Region digest 11/20/02

Dexter aldermen appoint new chief of police

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Board of Aldermen has appointed a replacement for the police chief under indictment who resigned.

Paul Haubold, who has been serving as the city's acting police chief since earlier this year, was officially appointed to the position Monday night.

Police chief Ken Rinehart resigned effective Nov. 12 to work at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for the Transportation Security Administration. He was put on administrative leave while TSA officials investigate whether he falsified a TSA form during the application process. Rinehart was indicted in January on charges that he hindered prosecution of sex crimes committed by a police officer in his department.

Mayor Joe Weber accepted a committee recommendation of Haubold and asked the board of aldermen for its approval. The board confirmed the appointment 5-1.

Work on Main Street in Cape starts today

Construction work will begin on the realignment of North Main Street in Cape Girardeau today.

Traffic North Main Street from Park to Pearl streets will be limited to local residents only until the project is finished, with an estimated completion date in early March.

Fronabarger Concreters is the contractor, and the project cost is $62,623, which will come out of motor fuel tax funds.For more information, call the City Engineering Division at 334-9020.

-- From staff, wire reports