Region briefs 06/24/03

Missouri confirms case of West Nile virus in a bird

dsbthokwrekmoxHARVESTER, Mo. (AP) -- Public health officials said Monday a bird found in St. Charles County has tested positive for West Nile virus, making it the first confirmed sign of the disease in Missouri this year.

The bird was found in Harvester, a town about 20 miles west of St. Louis.

Gil Copley, the director of the county's Department of Community Health and the Environment, said the finding does not mean the Harvester area is any more at risk than other regions.

Last year there were 168 confirmed human West Nile virus cases in Missouri. Of those, 116 were in St. Louis County or the city of St. Louis. Seven people in the state died of the disease.

Southeast Missourian

A free public workshop for Old Town Cape property owners will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Kellerman-Alliance Building at 13 S. Spanish Street.

The workshop will focus on the recently adopted voluntary design guidelines for the Old Town Cape districts and will be geared toward property owners considering improvements to their properties. In addition to the presentation of the design guidelines, a panel of five individuals involved in development issues will discuss various aspects of developing in the Old Town Cape area.

The workshop is sponsored jointly by the city of Cape Girardeau Division of Inspection Services and Old Town Cape Inc. The program should last approximately 60 minutes.

Robb McClary, director of Inspection Services for the city, will facilitate the meeting. Panelists include Dr. Steven J. Hoffman, a Southeast Missouri State University professor of historical preservation, Brenda Schloss, a Historic Preservation Commission member, Tony Sebek, a Cape Girardeau architect, and Mary Ann Kellerman, who, along with husband Burt Kellerman, owns several historic properties in Cape Girardeau.

For more information about this seminar, please call the Division of Inspection Services at 334-4466.Illinois man pleads guilty to robbing Jackson store

An Illinois man pleaded guilty Monday in Cape Girardeau Circuit Court to first degree robbery, court officials said.

Anthony S. Mims, 33, of Collinsville, Ill., admitted in his plea that he robbed the Stoggies Texaco on East Jackson Boulevard in Jackson on June 20, 2000. Investigators said he used a gun to force store clerks to give him money.

Judge John Heisserer ordered a presentence investigation and set Mims' sentencing for July 28.

The defendant is currently serving time in an Illinois prison on an unrelated theft charge.

Two Cape men sentenced on meth-related charges

Two Cape Girardeau men were sentenced Monday in federal court to nearly 10 years in prison on felony methamphetamine charges.

Scott E. Smith, 31, was sentenced to 48 months on one count of maintaining a place for the manufacture of methamphetamine. He was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. Upon release from prison, he will be on supervised parole for three years.

James A. Furr, 38, was sentenced to 60 months on one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Upon release, he will be on supervised parole for five years.

Both appeared before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber.

Smith had permitted Furr and others to engage in some of the steps to make the drug on his property. Additionally, Smith would assist in gathering pseudoephedrine pills and other ingredients.

On Nov. 26, a search warrant executed by police at Smith's residence at 603 Timon Way, Cape Girardeau. Officers found Smith, Furr and other individuals smoking meth in the garage. Police found more than 4 grams of meth in Furr's shirt pocket.

The search of the garage and home turned up a gallon jar of 144.9 grams of meth, a gallon jar containing 24.3 grams of psuedoephedrine, digital scales, several propane and oxygen tanks with homemade valves used to store anhydrous ammonia, various drug paraphernalia, three guns and other related items.

-- From staff, wire reports