Around Southeast Missouri 1/24/07

Dexter graduate welcomed in Kuwait

Dexter native Ryan Jackson, 22, along with six other Missouri State University students and an MSU professor, Dr. Muhad Olimat, spent 10 days as guests in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Jackson is a 2003 Dexter graduate and is working on his master's degree in international affairs and administration at MSU with an emphasis in defense and strategic studies. He is hoping for a career in federal government. Three graduate and four undergraduate MSU political science students were selected to make the trip to allow the students to gain a better understanding of Middle Eastern people and cultures. The trip was sponsored by the Kuwait Information Office in Washington, D.C., and the Kuwait Ministry of Information and was unique in that, previously, only students from universities in the Northeast region of the United States have been invited to participate. Olimat said the overall purpose of the Kuwait trip was to improve relations between Kuwait and the United States, stating, "Kuwait is a close ally of the U.S. in the Middle East, and we want to familiarize our students with the special partnership between the two countries ... We also want to promote an international and a multicultural outlook among MSU students." The cost of the trip was covered by the Kuwaiti government with the students required to pay only the cost of the course, "American-Kuwait Relations," that served as a prerequisite for the trip.

-- Dexter Daily Statesman

Scott County aided by geographic info system

The Scott County Assessor's Office is beginning to reap the benefits of the county's geographic information system. To set up the GIS, the aerial photography was turned over to Midland GIS Solutions of Sunrise Beach, which then built a base map of the county. "It was about a year and a half process," said Teresa Houchin, Scott County assessor. Information overlays can now be displayed on a computer screen or printed out on a map over the aerial photography. Before the GIS system, everything was done by hand, Houchin said. Keeping track of parcels required 300 maps to cover the county. Maps are now updated daily rather than yearly, and staff members can take a laptop computer to a site instead of maps when doing assessments. Houchin said they are still expanding their use of the GIS to make things even better for not only her office, but also other county and city officials.

-- Sikeston Standard Democrat

Missing Pemiscot County juvenile returned safe

A missing 15-year-old girl was returned home Jan. 18 after being missing since Jan. 8, and a 20-year old Memphis, Tenn., man is in custody. Caruthersville, Mo., police arrested Jorge Alverado on a warrant for first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Police said the teen had been in Memphis with Alverado of her own volition and had not been kidnapped. She was transported to Juvenile Detention and Alverado was transported to the Pemiscot County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

-- Argus Democrat