Region digest 8/28/03

Area legislators honored by St. Louis Business Journal

Three Southeast Missouri state legislators have been honored by the St. Louis Business Journal for their efforts in the past legislative session to push ahead issues important to the St. Louis region.

State Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau and State Reps. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau and Rod Jetton of Marble Hill were among the 15 legislators honored by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Kinder was also honored last year by the Journal.

Residents cook up way to pay for signs

BENTON, Mo. -- Having received the go-ahead from Scott County commissioners in July to lower speed limits in their subdivision, the Mini Farms Homeowners Association has cooked up a way to pay for the signs they need.

Donna Morris, secretary of the association, and Terry Eakins, treasurer, showed county officials copies of "Recipes from your Neighbor's Kitchen" cookbooks put together by the Mini Farms community.

The book costs $10 with proceeds going to the association, which will pay for the new speed limit signs.

Eakins and Morris also advised commissioners they are gathering signatures on a petition and letters of support from local officials and legislators to lower the speed limit on Highway HH near Mini Farms subdivision from 55 to 45 mph.

Boil water order issued for Marble Hill residents

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Marble Hill, Mo., residents are under a boil water order on the Lutes-ville side of town until further notice, said collector Carla Watt.

The city is replacing lines to the water tower. Such boil orders usually last only about three or four days, she said.

-- From staff, wire reports

Scott County setting up video arraignment

BENTON, Mo. -- Jim Schwaninger, county economic developer, is checking with judicial officials to schedule a meeting for the county's video arraignment system.

Schwaninger said the meeting is needed to establish procedures and protocols for the system. Officials will also designate who will operate and be responsible for the equipment and determine where monitors and cameras will be located in the three courtrooms and at the jail.

Most of the equipment prices researched so far seem to be in line with what they expected, Schwaninger said, but they will look for alternatives to $1,000 carts such as using wall mounts.

"We can use the money saved on the carts for VCRs," Schwaninger suggested.

State statutes require that if video arraignment is used, the arraignments must be taped, Schwaninger said.

Each site must have a split screen so the judge can see himself and the defendant, and the defendant can see himself and the judge on the monitor. Also there must be a phone for private communications between the defendant and the defense counsel.

Schwaninger said the equipment will benefit the county by enabling officials to use video conferencing.