Local briefs 11/3/06

Education to be topic at First Friday Coffee

The subject of discussion this morning at the First Friday Coffee will be the findings of the state's Alliance on Math, Engineering, Technology and Science Education. The event is sponsored by the Cape Girar-deau Chamber of Commerce. Alliance member Debra Hollingsworth, who is also AT&T-Missouri vice president of external affairs, will speak to the group of area business leaders. First Friday Coffee is held in the Concourse Room of the Show Me Center on North Sprigg Street. Doors open at 7 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Charges dismissed against area woman

Charges against a woman accused of hiding drugs inside her person were dismissed while prosecutors waited for lab results. Once the results are returned, charges are expected to be refiled against Kathryn G. Drury, 47, of Cape Girardeau. Drury was charged with felony possession, tampering with physical evidence, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and failure to drive on the right side of the road. Following her arrest in early September by Cape Girardeau County sheriff's officers, several pills were found in the bathroom, squad car and jail cell that were not there before. Officials suspect Drury concealed the medication in her body cavities, according to a probable-cause statement. Lab results on the medication would not be available for about a month, forcing the Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney's office to dismiss charges against Drury. Assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff said she expected to refile the charges against Drury once the lab results are returned in December.

Trial date set for man suspected of kidnapping

CAIRO, Ill. -- A trial date was set for a man accused of attempting to kidnap a child at a Labor Day festival in Olive Branch, Ill. Don W. Miller Sr., 68, of Brighton, Ill., is accused of attempting to kidnap the 13-year-old daughter of Alexander County commissioner candidate Duane "Street Preacher" Lyon. Miller was charged with felony child abduction in the alleged Sept. 4 incident. During a hearing Thursday, Judge Mark Clarke found probable cause in the case and ordered a pretrial conference on Dec. 28, followed by a Jan. 9 trial date.

-- From staff reports