Region briefs 09/03/03

Jackson store robbed at gunpoint Monday

A masked gunman robbed two convenience store clerks Monday night at Casey's General Store, Jackson police said.

At about 9:30 p.m. a man wearing a black mask, shirt and pants and white athletic shoes entered the store at 920 W. Independence. The clerk described the gun as being either a gray or black .32- or .38-caliber revolver.

An undetermined amount of cash was taken by the robber, who was last seen running eastbound on West Independence. The clerks were not harmed.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Jackson police at 243-3151.

Cape man sentenced to seven years for meth

Derek L. Cantrell, 37 of Cape Girardeau was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 85 months in prison on a felony drug charge.

Cantrell was convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Upon release, he will be placed on supervised release for four years.

A search warrant served Jan. 21 at his home at 807 William, rear Apt. 2, resulted in officers finding 9.75 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.

Scott City man gets prison for having gun

Robert J. Blankenship, 32, of Scott City was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 156 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Blankenship was previously convicted of two burglaries and sexual assault. On Nov. 18, 2000, the Scott County Sheriff's Department conducted a burglary investigation in which Blankenship produced a stolen rifle and gave it back to its owner.

Holiday weekend traffic accidents claim 15

Fifteen people were killed in traffic accidents on Missouri roads over the Labor Day holiday weekend, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

There was one fatal accident on Monday. The patrol said William A. Douglas, 23, of Perryville, was southbound on Route B in Perry County at 4:30 p.m. when he drove off the right side of the road, overcorrected and went off the left side of the highway. His vehicle went into a drainage ditch, where it struck an embankment and overturned.

Arkansas county seeks dangerous escapee

PIGGOTT, Ark. -- The Clay County Sheriff's Department is asking for the help of Southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas residents to find a man who escaped from the Clay County Jail on Sunday.

Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole said Ivran Preston Newcom, 44, was being held on suspicion of incest but that in the past Newcom had been arrested for kidnapping, rape, armed robbery and sodomy.

"This man is capable of anything," Cole said. "He has used violence in the past, and we don't believe he would hesitate to do it again."

-- From staff, wire reports