Seven local girls return from Girls State at Warrensburg

Noreen Hyslop photo Attending Girls State at Warrensburg were seven DHS seniors-to-be. In front from left to right are: Jessica Blankenship, Kayla Joyner and Jessica Johns. At top are Jessica Satterfield, Katelyn Heil, Cathryn Heil and Abby Cobb.

Seven Dexter girls have returned from attending Missouri Girls State on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and each appears a bit wiser from their experience. The girls are annually sponsored in attending Girls State by the local American Legion Auxiliary.

Citizens of Missouri Girls State learn governmental procedures by actually creating a simulated state. They elect public officials on local, county and state levels and then conduct the business at hand of the state during their week-long stay on campus. The seven spent the last week of June at the university setting.

The girls were named to varied positions during their stay, all as members of the Nationalist political party. Jessica Blankenship was represented on the Highway Patrol, a position that restricts the girls from running from other public offices. She did, however, also participate in the choir and served on the State Fair Committee. Abby Cobb held the positions of both county assessor and city clerk and served on the State Central Committee. Cathryn Heil was the municipal judge and her twin sister, Katelyn, shared duties with Blankenship on the Patrol.

Jennifer Johns served as a member of the band and o the State Central Committee and acted as a delegate to the National Convention. Kayla Joyner served as a state representative and as city councilwoman, while Jessica Satterfield served on the State Central Committee and also as a delegate to the State Convention.

Several local organizations contributed monetarily in helping fund the girls' trip to Warrensburg. The local Elks group, along with Rotary and Lions Clubs, the Legion Auxiliary and the Kiwanis Club all played a role in securing a successful trip once again for the seven promising Dexter students, all of whom will be seniors at DHS this fall.