Credit card skimmers and shimmers are small, illegal devices fraudsters attach to ATMs and gas pumps in order to steal your credit card information. While these devices are rare, here's what to watch for:

1.  Skimmers are placed on the outside of the card reader. Skimmers are easier to spot since they're bulky and often look like they don't belong on the machine. Watch for mismatching colors or odd fitting equipment.

2.  Shimmers are placed inside the card reader. Shimmers are thin and harder to spot, but they can be noticed inside the card slot if you look carefully.

3.  Check for tampering. If a panel looks like it's been removed or if any pieces seem loose, take caution. Be on the lookout for any pieces that look odd or move when they shouldn't.

4.  Consider where the machine is located. These devices are more common on ATMs that aren't in busy areas.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, welcomed the launch of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s new, three digit 988 number. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of more than 200 local- and state-funded crisis centers. The new number, which will be available starting tomorrow, July 16, will allow individuals experiencing a mental health crisis to call or text 988 to connect with a trained mental health professional.

“The number of calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline skyrocketed in recent years as Americans struggled with the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each one of those calls can be a life or death moment for a person in crisis,” said Blunt. “We need to be sure the capacity is there to answer every call as quickly as possible. As the top Republican on the appropriations subcommittee that funds health programs, I have been proud to work with my colleagues to substantially increase federal funding to transition to the lifeline’s new 988 number and strengthen the network of crisis centers answering the calls. We will continue working to ensure the resources are in place to meet the needs of the lifeline as the new 988 number goes into effect. I hope this transition will make it easier for people to reach out and get the lifesaving help they need, when they need it.”

The Blunt-backed Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law last month, provided $150 million to support the launch of 988, including crisis center operations. The FY2022 government funding bill, signed into law in March, provided $101.6 million, a $77.6 million increase, for the 988 transition.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also authorized the nationwide expansion of the Excellence in Mental Health program, giving every state the opportunity to establish or expand community-based mental health clinics if they choose to do so. The Excellence in Mental Health Act was signed into law in 2014 and marked the most significant expansion of community mental health and addiction services in decades. It created Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) that provide a wide range of services, including 24/7/365 crisis services, immediate screenings, risk assessments, and diagnoses. Missouri is one of the nine states currently participating in the Excellence in Mental Health pilot program, which has a proven track record of improving access to care, reducing hospital and ER visits, and providing mental and behavioral health support to local law enforcement.

Dexter, MO - The city of Dexter is requesting qualifications for preliminary engineering, professional engineering design, construction, and inspection services for a project to be administered through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).  Specifically the city of Dexter is seeking a firm to perform a street improvements project.

Information provided to the city must include at a minimum:

1) The specialized experience and technical competence of the firm with respect to Street Improvements (25 pts)

2) The capacity and capability of the firm to perform the work in question, including specialized services, within a period of twelve months (25 pts)

3) The past record of performance of the firm with respect to such factors as control of cost, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules (25).

4) References from all previous clients involved with the firm within the past five years and the ability to begin work immediately (10 pts)

5) References and experience of previous work on federal and state grant projects (10 pts)

6) Documentation of compliance with E-Verify requirements (5 pts)

The firm will be selected in accordance with federal and state procurement procedures. Respondents will be scored on the above criteria based on a 100-point scale.  the most qualified competitor will be selected, subject to negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation.  The full contract design executed from the preliminary engineering report, shall be contingent upon the award of the grand and commitment of all project funds.

This information must be submitted no later than Monday, August 1, 2022 to Dexter City Hall, 301 East Stoddard Street, Dexter, MO by 4 p.m.  For more information, please contact the city clerk, Crystal Bishop at (573) 624-5959.  Selection will be made at the City Council Meeting on Monday, August 1, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dexter Municipal Building at 119 Vine Street, Dexter, MO.

The city of Dexter is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages the submission of proposals from minority and women - owned firms.

Route T in Butler, Stoddard and Wayne Counties will be reduced to one lane with an 11-foot width restriction as contractor crews add shoulders and overlay the roadway.  

 This section of roadway is located from Route 51 near Puxico, Missouri to Route 60 near Poplar Bluff, Missouri. 

 Weather permitting, work will begin Thursday, July 28 through Friday, Sept. 23 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

The work zone will be marked with signs.  Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. 

 For additional information, contact Resident Engineer Donald Hills at (573) 472-9013 or MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636

Notice is hereby given that the City of Dexter Board of Alderman will hold a special meeting to present a resolution for a grant and any other business that may appear on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 119 Vine Street, Dexter, MO 63841.