Indoor pot operation seized, suspect arrested

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- State and local authorities seized what they described as a sophisticated indoor marijuana-growing operation Wednesday night from the property of a man they have had under surveillance for some time. The seizure, which included 24 suspected marijuana plants, was the result of a search warrant executed on Martin W. Harget's property in Poplar Bluff. The street value of the marijuana plants, had they reached maturity, may have been more than $20,000, an officer said.

Three indicted for possessing counterfeit bills

KENNETT, Mo. -- A former police officer and restaurant owner were among three people indicted on federal charges of passing counterfeit money. John Hendrix, 28, of Malden, a former police officer, is charged with possession of approximately $4,000 in counterfeit bills on February 14. Jimmy Forkum, 47, of Malden, a pizza operator, is charged with possession of approximately $900 in counterfeit bills on February 14. Kenneth Brimingham, 30, of Malden, is charged with possession of approximately $4,400 in counterfeit bills on February 23. The men were indicted on March 10 by a federal grand jury sitting in Cape Girardeau and arrested March 16. Each of the offenses with which the men are charged carries a possible sentence of not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000.

Scott County courthouse getting facelift

BENTON, Mo. -- With interior renovations at the Scott County Courthouse nearly complete, commissioners will seek bids to restore the building's exterior. Commissioner Jamie Burger said spending money to restore the courthouse is a necessity "every hundred years or so." Renovations will include replacing mortar between bricks, cleaning the terra cotta and masonry, recalking lintels and installing "weeps" to keep moisture from being trapped behind the lintels, installing solid metal chimney caps, and replacing missing letters on the front of the building which should read "Scott County Courthouse."