Around Southeast Missouri 1/30/07

DNA evidence puts Bernie man in prison

DNA evidence taken from blood smears and saliva samples from an open beer can left at the scene of the crime have sent a Bernie, Mo., man to prison for the next 12 years. Tim Swinney, 45, of Bernie, pleaded guilty to the Class B felony of first-degree burglary Jan. 17. He was sentenced to 12 years to include 120-day shock incarceration at an institutional treatment center with a bed availability date of Feb. 19. The charge stems from an incident Aug. 19 in Dexter, Mo. According to Dexter police Detective Trevor Pulley, the victim reported that on that night three men broke into her home and confronted her in her bedroom. The three men then took the victim's purse and a flashlight and left the residence. Police found the flashlight outside the home. The victim told police that she recognized Swinney, who had been hired to do yard work for her. The report from the crime lab showed definite results from the swabs taken at the scene of the burglary and those taken from Swinney.

-- Dexter Daily Statesman

HPV vaccine coming to county health center

History's first cancer-preventing vaccine will soon be available at the Stoddard County Public Health Center in Bloomfield, Mo., according to officials at the clinic. Clinic director Debbie Pleimling said that the Stoddard County center will be participating in a statewide grant-funded distribution program for the new Gardasil vaccine that helps protect women from Human Papilloma Virus, two types of which are directly linked to a dramatic increase in the likelihood of developing cervical cancer. The vaccines are being distributed to those ages 9 through 26 who are Medicaid eligible and have no insurance. Those under age 18 will receive the vaccination through the federally funded Vaccinations for Children program.

-- Dexter Daily Statesman

Haggard appointed to Board of Curators

State Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said Friday that the Missouri Senate has approved the nomination of Kennett, Mo., native Judith Haggard to the University of Missouri Board of Curators. Haggard will represent the 8th Congressional District on the Board of Curators. A University of Missouri-Columbia alumna, Haggard is a family nurse practitioner at SEMO Health Network. The Board of Curators is the governing body of the University of Missouri system, which has four campuses, in Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla and St. Louis. The nine-member Board of Curators will select the university's next president. "With the departure of Dr. Elson Floyd, Judith will have the opportunity to take part in finding a new president for the University of Missouri system," Mayer said. "Her contributions to the Board of Curators will have a lasting impact on the future of our university system."

-- Daily Dunklin Democrat, Kennett