Briefly

Faberge eggs on display in Paducah today

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Russian jewelry designer Ilya Abelsky will be in Paducah today with his handcrafted miniature Faberge eggs at Michelson Jewelers. The eggs are crafted in the tradition of Carl Faberge, the 19th-century jeweler to the Russian imperial family. Abelsky has exhibited his work in London, Paris, Vienna and Berlin, as well as in major cities across the United States. The exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Abelsky will be on hand to personally greet customers. The exhibition will also featured a series of 20 American patriotic eggs offered as a tribute to U.S. military personnel.

Climate group to meet May 10 to discuss plans

The Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative will hold a general meeting at 7 p.m. May 10 in the Hirsch Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library on North Clark Avenue. The focus of the meeting will be discussions within designated "working groups" of plans and recommendations for individual action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Working group topics are: domestic energy efficiency; vehicle efficiency; food localization/organic gardening/composting; biking/hiking issues; political action and recycling in Jackson. Those wishing to join an existing group or start a new one are invited to attend.

SonRise service heads indoors due to cold

The SonRise service scheduled for the Cape Girardeau riverfront at the Broadway gate Sunday has been changed to the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church because of the cold temperatures predicted for Easter morning.

Woman gets change of venue on drug charges

A Cape Girardeau woman arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and attempting to hide prescription medication inside her body will have her case heard in New Madrid County. Kathryn G. Drury, 47, 138 Deerfield Lane, is charged with felony possession of marijuana, tampering with physical evidence, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and failure to drive on the right side of the road. Circuit Judge William Syler granted the change of venue. A new court date there had not been set as of Friday. Drury was arrested early in September. Pills found in both the Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department bathroom and a jail cell where Drury had been were suspected of being concealed in Drury's body cavities, according to a probable-cause statement.

Tanker truck driver granted different judge

A Wappapello, Mo., man accused of driving the wrong way on an Interstate 55 off-ramp last month, resulting in a tanker truck overturning, was granted a change of judge Thursday and will next appear in court April 24. Franklin Houchins, 32, is charged with second-degree assault/operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in injury. A conviction on the felony charge carries a maximum seven-year prison term. The charge alleges Houchins operated his vehicle with criminal negligence while under the influence of butalbital, a barbiturate. Side effects include dizziness, light-headedness and impairmed judgment. It is often prescribed for headaches. Houchins is out on a $5,000 bond. Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis assigned Houchins' case to Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen. Houchins reportedly avoided two cars before attempting a U-turn into oncoming traffic on the ramp. The truck driver, traveling at about 70 mph, swerved left but could not avoid Houchins. The back of the rig jumped 6 feet in the air before it flipped over.

-- From staff reports