Region/state digest 10/26/05

Parking restricted for homecoming parade

Parking in certain areas of Cape Girardeau will be restricted due to the Southeast Missouri State Homecoming Parade scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Beginning at 2 a.m. on Saturday, parking will be prohibited on both sides of Broadway from West End Boulevard to Main Street, Main Street from Park Drive to William Street, West End Boulevard from Broadway to Parkview Drive, the east side of Perry Avenue from Broadway to Parkview Drive, both sides of Houck Stadium and both sides of Houck Place. Parking will be restored on the city streets immediately after the parade. Cape Girardeau police officers will be on duty, placing signs and other traffic control devices.

Two Cape Girardeau police officers promoted

Two promotions in the Cape Girardeau Police Department will become effective on Saturday. Capt. Randy Roddy will become assistant chief of police. He has served as captain of the Support Services Bureau for the last seven years and has been with the department since 1978. Lt. Roger Fields will be promoted to captain. He has served at patrol division commander for the last five years and has been with the department since 1988.

Fire at recycling center deemed suspicious

Investigators ruled out manufacturing and electrical causes for a fire that consumed hundreds of tons of compressed cardboard at a recycling center, fire officials said Tuesday. They determined that the fire was of a suspicious origin and are investigating reports that children were seen playing in the area around the time the fire was reported. Cape Girardeau and Scott City firefighters responded to Heartland Industries, 1310 Southern Expressway, shortly after 6:15 p.m. Monday. They broke apart stacks and spread them across the property in order to extinguish the fire. Crews continued to put out hot spots until about 8 p.m. Tuesday, fire officials said.

-- From staff reports