Regional briefs 12/23/15

Couple accused of storage-unit thefts

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Two people are facing charges on suspicion of burglarizing storage units. Dennis Hedrick, 37, and Crystal Ramirez, 36, of Portageville were arrested Saturday on eight counts of burglary, felony stealing, possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Portageville police chief Ronnie Adams said police officers were called to the Splish Splash Car Wash 3, 508 Highway 61, at 3:50 p.m. Saturday to investigate the burglary of eight storage units. Officers obtained video surveillance, and Adams reported it showed a man and woman driving a white van and breaking in to the units. At 8:57 p.m., officers located the man, identified as Hedrick, and the vehicle at Casey's General Store. He was taken to the Portageville Police Department for questioning. Deputies from the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department found Ramirez at a residence off County Road 346, and she was brought in for questioning. Both consented to a search of their home, where officers recovered items stolen from the units, Adams said in a news release. "Officers also located approximately 0.2 grams of methamphetamine and two glass pipes," the release stated.

Courthouse cupola to be restored

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission gave the go-ahead at its regular meeting Monday to advertise for bids on restoring the cupola of the historic courthouse in Bloomfield. The county received a $70,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' State Historic Preservation Office, which requires the county to contribute $30,000 for the renovation. Architect Dale Rogers presented a time line for work on the cupola that showed a bid opening date of Jan. 25. Work will begin Feb. 8, with completion of the project slated for May 31. The paperwork to close the grant process is to be finalized by June 30.

Poplar Bluff likely to tap reserve fund

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The city of Poplar Bluff will cover about 3 percent of its expenses in the next year from its cash reserve fund, according to a $13 million budget approved Monday by city council members. The budget includes a 2 percent raise for employees, while decisions on a possible transfer of $3 million to Municipal Utilities will wait until January. A recommendation on the transfer cannot be made until the 2015 fiscal year closes, when the city knows exactly how its cash reserves stand, said city manager Mark Massingham. About $424,800 will be used from cash reserve to cover salary and other expenses in fiscal year 2016, Massingham said. There was no public discussion by council members about benefits. Employees deserve a raise, and the city manager found a way to allow it, said Mayor Betty Absheer. "It's going to take us a while to overcome the deficit, but we're going to keep working together to get the job done," she said. About $200,000 was saved by eliminating three vacant full-time positions, plus cuts in employee dental and optical benefits. A 4 percent increase in sales tax has been budgeted in the next fiscal year. Sales tax makes up 41 percent of an estimated $12.6 million in revenue, Massingham said. The 2 percent raise does not include firefighters covered under a union contract negotiated earlier this year.

Infant likely choked to death on formula

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An autopsy was being performed Tuesday morning on a Poplar Bluff infant who authorities think died after choking on formula in his crib. Terrance R. Rodgers III, 3 1/2 months, was pronounced dead at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center on Monday afternoon, said Butler County Coroner Jim Akers. Butler County deputies responded at 12:35 p.m. to a report of a child choking at a home in the 2600 block of Hickman Drive. When a deputy arrived, the infant's father, Terrance Rodgers II, was frantic and said he didn't know what to do, and his son wasn't breathing, according to a police report. A deputy found the baby laying in a crib, and his skin was still warm. "I then checked the infant for a pulse and could not locate one," the deputy wrote in his report. "I then observed what appeared to be milk in the mouth of the infant." The deputy turned over the baby and struck him lightly on the back to see whether anything was lodged in his throat, but didn't get a response. The officer began chest compressions until emergency-services personnel arrived. The father told police he gave the baby a bottle at 9 a.m., intending to take a nap, then feed him again in three hours. When the father awoke, he checked and realized the child wasn't breathing, Huddleston reported.

-- From staff reports