Highway 34/72 paving work beginning today

Construction on improvements to Highway 34/72 in Jackson could inconvenience motorists today, but residents in the area will be able to get out of their driveways, Missouri Department of Transportation officials said. Penzel Construction is scheduled to start paving the north side of the highway from Daisy Street to Farmington Street at 6 a.m. today. Construction flagmen will direct traffic to help motorists entering and existing driveways along the route, said MoDOT resident engineer Darius Dowdy. The paving work on that section of highway should be finished by early tonight, Dowdy said.

Neighborhood dispute in Sikeston has six arrests

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Six people were arrested Wednesday night after a neighborhood dispute in Sikeston. The disturbance took place at about 9 p.m. in the 200 block of Russell Avenue. Officers responded to a report of a disturbance involving about 20 people, and upon arrival, they found several people arguing. Officers later found that several people had been assaulted. Billy Joe Arnold, 31, Dewayne Heaton, 41, Geri Heaton, 40, Donald W. Hughes, 38, Jennifer McKinnie, 25, and James Mueller, 34, all of Sikeston were arrested on charges of assault and peace disturbance. Additional arrests are pending, according to a release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. The dispute comes after a similar incident in Sikeston on June 5, in which 14 people were arrested and an officer was injured.

Sikeston banker picked for state finance board

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt has appointed Troy L. Wilson of Sikeston to the Missouri Development Finance Board, which administers financing programs for businesses, local governments and state agencies. Wilson, president and CEO of Montgomery Bancorporation Inc. and Montgomery Bank, was appointed to finish the term of James O'Mara, who has resigned. The term expires Sept. 14, 2008. Wilson's appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Wilson is also the chairman of the Missouri Bankers Association.

Talburt appointed to head Missouri Water Patrol

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Rad Talburt, a 25-year veteran of the Missouri State Water Patrol, was appointed Thursday by Gov. Matt Blunt to lead the agency. Talburt has worked for the water patrol since 1980, serving as a patrol officer and corporal. He also worked with the water patrol dive team from 1990 through 2000. Talburt succeeds Col. Jerry Adams, a former St. Louis County detective who was appointed water patrol colonel in 2001 by Democratic governor Bob Holden. Adams had continued on the job until Blunt, a Republican, could pick a replacement.

Gay-themed T-shirts OK'd by school district

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The American Civil Liberties Union dropped its lawsuit Thursday against a southwest Missouri school district after it lifted its ban on T-shirts with messages on gay rights. The suit was filed in April after a 15-year-old heterosexual girl at Webb City High School, was twice punished for wearing shirts with messages of support for gays. The Webb City School District previously filed a motion saying it intended to end its policy against such clothing.

Southeast president to be guest on KRCU

Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Ken Dobbins will be featured on KRCU's "Going Public" radio show on Sunday. Dobbins will be interviewed about upcoming projects and goals at Southeast. The public affairs show will be broadcast at 3 p.m. on 90.9 FM, the region's Public Radio affiliate station. The show is hosted by Tom Harte and Chris Schnell.

-- From staff, wire reports