Region briefs 1/3/08

'State of City' presented at First Friday Coffee

The monthly First Friday Coffee for January, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will focus on the city as a whole. Mayor Jay Knudtson and chamber president and chief executive officer John Mehner will make a presentation on the "State of the City" during the monthly networking event for business owners and leaders. The event will begin with a continental breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday at the Show Me Center on North Sprigg Street. Presentations generally begin about 7:40 a.m.

Three arrested on drug charges in Stoddard Co.

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Three people were arrested on charges related to illegal prescription drug use over the weekend, according to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner. The Dexter Daily Statesman reported that Hershel M. Kennedy, 44, of Puxico, Mo., was arrested Friday and charged with various felonies including intent to distribute a controlled substance (hydrocodone), two counts of possession of a controlled substance (hydrocodone), possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and two counts of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Kennedy is being held in the Stoddard County Jail on $175,000 cash-only bond. He was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, the SEMO Drug Task Force and Marshall Johnny Clark of the Puxico Police Department. A Dexter, Mo., man was also arrested Friday. According to Hefner, Bradley S. Smith was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (Fentanyl) felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, felony distribution of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. According to Hefner, he was being held on a $75,000 cash only bond. Ronda R. Hurley of Dexter was also arrested and charged in connection with the felony distribution of a controlled substance (Fentanyl), Hefner said.

No arrests made in Monday shooting

No arrests have been made in connection to a shooting early Monday morning at a Cape Girardeau convenience store, police said Wednesday. Sgt. Barry Hovis said an unnamed victim was shot in the chest at a Rhodes 101 Stop at 546 S. Sprigg St. Multiple shell cases were found at the scene, but it is possible the victim was only shot once, Hovis said. He did not know whether the victim had been released from the hospital. Police still think an argument occurred before the shooting.

-- From staff reports