Region digest 02/11/04

Kennett home explosion injures five firefighters

KENNETT, Mo. -- Five firefighters were injured when an oxygen cylinder exploded after a fire Tuesday morning. According to Capt. Scott Tutor, three were sent to Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, where they were treated and released. Two others suffered minor injuries but remained on the scene. Tutor said the department was alerted at 5:05 a.m. After the fire was brought under control, a team went inside the house for a routine check of hot spots. Moments later, the cylinder used by one of the residents of the home exploded, blowing debris 125 feet and rekindling the fire. The cause of the original fire is still under investigation. Both residents of the home escaped without injury.

State education official announces candidacy

KENNETT, Mo. -- Patt Sharp of Kennett announced she will be a Democratic candidate for the state Senate's 25th District, which covers Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne counties. Filing for the position does not open until Feb. 24. Sharp is the 8th Congressional District member of the Missouri State Board of Education and formerly was a teacher in Kennett schools. Incumbent Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, has announced that he will not seek re-election.

Bond set for woman in Pemiscot Co. slaying

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A judge set a $250,000 bond for a Bragg City, Mo., woman charged with killing her husband over the weekend. Stephanie Renee Abbott, 29, has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of her husband, Gregory Allen Abbott, 31. Judge Byron Luber set a preliminary hearing date for 10 a.m. March 3. Sheriff Tommy Greenwell said his office received a 911 call from the Abbott residence at 2:03 p.m. Saturday. Initially, investigators said, Abbott's wife said she had shot her husband by accident with a shotgun.

Committee vote ends one Amtrak train route

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The House Budget Committee has narrowly rejected a funding request sought by Amtrak to continue its twice-daily, cross-state passenger service for the next several months. Unless lawmakers later reverse course, the committee's vote Tuesday would leave Missouri with only one train running between St. Louis and Kansas City, meaning passengers could no longer make a round trip in one day. Although state transportation officials have said they have enough funding to last only until the end of this month, an Amtrak spokesman said Tuesday that there is no specific date for one of the two trains to halt.

Patton man struck, killed on Interstate 55

HAYTI, Mo. -- An unknown vehicle struck and killed an electric company worker Tuesday morning while the man stood on Interstate 55, about 2 miles south of Hayti, Mo., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Richard Wallace, 47, of Patton, Mo., was pronounced dead at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital shortly after 10 a.m. Patrol officials were unable to provide the name of the utility company.

Democrat committee, Nixon pay fines to FEC

ST. LOUIS -- Attorney General Jay Nixon's campaign and the Democratic State Committee have paid fines to the Federal Election Commission for violations stemming from Nixon's 1998 U.S. Senate race. According to FEC records, the Democratic Party paid a $16,000 fine, plus an additional $9,500 on behalf of Nixon. The FEC found the state Democratic committee spent $28,700 more on Nixon's campaign than federal law allowed and did not send $19,285 in donations that were "earmarked" for Nixon. Nixon's campaign was cited for receiving about $7,750 in contributions in excess of individual limits.

-- From staff, wire reports