Region briefs 5/7/08

Two arrested for allegedly selling drugs to police

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Two people were arrested Monday in Perry County after allegedly selling a quarter-pound of marijuana to undercover operatives, according to a news release from the Perry County Sheriff's Department. Brian K. Mims, 47, of Potosi, Mo., and Miriam K. Mendoza, 31, of St. Louis, were arrested in the sting operation, a cooperative effort between the SEMO Drug Task Force, the sheriff's department and the Perryville Police Department. Mims is charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance. Mendoza is charged with felony distribution and three counts of felony possession of a controlled substance. In addition to the marijuana sale, police said Mendoza was in possession of three prescription medications without a prescription for any of them, which was the basis for the additional charges against her.

Sikeston school bus vandalism delays routes

SIKESTON, Mo. — Vandalism to Sikeston school buses over the weekend forced the district to delay and rearrange bus routes Monday, reported the Standard Democrat. Sikeston superintendent Steve Borgsmiller said whoever disabled the buses at the school's transportation department did so by pulling valve stems out of 12 tires, leaving eight buses able to run. A fire extinguisher was sprayed in one bus, he said. School officials discovered the vandalism just before 6 a.m. Monday. The district had enough undamaged buses that it didn't really affect the school day, Borgsmiller said.

Man faces charges after Sunday crash near Dexter

DEXTER, Mo. — A 47-year-old Licking, Mo., man faces several charges following a one-vehicle wreck Sunday on U.S. 60, about five miles east of Dexter, the Daily Statesman reported. Terry D. Longrie was driving a 2000 Chevrolet van eastbound shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday when he lost control of the vehicle and overturned, coming to rest in the median. He had been traveling at a high speed, the patrol report states, before skidding off the left side of the highway. Longrie was transported by ambulance for treatment of minor injuries. He was then arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving and driving a motor vehicle while his driver's license was revoked. He was transported to Stoddard County jail, where he posted $1,280 bond and was released.

Cape schools settles suit over student suspension

The Cape Girardeau School District has settled out of court a case involving a suspended senior fighting to be reinstated. Ryan Driskell, 18, was suspended for the remainder of the school year after police said they found marijuana remnants in his car Jan. 11. No criminal charges were filed. His mother, Jennifer Eudy, sued the district to get her son back in school, saying proper procedure was not followed during an appeal hearing. On March 19, a judge ordered that Driskell be allowed back to Central High School until the trial. A trial was scheduled for April 8 but was canceled. A case review was scheduled for May 5. Diane Howard, the district's attorney, said "the matter has been resolved." Eudy said her son was allowed to attend prom and will be graduating this month. The district paid her attorney fees, she said.

Reception to be held for retiring teachers

A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in room 226 of Scully Hall for three teachers retiring from the Center for Child Studies at Southeast Missouri State University. Debbie Landgraf, Linda Gosche and Kathy Brown will be honored. Families or students can send stories, photos or artifacts for the event to: Center for Child Studies, Southeast Missouri State University, One University Plaza MS 5750, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701, or e-mail pmroberts@semo.edu.

— From staff reports