Region digest 11/10/04

Ex-teacher gets prison on child porn charge

A former band teacher at both Cameron, Mo., and Senath-Hornersville high schools was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., for attempting to receive child pornography over the Internet. Omer Dale Creech, 38, of Cape Girardeau was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole. The court ordered Creech to forfeit to the government a Compaq computer that was used to commit the violation. Don Ledford, public affairs officer for the Western District U.S. District Court, said that Creech moved to Cape Girardeau, where he has relatives, after leaving Cameron following his arrest. On June 28, Creech pleaded guilty to charges contained in a Feb. 26 federal indictment. He admitted that he operated the Kazaa file-sharing program on his computer between Dec. 8, 2002, and March 25, 2003.

Two English awards go to Jackson High School

The Jackson School Board learned Tuesday of two awards the school district's English department recently won. Senior Rachel Lowes won the National Council of English Teachers Achievement in Writing Award. Chris Warren, chairman of Jackson's English department, said Lowes won the award by submitting two writing samples and by writing, in an hour, on a subject of the national council's choosing. Warren said Jackson students began winning in 1986, when the school first entered, and won again in 1987 and 1992. After a hiatus when no one entered, the English department picked up again in 2002 and has won every year since then, with two students winning in 2002 and 2003. Warren received an award from the Southeast Missouri Council of English Teachers for her achievement. Principal Richard McClard said, "the kids are so fortunate to have a teacher like Chris."

Release of 'Heroes' book delayed until December

The release of the book "Heartland Heroes: A Tribute to the Veterans of World War I and II," which was scheduled to come out in November, has been delayed. This is due to the increase of pages in the book from 280 to 304 and because of the addition of an index of all names mentioned in the book. The release date is expected to be in early December. Watch the Southeast Missourian for the exact date. Books will be available for pickup at the newspaper offices in Jackson and Cape Girardeau, at the Banner Press in Marble Hill and at the Scott County Signal in Chaffee.

State troopers focusing on 'move over' law

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A state law that went into effect two years ago still hasn't caught on with many motorists. So through Sunday, Missouri State Highway Patrol officers in Southeast Missouri are stepping up enforcement of the law that requires motorists to slow down and, if possible, move over when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle that is flashing its lights. Officers are looking for all traffic violations that apply and will provide a pamphlet with additional information concerning the "slow down, move over" statute. "Our biggest danger, probably more than getting shot, is being run over by motorists," said spokesman Sgt. Larry Plunkett Jr. He said his pants leg has been brushed by vehicles on several occasions. Last June, Sgt. Brad Lively was struck and seriously injured while working traffic on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County. It's just been within the last few weeks Lively has just been able to stand up, Plunkett said.

-- From staff reports