Dexter, Missouri – Santa has been spotted by NORAD!  Did you know that children all over the United States can track Santa Clause?  The North American Aerospace Defense Command  (NORAD) is set to start tracking St. Nick’s travels tonight.  This is the 59th year Norad has been tracking Santa!

You can head over to NoradSanta.org to see the countdown clock ticking down to that final hour.  NORAD has been tracking Santa via its high-tech instruments since 1955 with its festive annual program designed to show children how the red-suited, jolly fellow makes his way to chimneys all over the world. 

Children can explore the North Pole and see Santa’s Village.  There are games, movies and music to keep the children entertained for hours as they wait for Santa.

How did all this get started?  Go to the Secret Santa Files and learn how Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for children to call Santa.  The phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline”.  OOPS!  Not to disappoint all the children, the Director had his staff check the radar for Santa and so it became tradition.  CONAD was later renamed to NORAD. 

Satellites help track Rudolph’s red nose with no problem.  The satellites are only 22,300 miles above the earth each with infrared sensors searching for heat. Rudolph's red nose sure puts off some heat with that GLOW!

NORAD intelligence even posts videos almost every hour on Christmas Eve of Santa making his way around the world.  There is even specific technical data about Santa’s sleight.  Did you know it is 75 candy canes long and 40 candy canes wide? Or that the maximum speed is faster than starlight?  Or that the fuel consists of hay, oats and carrots to keep his nine reindeer in tiptop shape?  There is so much to learn at NoradSanta.org.  Go check it out this holiday season.

HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas to all!

 

Dexter, Missouri – Trash pickup for the city of Dexter will change this week due to the Christmas holiday.

Trash that is normally picked up on Monday and Tuesday will both be picked up on Monday, December 22^nd.

Wednesday and Thursday trash pickup will be picked up on Tuesday, December 23^rd.

For New Year’s week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday trash schedule will follow the usual schedule; however on Thursday there will be no trash pickup, but they will get it on Friday.

There will be no bulk or yard waste pickup on Friday of this week or next week due to Christmas and New Years!

Business 60 in Stoddard County Reduced for Drainage Repairs
 
Dexter, Missouri- Business 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs.

This section of roadway is located between Route Cooper Street and West Oak Street.

Weather permitting, work will performed Tuesday, Dec. 16 through Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Stoddard County, Missouri - A St. Francois County man is missing, last seen six weeks ago just west of Advance in the Sturdivant/Arab area.

According to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office, Kenneth Willard, 53, was last seen with blue jeans, shirt with a pocket on it and hunting boots.

He's from St. Francois County, but has a family farm in the northern part of Stoddard County.

Willard is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, heavy build with blue eyes, brown hair and tattoos.

According to the sheriff's office, a camper was set up and a car was in the area of the family farm.

They say he was reported missing on Sunday, Dec. 14 by family.

If you see Willard, please contact the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office.

Williamson County, IL - The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is searching for two missing girls believed to have been kidnapped by their stepfather.

The girls are 9-year-old Corbyn E. Erwin and 7-year-old Celsie E. Erwin. 

Authorities believe they may be in the company of their stepfather, Damon Jones, 37, of Johnston City.

The entries for Celsie and Corbyn in the Statewide and Nationwide computer database have changed from “Missing” to “Missing/Involuntary” and a request for an Amber Alert has been sent to the Illinois State Police.

Jones is most likely driving a white 2006 Chrysler van with an Illinois Temporary Registration 823R204.

Corbyn is 4'8" tall and 80 pounds with brown eyes and hair.

Celsie is 4'2" tall and 60 pounds with hazel eyes and hair.

Damon Jones is 5'8" tall and 140 pounds with brown eyes and hair.

The girls were last seen at home around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14th. 

There has been no contact with Jones or the girls since then. 

If anyone has any contact with Damon Jones, Corbyn Erwin, or Celsie Erwin contact the Williamson County Sheriff's Office at 618-997-6541 or your local law enforcement agency.