Around Southeast Missouri 2/6/07

Snowy roads create havoc Thursday

DEXTER, Mo. -- Ice and snow played a major role in vehicle accidents throughout the area Thursday.

• Two Dexter children sustained minor injuries after the school bus they were riding in Thursday morning struck a pole guy wire due to icy conditions. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at 7:20 a.m. on Stoddard County Road 624 at County Road 637, three miles west of Dexter, as the school bus, operated by Robert C. Blackler, 59, of Dexter, slid through the intersection and struck an embankment and utility pole guy wire. Chaylee Wilson, 6, and Brianna Wright, 7, were taken by private vehicle to Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter.
• Benton, Mo., resident Brenda S. Penrose, 56, was moderately injured at 7:50 a.m. near Advance, Mo., after she lost control of her vehicle on an ice-covered Cape Girardeau County Road 262. Her vehicle ran off the left side of the road and overturned in a ditch. She was transported to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.
• At 8 a.m. on Scott County Road 539, one mile east of Miner, Mo., an accident occurred as Sandra M. Beedle, 45, of Sikeston, Mo., ran her vehicle off the road and struck a utility pole. She sustained minor injuries and was transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.
• In Mississippi County, another single-vehicle accident occurred at 8:35 a.m. on U.S. 60, three miles east of Charleston, Mo., as motorist Shirley J. Lindell, 55, of Sikeston lost control of her vehicle, ran off the north side of the road and struck a telephone pole. She received moderate injuries and was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center.
• A Dexter woman sustained moderate injuries after the driver of the vehicle she was riding in lost control on a bridge and ran off the road. Joyce F. O'Riley, 55, of Dexter was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center. The accident occurred at 8:50 a.m. on U.S. 60, about one mile east of Dexter. The driver of the vehicle, Edward J. O'Riley, 57, of Dexter, was not injured.

-- Sikeston Standard Democrat

ArvinMeritor to sell major division

DEXTER, Mo. --Troy, Mich.-based business ArvinMeritor announced Friday it is going to sell its Emissions Technologies business to One Equity Partners for $310 million. The Dexter facility, in operation for 32 years, houses operations for the Light Vehicle Systems Group. There is no Emissions Technologies operation at the Dexter plant. According to ArvinMeritor president and chief executive officer Charles G. Chip McClure, the sale is to help strengthen the company balance sheet. The sale and consequent reduction in company size comes in the wake of layoffs at the Dexter plant in recent months. According to published reports, a first round of layoffs began in November, a second followed in December and a third took place Jan. 27, resulting in the loss of more than 100 jobs. According to information from the ArvinMeritor Web site, the company's overarching strategy is to become a global systems leader in its target markets, to build product technology and develop capabilities that are scalable across markets and platforms, and to profitably commercialize solutions that meet customers' growing needs.

-- Dexter Daily Statesman