Around Southeast Missouri 3/1/07

Dexter man charged in three car thefts

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Dexter man is in jail on charges of stealing three motor vehicles. Michael Vincent Knight, 17, of Dexter was arrested by the Dexter Police Department, Stoddard County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Knight is accused of stealing two vehicles from Dexter and one from Georgia, according to police. All three vehicles were recovered and returned to the owners. Knight is being held in the Stoddard County Jail on felony charges of tampering with a motor vehicle, endangering the welfare of a child and leaving the scene of an accident. Other charges are being sought. Bond was set at $35,000 cash only.

-- Sikeston Standard Democrat

City tries to get a handle on blackbirds

DEXTER, Mo. -- Over the past few weeks blackbirds have moved into Dexter's Hickory Hills area by the thousands. "We're trying to do everything we can to help with the problem," said city administrator Mark Stidham. "Usually once spring gets here and it starts warming up they migrate out." Friday, workers with the street department began firing off a propane cannon to scare the birds. Street department director Jeff Myers said one of the things that has drawn the birds to the neighborhood is the large number of cedar and pine trees. Hickory Hills isn't the only area in town having a problem, but city officials say it seems to have caught the worst of it.

-- Dexter Daily Statesman

Dunklin County Library receives tech grant

JoNell Minton, director of Dunklin County Libraries, said the library received a state grant designated to automate the more than 200,000 titles currently in circulation throughout the county in its nine library locations. The new Web-based system will allow individuals to browse the library's catalog of titles from their computers. The new system will provide book summaries and cover images and allow individuals with library cards to reserve a title from their computer and pick it up on their next trip to the library. "The new system will also let you renew your books online a limited number of times," Minton said. "It makes the library accessible from your home or office." Money used to purchase the system is part of a grant in which the state will contribute $88,357 and the Dunklin County Library will be responsible for $28,786. Minton said she expects the system to be operational in late summer or early fall.

-- Daily Dunklin Democrat