Region briefs 11/6/07

Swingle promotes sequel to 2002 novel

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle will appear at two events this week to promote his new book, "Bootheel Man." The book is a sequel to his 2002 novel "The Gold of Cape Girardeau," and is printed by the Southeast Missouri State University Press. Swingle will appear at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall on the university campus at to speak about the book. "Bootheel Man" cover artist and consultant Gina Gray, an Osage Indian, will also speak. Swingle will also appear at 3 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble to sign copies of the book. Both events are free and open to the public. "Bootheel Man" is available at the University Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and the university press Web site at www6.semo.edu/universitypress/.

Man who set pants on fire gets court date

Ryan Johnston, 19, of Burfordville, Mo., was arraigned Monday and will make his first court appearance Nov. 28. Johnston, arraigned from the Cape Girardeau County Jail by video, told Judge Gary A. Kamp that he didn't "exactly" understand the charges of second-degree arson and burglary against him. Johnston is charged in connection with a fire at an auxiliary building owned by the Sigma Chi fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University. The fire occurred around 4 a.m. Thursday. No one was injured, but the building suffered about $50,000 worth of damage, according to the Cape Girardeau fire department.

-- From staff reports