Region briefs 3/30/06

Poplar Bluff man pleads guilty in federal court

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man pleaded guilty this week in federal court to unlawful possession of firearms. Terrance L. Fields, 44, entered his plea Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel, according to a news release from the office of federal prosecutor Catherine L. Hanaway. On July 19, Poplar Bluff police officers responded to a call of a conflict between Fields and another person. When officers arrived at Fields' home, the defendant allowed them to search the residence, the release stated. During the search, police found a .25-caliber pistol, a .22-caliber rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun with an illegal barrel length. Fields admitted the weapons were his, the release stated. Because the defendant has prior felony convictions, he is not allowed to possess firearms. Sentencing was scheduled for June 26, and Fields could receive up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Mother, son sentenced for meth production

A mother and son were sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for producing methamphetamine. Michael Thrower, 25, and his mother Darlene N. Smith, 46, both of Dexter, Mo., had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel handed down a 140-month prison sentence for Thrower and a 100-month prison sentence for Smith, according to a news release from the federal prosecutor's office. Both defendants admitted that on Aug. 6, Smith would pick up pseudoephedrine pills from an undercover officer. Thrower would then use the pills to manufacture meth that would be returned to the officer, the release stated.

Caruthersville man guilty on drug charges

U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel handed down a 97-month prison sentence for a Caruthersville, Mo., man guilty of felony drug charges. Michael K. Rushton, 26, received the sentence Wednesday for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and maintaining a place for the manufacture of methamphetamine. The Bootheel Drug Task Force searched Rushton's home on June 6 and found various chemicals and other items to make meth, according to a news release from the office of federal prosecutor Catherine L. Hanaway. Rushton had been supplying his home for a co-defendant, Jessie McClemore, to make the drug, the release stated.

'Help is Here Express' to visit Cape on Friday

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a national program to help patients access prescription medicines, will be in Cape Girardeau with the "Help is Here Express" on Friday. The "Help is Here Express" will be at the Salvation Army from 10 a.m. to noon. The bus is equipped with computer terminals and telephones so patients can find out if they are eligible for assistance in paying their prescription medicine. For more information, contact Rochelle Dodge with the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Missouri at (888) 248-8824.

University to hold Grauel lecture on Sunday

An English literature professor at a Kansas university will deliver the annual H.O. Grauel Lecture Sunday at Southeast Missouri State University. Dr. Casie Hermansson, an associate professor at Pittsburg State University, will speak at 2 p.m. in Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium. Admission is free. Her lecture will focus on the "Bluebeard" fairy tale. She currently is writing a book about the Bluebeard tale and its numerous recastings over the past 300 years.

-- From staff reports