Region digest 02/10/06

25-year-old shot, killed in Sikeston on Thursday

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police are investigating a fatal shooting. Larrell C. Taylor, 25, of Sikeston died Thursday from a gunshot in the 400 block of Dorothy Street in Sikeston. Police received the call after 8 p.m. At press time, no suspects were in custody.

Girl struck by pickup on Sprigg Street

A 6-year-old girl was struck by a pickup truck while crossing South Sprigg Street near Locust Street on Thursday. Charges of second-degree assault, endangering the welfare of child and driving a vehicle without proper proof of insurance are pending against a 45-year-old woman, said Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Kevin Orr. The incident occurred at 5:25 p.m. The child was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center. Orr said the girl had a head injury that wasn't life-threatening.

Woman accused of punching police officer

A woman accused of trying to stop police from conducting a vehicle search and of punching an officer was arrested. During a routine traffic stop at Henderson Avenue and Merriwether Street around 9 p.m. Wednesday, officers requested and were granted a vehicle search, said Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer. A woman who had been a passenger began flailing her arms, causing a scene, and attempted to stop the search, Selzer said. The woman, who police said appeared to be under the influence of prescription medication, was arrested and while at the police station attempted to kick an officer in the groin and punched him in the arm. In the vehicle, police found an open prescription bottle that did not belong to the woman, according to Selzer. Charges against the woman were pending, he said.

Scott City man faces molestation charges

An indictment announced Thursday charged a 42-year-old Scott City man with three counts of statutory sodomy. Kevin G. Mason is accused of sodomizing and molesting a boy, and molesting a girl between Jan. 1, 2002, and May 28, 2002, the indictment stated. The alleged incidents occurred in Scott County, and both children were younger than 5 years old at the time. During a brief court appearance, Mason requested through his attorney a change of judge, according to Scott County prosecutor Paul Boyd. Mason is currently serving time in prison for a conviction of felony nonsupport. He was issued a $150,000 bond for the new charges. If convicted, Mason could face a sentence between five years and life imprisonment.

Trial date set in rape and incest case

A trial date was set Thursday for a 19-year-old man charged with rape, child molestation and incest. Scott County Circuit Judge David Dolan scheduled James Andrew Edger, of Scott City, for a bench trial May 5. Edger, who appeared in court Thursday, was arrested Sept. 30 while fleeing from a trailer park home he shared with his mother.

St. Louis woman accused of poisoning children

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis woman was charged Thursday with using her blood pressure medicine to kill her 4-year-old son and sicken her 5-year-old daughter. Both children became ill in 2004. Judy Pickens, now 35, was arrested Wednesday. She was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.

Endangered snail helps cash-strapped school

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- An endangered Ozark cave snail saved a cash-strapped rural school from near-bankruptcy, allowing the public school to raise funds for repairs that otherwise would have wiped out its entire budget reserve, school and state officials said Thursday. Mark Twain School near the small town of Protem in Taney County was facing a $90,000 bill to replace an antiquated sewer system that was condemned in October 2004 for leaking. State conservation officials realized drainage from the school fed into a nearby cavern that is the only habitat of the Tumbling Creek cavesnail, a federally endangered species. Department of Conservation staff members secured a $20,000 federal grant to replace the sewage system. That helped mobilize other donations totaling $89,000.

Two charged following Cape drug search

Two people were charged Thursday following a search of their Cape Girardeau home that turned up cocaine and marijuana. Police executed a search warrant around 9 a.m. for 1021 S. Ellis St., according to Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer. Lisa M. Picou, 23, and Brian S. Meredith, 22, both of the South Ellis Street address, were charged with felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine, felony possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Selzer did not know the amount of drugs recovered. A $30,000 bond was set for Picou. Meredith, who has a prior conviction for felony possession of a controlled substance, was issued a $50,000 bond.

-- From staff, wire reports