Missouri - Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the Patrol's participation in Operation Dry Water. Operation Dry Water is a national campaign in which marine law enforcement officers from across the country coordinate special patrols during the last weekend in June to keep our waterways safe from boaters operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Troopers will focus their efforts over the weekend of June 24-26, 2016, to detect and apprehend impaired operators.

Missouri boat operators found to have a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater will be arrested for boating while intoxicated. Intoxicated boat operators endanger themselves, their passengers, and other boaters utilizing our many waterways.

Last year, 582 local, state, and federal agencies participated in a weekend long event of heightened BWI enforcement known as Operation Dry Water. Officers removed 278 intoxicated boat operators from the water. In addition, law enforcement officers made contact with over 125,087 boaters concerning BWI or boating safety enforcement and awareness. From 2010 to 2015, over 1,870 BWI operators have been removed from the water by law enforcement officers during the Operation Dry Water weekends.

In 2015, during less than desirable boating weather, troopers arrested a total of three people statewide for boating while intoxicated, contacted 543 vessels and 1,531 boaters, and issued 85 boating violation summonses and 588 warnings on Missouri waterways. Marine operations troopers also issued 137 summonses for non-boating violations during the 2015 Operation Dry Water weekend. Special enforcement operations will continue throughout the summer months. Boaters are reminded that designating a sober operator is always the safest bet if alcohol is going to be included in their boating experience.

Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!

Shown in the photo is Lucas Foster, age 3, son of Matt and Miranda Foster of Puxico, Missouri.

Dexter, Missouri - The City of Dexter will host their annual fourth of July Fireworks Display on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at dusk at the East City Park complex.  S&N Display Fireworks of Lincoln, Illinois will be providing the pyrotechnics for the city.

The event is FREE and open to everyone.  There will be parking at the East City Park Aquatic Center, along the Dexter Creek levee, the Stoddard County Fairgrounds, and also the parking area south of the ball field.  The baseball and soccer fields will be roped off by the Dexter Fire Department prior to the event.

In case of rain on Sunday, July 3rd, the fireworks show will be held on Tuesday, July 5th.

Dexter city ordinance prohibits shooting of fireworks inside the city limits, but will be waived both Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th to allow residents a chance to celebrate the holiday.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Saint Francis Healthcare System is pleased to welcome Randall Graham, MBA, RN, to the role of director of emergency services.

In this role, Graham is responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising all of the non-physician functions within emergency services to ensure that services are provided in accordance with policies, procedures, philosophy and objectives of Saint Francis.

Graham most recently served as manager of the emergency department at Christian Hospital in St. Louis. Prior to that, he was manager of emergency and trauma services at St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Washington, Mo. He earned his MBA from Webster University in 2012.

Saint Francis Medical Center is a 284-bed facility serving more than 713,000 people throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Guided by its mission to provide a ministry of healing and wellness inspired by its Christian philosophy and values, the Medical Center has become a progressive, innovative regional tertiary care referral center. Saint Francis’ major service lines, which have received national recognition, include the Neurosciences Institute; Orthopedic Institute; Family BirthPlace, featuring the region’s first Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Heart Hospital; Emergency and Level III Trauma Center; Cancer Institute; and Fitness Plus.

Dexter Police Joins National Fourth (4th) of July Holiday Crackdown

To Reduce Drunk Driving Fatalities 

‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign Will Target Substance–Impaired Drivers.

Dexter, MO – Local police will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide Fourth (4th) of July Holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” substance–impaired driving crackdown. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Dexter, will run from July 1-5, 2016.  The effective nationwide substance–impaired driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb substance–impaired driving over the Fourth (4th) of July Holiday.

Dexter Police said its Officers will be aggressively looking for substance–impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.  Although it is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive impaired (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation’s continuing drunk driving epidemic.

“Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more substance- impaired drivers or motorcycle operators,” said Lieutenant Benton. “In 2015, 192 people were killed and 644 seriously injured on Missouri’s roadways in crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver.” That works out to approximately one substance-impaired driver involved fatality every 1-3/4 days.

Lieutenant Benton added the Fourth (4th) of July holiday is particularly dangerous. During the Fourth (4th) of July holiday July 3-5, 2015, three (3) people were killed and eight (8) seriously injured involving at least one substance-impaired driver.

“Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign reduces substance–impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Dexter’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the holiday,” said Lieutenant Benton.

“We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel impaired is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, not only does being under the influence impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, it also impairs your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should drive. If you have any doubt about your sobriety, do not get behind the wheel. If you do chose to drive impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses,” Lieutenant Benton said.

Lieutenant Benton noted that being arrested for driving under the influence of any substance brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life. Substance–impaired drivers face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.

“Driving while impaired is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance. Remember, we will be out in force and we will be watching, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’” said Lieutenant Benton.