Local briefs 8/30/02

Wall That Heals open to visitors in Thebes

THEBES, Ill. -- The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial, is open 24 hours at day at Thebes Landing through Sunday night.

The wall opened to visitors Thursday at the ballfield near the Mississippi River. The National Guard is providing security.

Bringing the wall to Thebes was the idea of the Thebes Junior Volunteers, a group of young people who do good works in the village. Alexander County and a veterans group made substantial donations toward raising the money required to bring the wall here. There is no admission charge.

Some of the Thebes Junior Volunteers will begin reading names of the men and women on the wall at 7 p.m. today. A POW/MIA candlelight vigil is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Saturday.

State receives grant to fight West Nile virus

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri has received a grant from the federal government to help combat the West Nile virus, health officials said Thursday.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said it had received $548,798 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The grant is part of more than $6 million awarded to 14 states and two cities hit hardest by the West Nile virus.

Officials said the money will be used for several things, including surveillance programs, increasing public awareness, enhanced testing capabilities and clinical testing at zoos in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.

So far, 27 human cases have been reported in Missouri with one death suspected to be due to West Nile virus infection.

Farmers petition federal court in Gaylord case

DEXTER, Mo. -- A group of Stoddard County farmers have successfully petitioned the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to have a trustee appointed to the registered agent of Gaylord Grain L.L.C.

Federal bankruptcy Judge Barry S. Schermer ordered the appointment of a trustee Tuesday at the request of three petitioning creditors -- Allen Rowland, Harlan Guethle and John Irvin. All three men are farmers who reportedly had grain stored at Gaylord Grain L.L.C. in Dexter.

Dexter businessman Stanley Gaylord was arrested Aug. 1 and now faces six charges of Class C forgery in three separate cases. The charges stem from allegations that Gaylord forged the signatures of farmers on contracts for the sale of grain stored at the warehouse. Bond in the cases has been set at $250,000, and Gaylord remains in the Stoddard County Jail.

Sikeston attorney Pete Burns was appointed the trustee.

-- From staff, wire reports