Region briefs 4a 5/25

Police offer reward for videotape of shooting

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Investigators have developed information that there may have been a videotape of the May 5 shooting at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Charleston.

A reward is being offered for the videotape of the shooting. If there is a videotape, people are urged to contact Sgt. Don Windham of Missouri State Highway Patrol at (573) 840- 9500 or (573) 472-5200.

Mississippi County to ask for disaster designation

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Mississippi County commissioners will submit a formal request for the state to include the county in the list of Missouri disaster areas.

Water was once again the main topic of the county commission meeting this week as officials discussed the rain, runoff, flooding and water coming into the county through the levee's gap.

100-mile yard sale continues for fourth year

DEXTER, Mo. -- If traffic along Highway 25 seemed more congested than usual Thursday, there was a good reason. It was the first day of the fourth annual 100-Mile Yard Sale along Highway 25 from Jackson, Mo., to Kennett, Mo.

Bargain hunters and treasure seekers were in abundance along the route as were booths, tables, tents and an array of items ranging from food and clothing to antiques and collectibles.

"We've had a tremendous response this year," said Janet Coleman, executive director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce.

Wesley Center planning fund-raising barbecue

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The Bandana Bar-B-Que will be held from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. June 1 at the home of Tom and Tomee Ann Story in Charleston.

The fund raiser is sponsored by the Friends of the Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center.

The Friends, made up of women from East Prairie, Charleston, Sikeston and New Madrid, was formed to raise money for the center.

Potosi prisoner dies of apparent natural causes

POTOSI, Mo. -- A man serving life in prison for armed robbery was pronounced dead Friday morning at the Potosi Correctional Center.

The Missouri Department of Corrections said John Murphy, 59, apparently died of natural causes.

He was pronounced dead at Washington County Memorial Hospital.

An autopsy to determine cause of death was planned. Murphy was serving life in prison for robbery and armed criminal action.

Florida phone company to pay restitution

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Florida phone company is to pay about $100,000 in restitution to consumers for switching their long-distance service without proper authorization, the Missouri attorney general said.

The payment is part of an agreement filed Friday in Cole County Circuit Court with Pipeline Technologies Inc., which does business as Integriss.

The Jacksonville, Fla., company also is to pay $2,000 to the state.

Officials probe report of principal hitting student

ST. LOUIS -- A middle-school principal who was accused of striking a sixth-grade boy will not face criminal charges, police said.

Police said investigators do not think Fanning Middle School principal Frank Muehlheausler assaulted the student.

Officials were notified Wednesday after an altercation between Muehlheausler and the boy.

The student allegedly knocked the glasses off the face of Muehlheausler, who was accused of hitting the boy back.

Police said the boy had a black eye, but it was apparently from another incident. The student was "irate and not manageable" and the principal was tying to restrain him.

-- From wire and Southeast Missouri News Service reports