Possible Phone Scam Occurring in Missouri

Press release from SEMO Electric Coop on the recent phone scams occurring in Missouri - At SEMO Electric Cooperative, it is our goal to keep the personal and financial information of our members secure. That is why we are warning our members that scammers could be posing as SEMO Electric in an attempt to obtain information that would compromise their financial security.

SEMO Electric Cooperative has received reports from other Co-ops around the state, informing us that scammers are calling member’s homes and businesses demanding payment for what they say is a past due bill and if it isn’t paid the electric will be shut off.

SEMO Electric employees will never ask for your full Social Security number over the phone and if payments are late, SEMO Electric may contact members with an automated phone call to inform members of a late payment, not to ask for payment. 

If you feel you are being scammed, write down the number the call came from or any information about the call and contact SEMO Electric Cooperative. Never risk sharing your information. Do not give the person any personal or financial information.

Captain George E. Ridens, commanding officer Troop E, Poplar Bluff, announces that Troop E will be participating in enforcement operations throughout the Labor Day weekend. The objective of these operations is to promote safety and reduce traffic crashes. Throughout the holiday weekend, troopers within Troop E and throughout the state will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). In addition to Operation C.A.R.E., Troop E will also participate in a statewide enforcement operation during the peak travel periods on Friday, September 4, and Monday, September 7. During this operation, Troop E troopers will be assigned to Interstate 55 to maximize visibility. Enforcement efforts on secondary roads within Troop E will be conducted during the same time frame.

Captain Ridens said, “Over the entire holiday weekend, troopers will be targeting all traffic violations and will be especially vigilant regarding excessive speed, careless and imprudent driving, and aggressive driving violations. Troopers will also be available to help motorists in need of assistance.”

Approximately 63 percent of Missouri fatal crash victims who are required to be restrained are NOT at the time of the traffic crash. The Patrol urges motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Join us in supporting the Drive To Zero Highway Deaths. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life And Wear It!!

Visitors and residents will be out in full force along Route 61 Labor Day weekend in search of bargains at the 61-Mile Yard Sale from Bloomsdale to Jackson, Mo., but MoDOT wants you to remember the greatest savings of the event could be a life.

"It's a fun weekend that people look forward to each year," says Traffic Engineer Craig Compas, "but we want people to remember that there's more traffic and more congestion along Route 61 this weekend than any other and drivers need to keep that in mind."

MoDOT will do its part to bring the safety message to the forefront.  Message boards will be in place along the route to alert drivers of the unusual traffic patterns and promote safe driving.

"We really want drivers to be alert-to be aware of their surroundings, to be aware of sudden stops and to look for pedestrian traffic," Compas says.  "It's a big event locally, and we want everyone to enjoy themselves and be as safe as possible."

All the fun begins Thursday, September 3rd morning through Saturday.

For more information, contact Compas at (573) 472-5310 or call MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Police Department announced today they are joining with law enforcement September 13-19 for an aggressive Child Passenger Safety Week Law Enforcement Campaign to crack down on Missouri's child safety seat law violators and to reduce highway fatalities and injuries to children.

Car crashes are the number one killer of kids. Nearly 73 percent of all child restraints are not used correctly. Is your child safe?

Lieutenant Benton said regular child safety seat and safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

Missouri's Child Restraint Law
(RSMo 307.179)

• Children less than 4 years old or less than 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat.

For more information, visit www.saveMOlives.com.

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Missouri - For many children, riding the bus or walking to school represents a new level of freedom and maturity. It also creates new risks that you and your children should be aware of.

School buses are nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles; however, a majority of bus-related deaths and injuries that do occur involve pedestrians - mostly children - who are struck by a bus or injured when they are exiting the bus to cross traffic.

Make every trip to and from school a safe one by following these guidelines:
Always stay in sight of the bus driver.
Don't hurry off the bus. Make sure to check traffic first.
Don't go back to the bus after exiting.
The Safe Routes to School program makes bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative. By encouraging more students to walk, wheel or bike to school, the program encourages a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age.

During the month of August, at times when MoDOT's digital message signs are not being used to convey critical information to motorists, the signs will be used to reinforce safe driving practices for back to school:


Safe Routes to School projects include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, bicycle parking facilities and traffic diversion - http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/.