Region digest 03/13/03

Apartment fire started in second-floor bedroom

Cape Girardeau fire officials say they have not yet determined what caused the fire that destroyed the two-story apartment building at 225 Spanish St. Thursday. According to battalion chief Steve Niswonger, the fire department has determined that the fire started in a second-floor bedroom. Samples have been taken for lab testing, he said. Nine people were living in four apartments at the building. Those who did not have family or friends to go to were referred to the Red Cross for temporary lodging.

Cape lawyer to appear on C-Span 2 Sunday

Cape Girardeau lawyer David Limbaugh will appear on the program "Focus on Family" with Dr. James Dobson at 7:30 a.m. Sunday on C-Span 2. Limbaugh said he expects to discuss his current book, "Persecution," during the program. C-Span 2 is broadcast on Channel 29 through Charter Communications.

Man kills himself at Cape tanning salon

A Cape Girardeau man reportedly shot himself in the head with a .357-caliber handgun at a tanning salon Friday afternoon. Shane Halter, 26, was pronounced dead at 3:16 p.m. at a local hospital. Cape Girardeau County Coroner Mike Hurst said family members told him that Halter had been depressed over a broken relationship for a couple of months. Halter reportedly entered Planet Tan at 2021 Themis to confront his former girlfriend before shooting himself there. Halter reportedly was in a waiting area in the business when the incident took place in view of patrons. Hurst said he did not know how many customers were present to witness the incident.

Cape woman reports attack and rape

A 58-year-old Cape Girardeau woman reported to police early Friday that she had been attacked and raped. Police were notified of the incident at 1:50 a.m. The woman said she had been walking in the southeast section of town when she was approached by a man who struck her, causing her to fall to the ground. Sgt. Rick Schmidt of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said the woman could not identify or describe her assailant. "The victim stated she was struck several times and became unconscious," Schmidt said. The woman sustained injuries to her face and ankles. When she regained consciousness, she also discovered that some of her property was missing.

-- From staff reports