Region briefs 12/11/03

MADD candlelight vigil at Cape police station

The Cape Girardeau Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter will hold the annual MADD Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope today at the police station at 40 S. Sprigg at 6:30 p.m. Chief Steve Strong and Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle will be guest speakers. Ornaments with names of victims will be placed on a Christmas tree in the lobby of the station. A reception will follow.

'No parking' signs go up for bridge dedication

"No parking" signs have been placed in preparation for the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge dedication Saturday in Cape Girardeau. Signs were placed at:

* East side of South Frederick from Morgan Oak to College streets.

* East side of South Middle from Morgan Oak to College streets.

* Both sides of College from Asher to Frederick streets.

* Both sides of Asher from Morgan Oak to College streets.

* Alley between Frederick and Middle, both sides from Jefferson to College.

* Willow from Maple Street to the dead end.

Jackson woman found not guilty in second DWI case

A Cape Girardeau County jury found Carol Sue Smith, 42, of Jackson innocent Wednesday of drunken driving. She faced charges of driving while intoxicated, child endangerment and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway after an Oct. 31, 2002, arrest. A jury deliberated for about an hour and a half before returning the verdict, said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Defense attorney Steve Wilson said his client was "very pleased" with the outcome. "She was adamant that she had only one drink on this occasion," he said. "The police, in her view, went overboard with things." The case was Smith's second DWI arrest in less than three months. She was arrested Aug. 12, 2002, and refused to submit to blood, breath or urine tests. A search warrant was issued for her blood, and Smith sought to keep the blood evidence from trial with a motion to suppress. The case has since made its way to the Missouri Supreme Court, but no hearing date has been set, Swingle said. No blood test was ordered in Smith's Oct. 31 arrest.

-- From wire reports