Dexter, Missouri - On Saturday, April 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the Dexter Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

"Bring your pills for disposal to the lobby of the Dexter Police Department at 305 Cooper Street, in Dexter. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked," commented Trevor Pulley.

Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. That's why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Dexter, Missouri - "Bootheel Recycling is a Missouri scrap metal recycling company whose customer base includes regional utility companies, large manufacturing businesses, tool and die shops, local Dexter scrap dealers, haulers, farmers and individuals across Southeast Missouri and Arkansas."

"We comply vigilantly with the laws set forth by OSHA, EPA, federal and Missouri. Our scrap metal recycling policies are honest and transparent. Our scales are certified yearly and calibrated twice a year. We belong to the Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. We are OSHA 10 certified. We have the highest graded material in the industry."

"We buy most forms of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including copper, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, scrap iron, radiators and catalytic converters. Please consult our Scrap Metal Selling Guide to find out more about how to sell scrap metal, and how to get the most money for your scrap metal. The best indication of our success is our loyal customer base. We are nice people with good business practices. We have a very high level of return business, and our new customers often come to us by way of referral."

"Our friendly customer service staff will ensure that your recycling experience is simple and hassle-free. Our modern and streamlined processing system allows us to offer competitive prices. Please contact us today if you would like to inquire about our services."

Hayti, Missouri- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) asks for help to solve a wildlife crime. Hayti Fire Department personnel reported illegal poaching activity to Missouri Conservation Agent Brian Shelton last Thursday after discovering a dump site of dead turtles while fighting a wildfire. Agent Shelton determined the large pile of turtles included 161 red-eared sliders and two snapping turtles.

“This dump site is, without a doubt, the most egregious turtle poaching incident that I have seen in my career,” Shelton said. “I’m appalled that anyone would have this kind of disregard for our wildlife here in the Bootheel.”

Shelton said there appeared to be no reason for someone to kill the turtles, which left him with more questions than answers.

A red-eared slider is a common semi-aquatic turtle in Missouri. A distinct red or orange stripe is normally present on each side of the head behind the eye. The name “slider” comes from their habit of sliding quickly into the water from their basking spots. They become active in March and remain active until mid-October. The snapping turtle is a large aquatic turtle with a big pointed head, long thick tail, and small lower shell. Both turtle species help to keep the populations of many aquatic animals and plants in check.

This case comes at a time MDC is actively reminding drivers to watch for turtles in the road, indicating turtles are already at a disadvantage this time of year, when they tend to travel. Spring rains and warmer weather encourage turtles to emerge from their burrows and begin to search for food and mates, which sometimes leads them across roadways. Although there is regulated hunting of some turtle species, Shelton said this is a case of wanton waste.

“It is illegal to intentionally leave or abandon any portion of any wildlife that is commonly used as human food,” Shelton said. “The amount of wasted wildlife here is shocking and I look forward to learning more about this case.”

Information about this incident can be shared anonymously through the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-392-1111. Agent Shelton may be reached directly at (573)757-8357. Information leading to an arrest may lead to an award of up to $1,000. For more information about Operation Game Thief and The Wildlife Code of Missouri, go online to mdc.mo.gov.

Dexter MO: Local law enforcement recently joined agencies from six states across the area in a high visibility Drug Impaired Driving enforcement effort – “Driving High? Kiss Your License Goodbye!”. From April 20-April 22, area law enforcement officers participated in the area’s Six-State Drug Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign. The effort was spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and State Highway Safety Offices in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Officers from city, state and county law enforcement agencies in these states conducted high visibility enforcement efforts to crack down on drug-impaired drivers. 

From April 20 – April 22, these officers covered approximately 32,318 miles of roadway in Missouri. With the strong presence of law enforcement, organizers put motorists on notice that if they drive impaired, they will be arrested. 

“This was an effort to keep drug impaired drivers off the road. Too many of our fellow citizens are impacted by drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Captain Trevor Pulley.   “Large scale mobilizations such as this one have had a positive impact on encouraging safe driving,” he/she said.

It is never safe to drive when impaired. This not only means refraining from drunk driving, but also from drug-impaired driving. If you think driving while high won’t affect you, you are wrong; it has been proven that THC – the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects – slows reaction times, impairs cognitive performance and makes it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane. The bottom line is this: It doesn’t matter what term is used, if a person is high, stoned, wasted or drunk, he or she is impaired. Driving while impaired by any substance is illegal and can be deadly to the driver and other road users. 

Thousands of turtles are killed each year on roadways, others are taken captive by well-meaning people.

Missouri -  As turtles become active in late March, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) asks people to watch out for them; don’t hit them on the roadways and certainly leave them where you find them.

Spring rains and warmer weather encourage turtles to emerge from their burrows and begin to search for food and mates, which sometimes leads them across roadways.

“While we don’t advise risking a wreck to avoid hitting a turtle, we do hope motorists will drive cautiously and avoid hitting a turtle if it’s safe to do so,” said Jamie Koehler, assistant manager at MDC’s Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.

Koehler said turtles spend their lives on a very small portion of ground, but sometimes they’ll wander bigger distances, as much as six miles.  While most Missouri turtles live 15 to 30 years, box turtles can live 50 to 80 years, occasionally more than 100 years. They spend their quiet lives eating plants, earthworms and insects. Their shell provides a bony shield to protect them from most natural enemies.

Unfortunately, thousands of turtles are killed each year by cars, which is why MDC urges drivers to watch out for them. MDC also advises people to leave turtles wild. As people encounter turtles while outdoors, sometimes people pick them up and take them home, thinking they have a new pet. However, this usually ends in a slow death for the captive turtle.

“Turtles depend on knowing their surroundings,” Koehler said. “People may think they can keep a wild turtle alive, but a captive life is not best for any kind of wildlife.”

Koehler recommends leaving turtles where you find them when hiking, as well as following the speed limit and keeping a watchful eye on the road.

“Helping turtles is easy, if you follow those simple steps,” she said.

Pictured is Elvis, a blind box turtle owned by Jessica Loflin.