Region/state digest 06/10/05

Damaged lines cause Scott City power outage

Most of Scott City was without electricity Wednesday evening and Thursday morning after lightning damaged some equipment near Warner Avenue. Jean Mason, division manager for AmerenUE, said about 3,000 customers in Scott City were without power from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday. She said between 12 and 16 spans, or lengths of wire from one pole to the next, were damaged during Wednesday night's storm. "There was a lot of wire on the ground," Mason said. "They had to completely change out wire and transformers, and other equipment had to be put in brand new."

Dexter native promoted to lieutenant general

DEXTER, Mo. -- Clyde Vaughn Jr., son of Clyde Sr. and Lois Vaughn of Dexter, was recently approved for promotion from major general to lieutenant general. The younger Vaughn, who works at the Pentagon as the assistant on National Guard matters to Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is a graduate of Dexter High School and received a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Vaughn has had a 35-year career in the Army National Guard. His father, who served in World War II, said he never expected his son to go so far in rank. "When you get up in the general rank, that's more than I know about," his father said. "That's a whole other stratosphere." Vaughn received confirmation on his promotion late last month. He also was approved for the office of director of the Army National Guard.

St. Louis reports first heat death of the year

ST. LOUIS -- An 83-year old woman has suffered the first heat-related death this year in the St. Louis area, according to the city medical examiner's office. Lillie Robinson lived alone, and a neighbor discovered her body Monday, authorities said. They said the temperature in her home was at least 90 degrees, and her body temperature was 110. She had central air conditioning, but it was not in use.

Tobacco users can call new toll-free number

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri smokers wanting to kick the habit now can call a toll-free number for some government-sponsored help. The (800) QUIT-NOW program is similar to phone counseling services already offered to tobacco users in some other states. The phone will be answered from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. All callers will be offered materials to help them -- or an acquaintance -- quit using tobacco. More in-depth counseling sessions also are available to discuss methods of quitting. Callers can participate in a series of three phone calls with the same specialist during a three-to-four month period.

Bullfrog made official state amphibian

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- It was a small step in state law, a giant leap forward for the North American bullfrog. Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Thursday declaring the North American bullfrog "the official amphibian of the state of Missouri." He did so with a bullfrog lounging in a nearby water tank in a classroom at Chinn Elementary School in Kansas City. The idea for the bullfrog designation came from a fourth-grade class at the school, which lobbied lawmakers by making googley-eyed frogs from green pipe cleaners.

Cape woman injured in motorcycle collision

A 50-year-old Cape Girardeau woman received serious injuries in a three-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Constance Thompson was airlifted to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau when her motorcycle struck head-on a vehicle driven by 55-year-old Thomas Miller of Scott City on Route PP in Scott County. The accident happened when Miller's automobile made a wide right turn on a blind curve and drove into the path of two oncoming motorcycles driven by Thompson and David Thompson, 50, of Cape Girardeau. David Thompson struck Miller's vehicle and slid off the roadway. The patrol issued Miller a summons for failure to drive on the right half of the roadway.

Man cited for DWI after one-vehicle crash

A Jackson man was issued a summons after a one-vehicle accident Wednesday night on Highway 177, eight miles north of Cape Girardeau, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Darrell McIntyre, 25, was cited for driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after the vehicle he was driving ran off the road, overturned and struck a tree. McIntyre received minor injuries and sought his own treatment.

-- From staff, wire reports