Region briefs 3/23/04

Small bomb explodes in mailbox, no injuries

CAMDENTON, Mo. -- A small bomb exploded in a mail drop box Monday morning, but there were no injuries and only minor damage to the mail, the Camden County Sheriff's Department said. When sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene, the bomb "had already done what it was going to do," said Gary Bowling, operations captain for the department. Sheriff's deputies were still investigating Monday evening, and Bowling refused to say whether there were any suspects or what their potential motive could be. While the bomb was small, it could have destroyed the mailbox, he said.

Boil water order lifted for East Prairie residents

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- John Garner, public works director in East Prairie, announced Monday morning that the boil water order for East Prairie has been lifted. The boil water order, which had been in effect since Thursday, occurred after the city's water system was shut down in order to lay a new water line from North Lincoln, at Willow Street next to Ferguson Medical, across Highway 105 and around North Lincoln to Pearl Street.

-- From staff, wire reports