Dexter, Missouri - The Missouri Army National Guard 1221st Transportation Unit "Reunion Crew" will hold their bi-monthly meeting on Saturday, January 27, 2018.

Location is Dexter BBQ and the time is 6 p.m.

Be sure to make a quick plan to attend.

Contact Don "Daddy Jack" Mathis with any questions about the meeting at (573) 624-2936.

Dexter, Missouri - Have you received a strange call on your cell phone from a local number?  Do they want credit card information.

"It has come to our attention that there have been numerous cases of Caller ID Spoofing occurring in town over the past few days. They are using software to disguise their actual phone number by showing a name and number you may be familiar with."

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Kiwanis Club held their bi-monthly meeting at American Steakhouse on Monday, January 22, 2018 with guest speaker Drew Juden.

Juden was named Director of Public Safety for the state of Missouri by Governor Eric Greitens on January 2, 2017.  He has held that position for one year now.

Prior to that he was in the police field over 38 years.

He is a member of the State of Missouri Homeland Security Advisory Council.  he previously he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the SEMO Major Case Squad, SEMO Drug Task Force and is the Founding member of the SEMO Bomb Team.  He served as President of the Missouri Police Chiefs Associate in 2015.

In 2008 Juden received the Missouri Police Chiefs Associations Donald "Red" Loehr Outstanding Police Chief Award.

He has received many awards locally including Outstanding Law Enforcement of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

What is the Department of Public Safety? "The Department of Public Safety comprises eight different agencies (including two commissions) and six separate programs all committed to ensuring the safety of the citizens of Missouri. Additionally, the Office of the Director administers the Homeland Security Program and state and federal funds in grants for juvenile justice, victims’ assistance, law enforcement and narcotics control."

"The Department consists of over 15,000 employees in the state with a budget of over 800,000 million dollars from grants of which is very little from the general revenue," according to Juden.  "One of the biggest changes was the one radio network that covers the entire state.  The Dexter Police Department just recently started using and the Dexter Fire Department is looking into it as well.  Sikeston was the original test site with now over 33,000 users and over 1 million "push-to-talks" per week throughout the state of Missouri.

Director's Programs

Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST)

Homeland Security

Interoperable Communications Initiative

Crime Victims Services Unit (CVSU)

Crime Victims' Compensation (CVC)

Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE)

Child Physical Abuse Forensic Examination

Juvenile Justice

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement (CJ/LE)

Fallen Service Workers Reimbursement Program

Missouri Fights Opioids

To contact the Department of Public Safety, Office of the Director, 1101 Riverside Drive, Lewis and Clark Building, 4th Floor West  , P.O. Box 749, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or call Phone: (573) 751-4905 or Fax: (573) 751-5399.

"One of the biggest changes that the state has made is the proactive approach on natural disasters within the state," continued Juden.  "Ice Storms, which we all felt in 2009 and the most recent flooding issues with Missouri having two large rivers.  The Perryville tornado had people already on the ground near there to help go door-to-door to search for people."

"Our no. 1 issue is flash flooding and we now have air capability with the national guard and a marine division of the Missouri Highway Patrol to help with rescues during flooding," commented Juden.

"We are here to serve the citizens of Missouri and provide a safe environment and we are doing that," stated Juden.