Region briefs 3/24/06

Cape police participate in Operation Safe Teen

Cape Girardeau teenagers were kept on their toes earlier this month while driving around town as police officers had an extra keen eye on seat belt violations. Between Feb. 27 and March 17, the Cape Girardeau Police Department participated in the statewide Operation Safe Teen, an enforcement and educational program aimed at reducing injuries of young drivers. In the three-week period, officers pulled over 158 vehicles, issuing 21 tickets for safety belt violations and 23 tickets for other violations, including no proof of insurance or vehicle registration, a department news release stated. Almost every day of the operation, a police officer was stationed near the school ensuring students were buckled, according to Sgt. Jack Wimp. As part of the operation, a check point was set up near the high school March 6, stopping around 100 vehicles, Wimp said. From that checkpoint, police handed out between six and eight citations for various violations. Wimp said that over the years, seat belt usage has increased, which is the goal of the operation. "That's what we're trying to do: Get the youth to wear their seat belts," Wimp said. "It may save their life."

MoDOT to do bridge work at center junction

Missouri Department of Transportation crews will do routine bridge maintenance work on Interstate 55 at Center Junction in Cape Girardeau County for the remainder of this work week and much of next, highway officials said. Southeast traffic will be reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, MoDOT officials said.

Old Illinois 3 to be closed for three weeks

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports it will close Old Illinois 3 beginning on March 31. Crews will be working on the structure that carries Old Illinois 3 over Miller Creek. The closure will last for approximately three weeks. Motorists should seek alternate routes around the site while the work is underway.

-- From wire reports