Region briefs 2/19/04

Jackson woman receives sentence for forgery

A Jackson woman will serve 120 days behind bars for making credit card purchases in the name of a dead woman, said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Christina Randol-Harris, 37, was originally charged Oct. 9 with 11 class C felonies for forgery. She pleaded guilty to one charge Dec. 15 as part of a plea agreement. In her plea, she admitted to forging the name of a deceased neighbor woman by using the woman's Target charge card.The woman's husband had moved into Harris' basement. Circuit Judge William Syler placed the woman on probation, ordered restitution and added the 120 days "shock time."

Area man found guilty in ammunition case

A jury found Ronald G. Brown, 48, of Whitewater guilty Wednesday in federal court of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. He appeared in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey. The jury took only 20 minutes of deliberation before finding Brown guilty. On Aug. 21, 2002, officers acted on a tip that Brown had methamphetamine at his home, and after receiving consent to search, found about 130 rounds of ammunition on the property. Brown was previously convicted in 1988 of drunken driving and in 1991 of three felony counts of distributing a controlled substance. He now faces at least 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Sentencing was set for May 11.

Women's club to mark Lincoln Day celebration

This year will mark the 35th annual Lincoln Days celebration, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club. Doors open at 6 p.m. March 13 at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau for the event. Senator Kit Bond is the guest speaker for Lincoln Day 2004; Missouri Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway will serve as the county's first Lincoln Day female master of ceremonies. Tickets purchased in advance are discounted and available at the Cash Book Journal in Jackson and Horizon Screen Printing in Cape Girardeau. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the night of the event. For ticket information, contact Susie Dodd at 335-3025. For women's club membership information, contact Janet Ludwig at 243-8366.

-- From staff reports