Jackson man charged with statutory rape

Felony rape charges were filed Friday against a Jackson man accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl. The girl reported that Bradley J. Bowers, 32, forcibly raped and sodomized her Sept. 24 in his home at 210 S. Bellevue St., according to a probable-cause statement. When questioned, Bowers admitted that he fondled the girl and claimed the sex was consensual, the statement read. Bowers, who knew the girl, was charged with felony statutory rape and statutory sodomy and issued a $50,000 bond. As a condition of his bond, Bowers is to have no contact with the girl and must stay more than 500 feet away from her home and work. This was Jackson's first forcible rape reported this year, according to police Lt. Rodney Barnes.

Hazardous waste drop-off set for Oct. 14

Cape Girardeau will sponsor a household hazardous waste collection drop-off from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 14 at the Arena Park 4-H Shelter. The event is for Cape Girardeau residents only. For more information, call 334-9151.

Area man suspected of making crack cocaine

A Jackson resident was arrested on drug charges this week. Cory F. Davie, 19, of 824 E. Adams St., was charged with felony attempt to produce a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Jackson police officers executed a search warrant at his home early Thursday morning and made the arrest, a news release from the Jackson Police Department said. He was suspected of making crack cocaine, according to police Lt. Rodney Barnes. Bond was set at $25,000.

Teens bound over on felony burglary charges

Two teenagers accused of burglarizing a Cape Girardeau County company were bound over to circuit court Friday. Corde Boyd, 19, of 317 S. High St. in Jackson, and Robert S. Ott, 19, of Scott City, waived their right to a preliminary hearing and were ordered to appear before Judge William Syler Oct. 16. The pair, along with Gavin Richmond, 18, of Kelso, Mo., are charged with felony burglary for breaking into the General Sign Co. on Nash Road July 21. A 16-year-old boy was also cited into juvenile court for the break-in. The teens stole $227 and caused nearly $530 in damage to the door. According to police, Richmond said the idea to burglarize the company came from Charlotte Wrinkle, a former employee of the business charged with bilking the company out of more than $7,000. No charges against Wrinkle for the burglary have been filed.

Area man gets probation for his part in beating

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott City man convicted of attacking and robbing another was sentenced Friday to probation. Trent Tancheck, who earlier pleaded guilty to assault, robbery and tampering with a witness, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Circuit Judge David Dolan suspended the execution of the sentence and placed Tancheck on five years' supervised probation. Tancheck, 27, Kelly R. Church, 31, of Chaffee, Mo., and David A. Turner, 21, of Scott City, were all accused in the March 4 beating of a 44-year-old man. Of his codefendants, Turner pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to serve 6 years in prison alongside an unrelated burglary charge. Church was scheduled to appear in court Nov. 9.

Jackson groundbreaking planned for Tuesday

Jackson School District officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. to mark the start of construction to expand and remodel the high school. The ceremony will be held in front of "C" building, school officials said. The $15.5 million first phase of improvements involves construction of space for the music program, a new cafeteria and commons area, new art rooms and an events center Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson is the contractor on the first phase of improvements. That work is expected to be finished by fall 2007, school officials said.

-- From staff reports