Dexter Police Department Releases Results of Child Restraint Checks
Campaign Reminds Motorists to Boost and Buckle Kids Under 8

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Police Department participated in the Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week Law Enforcement Campaign conducted September 18-24, 2016.

During the enforcement effort, officers issued a total of 13 traffic tickets including: 7 speeding tickets; 3 seat belt tickets:  1 stop sign violation ticket: 1 no operator license ticket and 1 uninsured motorist ticket.  2 warrant arrests were made as a result of the crackdown.  Officers also issued 36 hazardous moving violation warnings and 35 non hazardous moving violation warnings. 

There were a total of 75 traffic stops conducted during this campaign.

Missouri law requires all children under the age of eight to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless they are 80 lbs or 4’9” tall. “It’s so important for parents and caregivers to understand the importance of child restraints,” said Lieutenant Benton.  

“It’s not just about following the law – child restraints help prevent serious injury and may even save your child’s life.” Funding for this effort was provided through a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traffic & Highway Safety Division in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Missouri Safety Center.

Stoddard County, Missouri - County 911 Sales Tax Collection will begin October 1, 2016.  The 3/16th of a percent sales tax to fund the Stoddard County 911 Services will begin while the fee levied on land-line telephones will be discontinued.

Carol Moreland, County 911 Administrator, has contacted all telephone companies to notify them that the fee on landlines was to stop on September 30th.

Stoddard County voters approved the sales tax by a 3,270 - 1,044 vote in April of 2016.

Due to a steep decline in landline usage, it was necessary to ask the public to change the sales tax.  More than 80 percent of 911 calls were coming from cell phones users.  There were 1,387 calls made to 911 in the month of August of those calls, 1,189 were made with cell phones with 857 for EMS services, 373 were for law enforcement and 15 were to report fires. Several efforts through both elections and the legislature were made to levy a fee on cell phone usage, but all have failed.

Moreland said that sales tax receipts will be directly deposited into the 911 Services account.

Based on the 2015 sales tax receipts to the county, it is hoped that more than $500,000 would be collected.  The landline tax was generating only about $140,000 per year so the additional revenue would now allow for improvements in technology and to update necessary equipment for County 911 services.

One of the largest upgrades will hopefully come in 2017, a $200,000 system that will allow emergency dispatchers to pinpoint cell-phone callers.

SDR Mapping Company is already half way through the county collecting address points.  By November they will receive wireless locations.

A new app is now implemented for Emergency Responders called Active 911.  This will assist them in expedient emergency response.

"Thank you for saving 911," commented Carol Moreland on behalf of the Stoddard County 911 Services.

Dexter, Missouri - The Stoddard County Nutrition Center aka Dexter Senior Center lunch menu for Monday, September 26th - Friday, September 30, 2016.

The Dexter Senior Center is located at 23 W. Stoddard St. in historic downtown Dexter. 

You don't have to be a senior to eat.  They serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and the cost is $3.50 for seniors and $5.00 for non-seniors.

Monday, September 26, 2016 - BBQ Riblet, Chicken & Broccoli Casserole, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Whole Grain Bread, and Mixed Fruit.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Hash Browns, Biscuit & Gravy, and Cherry Delight.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 - Chicken and rice, Egg Rolls, Carrots, Broccoli Salad, Whole Grain Crackers, Pineapple.

Thursday, September 29, 2016 - Chef Salad with lettuce, ham, egg, cheese, veggies, Pimento Cheese, Whole Grain Bread, Angel Food Cake & Fruit Compote.

Friday, September 30, 2016 - Chicken Sandwich, Sloppy Joe, Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Coleslaw, Bun, Chocolate Pudding w/Oreo Topping.

Activities!

Monday - You Be the Judge 10:30 a.m. Tri-County Hospice, Bingo at 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Sit and Motion, Singing at 10:30 a.m. and Bible Trivia at 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Activity Chair Bingo at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday - Toss n Talk at 10:30 a.m. and Music Special at 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Name 10 Teamplay at 10:30 a.m. and Bingo at 12:30 p.m.

Homebound Clients:  Please give them a courtesy call at (573) 624-7234 by 9:00 a.m. to let them know if they do not need to deliver that day.  it is very important that they know if you are in the hospital, changing residence or having a nursing home stay.

Stoddard County, Missouri - Are you registered to vote for the November 8th election?  Be prepared to vote by registering before October 12, 2016.

If you are registered to vote is your name correct?  Is your address correct?  Notify the County Clerk's office of any name or address change by calling (573) 568-3339 or (573) 568-2174.

You can register to vote at the following:

1.  Online at sos.mo.gov

2. The Office of the County Clerk located in Bloomfield, Missouri for Stoddard County residents

3. Any Department of Motor Vehicles office or state agency providing a service to the public (i.e. WIC or Social Services)

4. Your local City Office

"Now is the time to update or register for the November election," commented Joe Watson, Stoddard County Clerk.

Dexter, Missouri - The deadline to register is fast approaching for the Dexter Parks and Recreation youth basketball and adult volleyball leagues.  Deadline is September 22, 2016.

Basketball is open to girls and boys in the third and fourth grades as well as fifth and sixth grades.  The registration is $45 per athlete.

Women's adult volleyball is open to women 18 years and older.  The league is open to anyone who meets the age requirement and signs the player agreement form.  All teams must obtain and complete a league packet.

The fee for registration is $365 per volleyball team.  Teams must consist of at least seven players and no more than twelve players.

For more information contact the Dexter Parks and Recreation office at (573) 624-8244 or go to their website at www.dexterparksrec.com