Around Southeast Missouri 3/9/07

City council, chamber director discuss tourism

KENNETT, Mo. -- Jan McElwrath, executive director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce, told the Kennett City Council Tuesday night where the city stands with its involvement with the state's Division of Tourism, as well as recent results with the Missouri Quality Jobs Program and Economic Development. McElwrath said she recently participated in the annual Serving Up Tourism in Missouri pancake breakfast sponsored by the Missouri Travel Council, of which the Kennett Chamber is a part of, in Jefferson City, Mo. "A half-day was spent talking with legislators about the importance of supporting Gov. Blunt's budget proposal of $20.8 million for the Division of Tourism, which is the largest amount of tourism funding ever for the state's tourism office," McElwrath said, adding that "more than $3 million of tourism money is earmarked for the state's Cooperative Marketing Program, a grant program that matches local advertising and marketing money dollar for dollar." McElwrath said the Missouri Travel Council also supports legislation that would enforce a mandatory school start date of no more than 10 days before Labor Day. McElwrath said the reason is that when schools open in the middle August, it cuts down on travel, considering August is a the top of the list of months with the highest number of people traveling.

-- The Daily Dunklin Democrat

Two arrested on drug charges at traffic stop

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Two men are in custody on drug charges following a routine traffic stop by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Troy Humes and Bryant A. Smith, 38, of Gary, Ind., were arrested for possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute. The arrests came after their northbound vehicle was stopped for speeding at about 3 a.m. Feb. 27 on Interstate 55 at the 65 mile-marker in New Madrid County. As the trooper spoke to Humes, the driver, he asked for consent to search, but was refused. A highway patrol K-9 officer was requested to respond to the scene. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle and a search revealed marijuana concealed in the luggage compartment, according to a patrol news release.

-- Sikeston Standard Democrat

Scott Co. officials focus on drainage problems

BENTON, Mo. -- Jamie Burger, presiding Scott County commissioner, discussed drainage problems caused by industrious rodents during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday. Burger said the county has installed pipes and culverts under county roads to improve drainage, but landowners met with commissioners to discuss an ongoing problem with beaver dams in ditches. He said the county has a contract with a trapper who is removing beavers from ditches in the county. Water not moving through ditches is a concern for county officials because when water sits under roads, it can cause culverts and pipes to fail and roads to fall in, according to Burger.

-- Sikeston Daily Democrat