Oran woman named to state board; Sikeston men sentenced in drug cases; men's conference to be held

Oran woman appointed to state board

Clara Urhahn of Oran, Mo., was appointed to the Missouri Workforce Investment Board on Monday by Gov. Matt Blunt. Urhan, 54, is the human resources manager for MedAssets. She holds a bachelor's degree in human resource management from Lindenwood University. The Workforce Investment Board is designed to assist the Division of Workforce Development in implementing state and federal programs aimed at training workers for more productive, profitable employment. Urhahn must be confirmed by the Senate. Her term will end March 3.

Democratic Meet-up Group to hold potluck

The Cape Girardeau Democratic Meet-up Group will hold a potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. today featuring Ben Dyer, district director for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. Dyer, based in Cape Girardeau, manages the Southeast Missouri district office for McCaskill and will be speaking about the federal legislative agenda for 2008. The meeting will be held in the basement meeting room of the Commerce Bank building at William and Broadview streets. For more information, call 243-6146.

Two Sikeston men sentenced in drug cases

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Two Sikeston men received long federal prison sentences in separate drug cases heard Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey, the federal prosecutor's office announced. David C. Hedge, 43, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison and will be on supervised release for three additional years. He pleaded guilty to possessing 13 small baggies of methamphetamine, $1,795 in cash including $100 from a controlled drug deal the DEA and SEMO Drug Taskforce had previously done with Hedge and a set of digital scales found in a search of his home Sept. 4. Lenard Jackson, 22, was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison and will be on supervised release for four additional years. He pleaded guilty to selling crack cocaine and possessing 18.8 grams of crack when arrested outside Aug. 15 the Midtowner Hotel in Sikeston.

Men's conference to be held this week

Men's Conference 2008, "Men United for One Cause," will be held April 17 to 19. The Rev. T.D. White, pastor of The Rock International Ministries of Jackson, said he hopes the three-day conference will unite men under one cause -- to lead men to a stronger relationship with God in their homes, their work places and in their churches. The conference is open to all men -- and women -- age 17 and older in the area. It begins with nightly worship services at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Saturday will be an all-day conference for a fee that includes breakfast, lunch and materials for the three workshop sessions, ending with a worship service at 1:30 p.m. All the worship services are open to the public, White said. The workshop sessions will begin with "Men at Home" led by the Rev. Zack Strong of Christ Church of the Heartland of Cape Girardeau. The second session, led by the Rev. Curtis True, senior pastor of Church on the Rock of Sikeston, Mo., will lead the workshop, "Men at Church." Bishop William Bird Sr. of Greater Dimensions Ministries in Cape Girardeau, will lead the third session, "Men at Work." Worship services will be led by Dr. Brett Watson, senior pastor of Destiny Life International Outreach Church of Marion, Ill., Dr. A. G. Green, senior pastor of Rhema Word Ministries of Cape Girardeau and R. Vashon of Power in Your Praise Ministries Conference Praise Team Leader. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Ron Webb, senior pastor of Mount Calvary Power House Church of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christian musicians Jason Crabb and Javen will sing during the worship services.

-- From staff reports