Local briefs 9/3/04

Say 'Howdy, neighbor!' in Benton this weekend

BENTON, Mo. -- The 36th annual Benton Neighbor Days will be held today and Saturday at the ballpark in Benton. Today's festivities start at 5 p.m. with the opening of the midway and registration for attendance prizes at the Chamber of Commerce booth. Exhibits will be on display from 6 to 9 p.m. at the old school building. Sky divers drop from the sky at 6 p.m., followed by the Neighbor Days pageants, which get underway at 6:30 p.m. The band Nite Shift will perform from 9 p.m. to midnight. On Saturday, the midway opens at 10 a.m. and exhibits are on display from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be an antique car show at 11 a.m., games and contests starting at 1 p.m. and a children's tractor pull at 4 p.m. The sky divers make a return Saturday at 6:30 p.m., which is also when the talent show begins. J.R. Bollinger and the High Yield Band performs from 9 p.m. to midnight. Neighbor Days also features food, beverages and rides.

St. Mary man guilty on firearms charge

A St. Mary, Mo., man was found guilty in a two-day jury trial Wednesday and Thursday in U.S. District Court for unlawful possession of firearms. Kent Flentge, 40, appeared before U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry. He faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced Dec. 1. On Jan. 16, 2003, Capt. Delbert Riehn of the Perry County Sheriff's Department and Special Agent Ryan Becker of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms went to search a house in St. Mary during an investigation. While they were there, Flentge, the homeowner's brother, arrived. He admitted to the officers that he had moved some firearms belonging to his brother to a barn. Both brothers are previously convicted felons. Flentge admitted during trial testimony that he told the officers that he had taken the firearms to the barn, but claimed at the trial that he had lied. After deliberating for approximately 45 minutes, the jury found Flentge guilty of being a previously convicted felon in possession of seven firearms. Flentge had previously been convicted of the felonies of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with a witness.-- From staff reports

Jackson woman injured in accident on Route K

A Jackson woman sustained minor injuries in a two-car accident on Route K two miles west of Cape Girardeau. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Monique Evans, 39, lost control of her eastbound 1993 Jeep, crossed the center line, then struck a westbound 1999 Ford driven by Nancy Collier, 49, of Jackson. Evans's car then overturned and landed in the eastbound lane. Evans was given a ticket for following too close. She was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment.

Labor Day fest planned at Horseshoe Lake

A pancake breakfast kicks off at 6:30 a.m. Monday at Horseshoe Lake Community Center, Olive Branch, Ill., followed by a 10 a.m. barbeque complete with a bake sale, crafts, games and attendance prizes all day. Music under the pavilion will be performed by gospel singers from 8 a.m. to noon and bluegrass music from 1 to 4 p.m. A raffle drawing will be held at 4 p.m. For more information, call (618) 776-5198.

-- From staff reports