Region/state briefs 02/07/03

Invest 4 Cape topic of First Friday coffee

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will host the First Friday Coffee at 7:30 a.m. today at the Show Me Center.

The topic is Invest 4 Cape, a program by Mayor Jay Knudtson and city manager Michael Miller. The two will explain four separate tax issues that will appear on the April 8 ballot in the city. Refreshments will be served.

Closed Blanchette Bridge lanes reopened on I-70

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Closed lanes on a Missouri River bridge that connects St. Charles and St. Louis counties were reopened Thursday, two days after cracks were found on the eastbound bridge deck's floor beam.

Crews for the Missouri Department of Transportation worked about 36 hours straight to make repairs and install two temporary support structures on the eastbound lanes of the Blanchette Bridge, MoDOT officials said. The agency had originally feared two of the five lanes of the Interstate 70 bridge would be closed for several weeks. Closing the lanes caused traffic headaches for rush-hour drivers.

The cracks were discovered after an inspection Tuesday. Officials said the bridge superstructure has been repeatedly contracting in the cold, then expanding when it warms up, causing steel beams to crack. MoDOT is checking other bridges for similar weather damage.

Army reserves from Independence mobilized

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Seven members of an Independence-based U.S. Army Reserve medical unit have been ordered to active duty, the Army announced Thursday.

The Army said it could not release details of when the 1932nd Medical Team will be leaving but a deployment ceremony will be held Sunday. Independence has declared Feb. 10 as 1932nd Medical Team Day.

The 1932nd is part of the 89th Regional Support Command, which controls nearly 150 units and 12,000 reserves in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

Two people plead guilty in robbery, beating at ranch

TROY, Mo. -- Two people accused in the assault and robbery of a horse farm owner and his housemate have pleaded guilty, Lincoln County prosecutor John Richards said Thursday.

William Smith, 17, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty Thursday to assault, robbery, burglary, property damage, tampering and arson. He will be sentenced April 8. Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year sentence.

Carol King, 33, of Clarksville, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Smith, King and King's estranged husband, Tracy Lee King, were accused in the April attack of Bill Thompson, 61, and Kenneth Wilson, 46. It happened at Thompson's horse farm near Elsberry. Both men were seriously injured.

Tracy Lee King, 23, a one-time ranch hand, pleaded guilty to assault and robbery in December and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

-- From staff, wire reports