Region digest 09/08/04

Astronaut Godwin will speak at Southeast

Astronaut Linda Godwin, a veteran of four NASA spaceflights, will speak at her alma mater, Southeast Missouri State University, on Sept. 21. Godwin, who grew up in the Oak Ridge area, will speak at the 2004 fall NASA Educator Resource Center Network Conference at 10:45 a.m. in the University Center Program Lounge. Godwin will discuss her past NASA missions and the future of spaceflight. Her visit is part of a two-day conference that runs through Sept. 22. Officials with NASA Educator Resource centers from a six-state region will attend the conference. Southeast is home to one of those educator resource centers. The Cape Girardeau center is at 222 N. Pacific St.

Cape woman's death not homicide, Tenn. police say

JOHNSONCITY, Tenn. -- Two months after her body was found in the basement of a Johnson City residence, the autopsy on 19-year-old Ashli Ayers of Cape Girardeau has yet to be completed. However, officials with the Johnson City Police Department said that homicide has been ruled out. On July 18, Ayers' body was discovered by two men who had moved into the vacant residence just three days earlier. The body had no stab or bullet wounds and was identified by fingerprints. Authorities said Ayers had come to Johnson City around July 11, two months after leaving Cape Girardeau with a group of friends. Before Johnson City, Ayers was reported to have spent time in Weber City, Va., Gate City Va., and Kingsfork, Tenn.

Area Red Cross to send people, supplies to Fla.

The Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross is getting ready to send more people and supplies to Florida to aid victims of the recent hurricanes. According to director of emergency services Ron MacCubbin, the local Red Cross has already sent an emergency response vehicle to help those who fell prey to Hurricane Frances over the weekend. That crew joins two Southeast Missourian mental health workers who will remain in the area after being sent to take care of the victims of Hurricane Charley almost three weeks ago. MacCubbin said that he is waiting for the word from Red Cross national headquarters as to what exactly is needed before sending more people and supplies. He said that report should come in the next day or two.

Woman injured after falling asleep at wheel

A Cape Girardeau woman was injured slightly at 12:24 a.m. Monday when she fell asleep at the wheel. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Beverly Ruff, 56, was northbound on Interstate 55 in Scott County at mile marker 79 when the accident occurred. Her 2001 Ford Ranger pickup crossed the southbound lanes and struck a ditch. She was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

-- From staff reports