Region briefs 9/21/06

Cape woman arrested after quarrel and fire

A lover's quarrel Wednesday morning resulted in a small fire and the arrest of a 24-year-old woman, Cape Girardeau police said. Officers responded to 1236 Bertling St. around 4 a.m. on a call of a possible fire, according to police spokesman Jason Selzer. When they arrived, officers found a "large pile" of clothes smoldering on the front porch. According to Laura Adams, she and her boyfriend were quarreling when she became angry, threw some of his clothes outside and set them on fire, Selzer said. A police officer used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, which did not spread to the home. Adams, 24, was arrested on a city-issued warrant for an open-burning violation and held in lieu of a $500 cash-only bond. She was also arrested on a $3,000 outstanding Alexander County, Ill., warrant for failure to appear for a driving offense, Selzer said.

Woman pleads innocent to theft from newspaper

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A woman charged with stealing money from a Perryville-based newspaper pleaded innocent this week. Mary Jo Schwent, 49, of Perryville, was charged with six counts of felony burglary and six counts of misdemeanor stealing for the theft of $236 from the cash box of the Perry County Republic-Monitor in August. On Tuesday, she pleaded innocent to the charges. A preliminary hearing before Associate Circuit Judge Michael Bullerdieck is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 10.

Teen charged with felony burglary waives hearing

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A preliminary hearing date was scheduled for a teen charged with selling stolen goods on the Internet. Christopher M. Abell, 18, of Perryville waived formal arraignment Tuesday on charges of felony burglary and misdemeanor stealing. He is accused of breaking into a radio tower shed near Shakertown and stealing two receivers and a transmitter, police said. Abell was arrested when he allegedly attempted to sell the stolen goods on eBay. After Abell entered his innocent plea Tuesday, Associate Circuit Judge Michael Bullerdieck scheduled him to appear at 9 a.m. Oct. 10 for a preliminary hearing.

Woman waives hearing in molestation case

BENTON, Mo. -- A 31-year-old woman accused of molesting a 16-year-old girl waived formal arraignment Wednesday. During an appearance before Judge David Mann, Jennifer Foreman, of Sikeston, Mo., pleaded innocent to two counts of felony statutory sodomy and was scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Nov. 29. She is accused of carrying on a consensual, sexual relationship with the minor between April and June in the girl's Benton home, the Scott County Sheriff's Department said. She was free after securing a $25,000 bond.

Jackson police arrest man on drug, gun charges

Jackson police arrested a man this week on gun and drug charges. Joseph V. Kinder, 24, of 403 Old Cape Road, was charged Wednesday with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested at 242 S. Union St. Tuesday when officers found a .177-caliber pellet pistol on his person, police said. Officers found a Crown Royal bag filled with marijuana nearby and scales. Kinder admitted the drugs were his and that he sold them to pay for gasoline to go to and from work in Perryville, Mo., a probable-cause statement said. Bond was set at $75,000.

Sikeston man charged with assaulting girl

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Rape charges were filed Wednesday against a Sikeston man accused of assaulting a 10-year-old girl. Jason A. Brashear, 33, was charged with three counts of felony statutory rape and nine counts of felony statutory sodomy. Between August 2001 and Sept. 14, 2006, the girl was sexually assaulted numerous times at four locations in Sikeston, a probable-cause affidavit said. Brashear, who had access to the girl, had bond set at $500,000.

MoDOT to stripe William Street at 6 p.m. today

Drivers along William Street on Cape Girardeau's west side will notice clearer lane markings beginning tonight. The Missouri Department of Transportation will begin painting temporary lane stripes for William Street between Interstate 55 and Kingshighway at 6 p.m. today, a release from MoDOT said. Currently, only temporary reflectors mark the lanes. The painted stripes will also be temporary, to be replaced later when more visible taped stripes can be laid down, the release stated. Motorists were urged to use caution in the area tonight while the work was being done.

Cape Democrats to hold 'Picnic in the Park'

Cape Girardeau area Democrats will hold a "Picnic in the Park" at noon on Sept. 30 in County Park North as part of their "Had Enough?" campaign. The picnic will feature Eighth District Democratic nominee Veronica Hambacker; Mark Hill, candidate for the 158th District Missouri House seat; Boyce Wooley, candidate for the 159th District Missouri House seat; and John Heisserer, candidate for circuit judge. The picnic will also feature appearances by Mark Powell, mayor of Arnold, Mo., and candidate for state treasurer in 2008, as well as Wayne Cryts, a former candidate for Congress. Admission is $10 for adults; children 12 and under will be allowed in free.

Nathan Cooper to visit Poland this weekend

State Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, will join a delegation conducting a training seminar in Warsaw, Poland, for members of the Polish Law and Justice Party. Cooper's trip will be sponsored by the Bellwether Forum, a Houston-based conservative not-for-profit organization. The seminar will last from Friday through Monday. Cooper will make presentations on principles of the American political process. The Polish Law and Justice Party was formed in 2001 and in 2005 won the largest number of seats in the Polish parliament.

City to hold 'Doggy Swim Day' at Capaha pool

The city of Cape Girardeau's Parks and Recreation Department will hold the first "Doggy Swim Day" at Capaha Park swimming pool Sunday. Residents can pay $5 for their dog to swim in the pool from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aquatics coordinator Chad Sierman said the pool will be drained after the event, and will be closed until next summer. The Central Municipal swimming pool has been closed for the past few weeks while crews install the bubble. It will reopen at 5:30 a.m. Monday.

-- From staff reports