Region briefs 01/18/03

River Hills Drug Task Force arrests 10

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Before dawn Friday, several area residents were awakened by members of the River Hills Drug Task Force banging on their doors.

The officers had arrest warrants for 11 Van Buren, Grandin and Doniphan residents wanted on drug-related charges.

The charges -- for distribution, manufacture and possession of a controlled substance and assault -- stem from undercover purchases, search warrants and seized methamphetamine labs during a 12-month investigation by members of the task force and Carter County Sheriff's Department, said Carter County Sheriff Greg Melton.

The cases, he said, "are a mixture of marijuana, meth and some prescription medications -- OxyContin and Xanax."

Although officers had previously made arrests, Friday's drug sweep in Carter County was its first.

Fire destroys furniture store in Portageville

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Firemen worked in below-freezing temperatures to extinguish flames early Friday morning at the Stafford Furniture Store at the corner of Main and DeLisle in Portageville.

The fire, which destroyed the building, is believed to have begun in the furnace room near the back of the building.

Stafford's was begun by J. D. Stafford in the 1940s and the family business was carried on by his son, the late Jim Stafford. Present operators of the business were Pansy Stafford and her son, Scott.

Kennett council may put sales tax on April ballot

KENNETT, Mo. -- The Kennett City Council will be asked to submit a one-quarter cent sales tax and a bond issue to voters on April 8, to be used strictly for a $2.8 million industrial development project.

This came about as a result of local efforts to retain Wise Co., which recently decided to return its operations to Arkansas. The firm, which employed 150 people in Kennett, apparently was willing to have stayed had the city been able to provide a suitable building.

Jan McElwrath, chamber executive director, told a special council meeting Thursday that the most workable alternative was to buy a building through a sales tax increase.

The sales tax would finance a 50,000-square-foot building, purchase of 119 acres near the existing industrial park, as well as development and marketing costs.

Two PB men face federal drug charges

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Two Poplar Bluff men are in federal custody after being charged with distributing crack cocaine.

Ezell J. Holloway, 60, and Carlos L. Warren, 22, were arrested Wednesday by FBI agent Larry Bruins, according to Poplar Bluff police chief Danny Whiteley.

Both appear Tuesday for arraignment. Bond may be set at that time.

Two Wayne Co. couples jailed on drug charges

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Two Wayne County couples sit in separate jail cells after authorities seized items related to the alleged manufacture of methamphetamine from their homes.

David Dunker, 30, and Elizabeth Dunker, 31, were arrested Thursday at their Wappapello, Mo., residence following a search of their home, said Wayne County deputy Jim Pyle. They were charged with manufacture of a controlled substance Friday. Their bonds were set at $50,000 each.

A Greenville couple -- Rocky Rogers, 41, and Tracy Rogers, 42, -- was also charged with manufacture of a controlled substance following a search of their home Wednesday. Their bonds were set at $25,000 each.

-- From wire reports