from out of town included: Connie Sacco from Chicago,.Ill., Judy Bryant Bunselmeier from St. Louis, Pat Bryant Vogt of Manhattan, Kansas, and Dan Glennon, and family from Springfield, Mo. The Bryants also announced that their granddaughter Alexa Dahlstrom of Oviedo, Fla. has signed to play volleyball with the military college The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Alexa is a 6-foot-1-inch senior setter at Oviedo High School, and the daughter of Ken and Cindy Dahlstrom.
A golfer’s dream … Leanna Johnson made a hold-in-one recently on the 8th hole at Crown Point Golf Course. Leanna’s husband, Dr. William Johnson, was with her to witness the feat. Leanna used an 8 iron to make the successful 104 yard drive. That’s one scorecard that will be framed.
Lady with a mission … Carol Grix recently spent two weeks on a mission trip to Tanzania, Africa where she worked in an orphanage operated by the Rafiki Foundation. Carol and her friend Louann Langhourst of Festus worked as pre-school assistants during their stay. The Rafiki Foundation operates ten orphanages in different African locations, with the Tanzania Orphanage being their newest. The children at the orphanage range in age from 18 months to 6 years, and live in cottages with an assigned “Mommy.” The children will continue to live in the same cottage with the same Mommy until they graduate from high school. They are not available for adoption as the Rafiki Foundation’s mission is to raise the children in a happy, healthy and safe atmosphere where they will be educated to hopefully become leaders in their own country. The orphanage community is gated and guarded and consists of the children’s cottages, cottages for the staff and volunteers, and a school. It is hopped a medical clinic can be built soon to be staffed by rotating volunteer medical personnel. More information on the Rafiki Foundation can be found on their web site.
Aloha!!! … If you’ve dreamed of making a getaway to Hawaii…here’s your chance to live your dream. The Alzheimer’s Association is offering a six night stay on Kapaho on the Big Island of Hawaii for up to four people in a beautiful two bedroom vacation cottage owned by Jerry and Marilyn Stroud of Fresno, Calif. The vacation package includes a $3,000 travel voucher and a rental car voucher and can be redeemed from September 30, 2009 through September 30, 2010. Only 300 tickets are being made available at $100 each with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. Go to www.alzstl.org to enter the drawing. The winner will be announced at the Memory Walk on Saturday, September 26.
Food drive for our furry friends … You can help the many “pets-in-waiting” at the Farmington Animal Adoption Center by taking a donation to Maurices in Maple Valley Shopping Center between now and September 30th. Items needed include canned kitten and puppy food, cleaners (Simple Green), large trash bags, bleach, paper towels, leashes, collars, scoopable kitten litter (Tidy Cats) or a check. Muarices is open Monday through Saturday.
Seattle guests … Mit and Chris Landrum were thrilled to spend time with their five-month-old grandson, Kai and his parents, Stuart (Beck) and Emi Landrum of Seattle, Wash. Recently when the family came to Farmington for a visit. Becky Landrum is Kai’s great-grandmother.
49ers’ reunion … Twenty members of the FHS class of 1949 along with their spouses and guests met on the evening of September 12th at Pasta House to celebrate their 60th class anniversary. Don Effrein gave the welcome and guest Chuck Seitz provided entertainment with a selection of cowboy stories. The alumni also met for breakfast at the Branding Iron on Sunday morning.
Not far behind … Dorothy Blumenberg reminds members of the class of 1959 to make plans to attend their 50th year reunion on the weekend of October 9th. The classmates will meet on Friday evening at Leeman Schwent’s party barn, have dinner at St. Francois Country Club Saturday evening and enjoy brunch together at Roseners on Sunday morning.
G3 go FAR … Members of the Farmington running group had a busy weekend. Dan Combs (the younger) completed his first ever full marathon of 26.2 miles on Sunday Sept 13th at the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Charles MO completing it in 3 hrs 39 mins. 29 secs. which was good for 79th place overall out of 688. He placed 6th in his age group of males 30-34…. Great job anytime but especially for a first marathon!!
Donnie Trokey completed the half marathon in 1 hr 50 mins. and 38 secs. good for 571 out of 4481. And Shelly Andrews completed her first ever half marathon in 3 hrs 44 mins and 19 secs.
On the same day in Madison, Wis., Ted Cassimatis completed his second Ford Ironman in as many years finishing the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run in 13hrs 40mins 26secs taking 50 mins off his Louisville Kentucky Ironman time last year. It was good enough for 1317 place out of 2397. Congratulations to all of these Bionic competitors!
Dine Out for a Good Cause … Dine Out Thursdays to benefit the United Way of St. Francois County begin today, September 24th at both McDonald’s Farmington locations and continue each Thursday through November 19th. When you dine out at one of the participating restaurants you get great food for a great cause…and help a neighbor!
It’s a gal thing … On October 1, Jackie Berry hosts a “Fall Fling” at Twin Oaks Winery to also benefit the United Way. Guests are asked to give a donation of at least $20 and a toy for the Season of Hope which provides gifts to families in need. Make a reservation by calling Donna Hickman at 573-760-8929 and have a great time while helping others.
The Farmer’s Market remains open each Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning at the VFW Parking Lot on Karsch Blvd. The cool and wet summer has delayed the ripening of tomatoes and some of the other produce, so now’s the time to stock up on the fresh veggies for canning or freezing!
