Shut-Ins to close Monday for redevelopment

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park will close to the public starting Monday for a mass redevelopment, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced Friday. The park was heavily damaged in December when the Taum Sauk Reservoir breach flooded the park with 1.3 billion gallons of water. Work on the park's long-term redevelopment will begin with the Monday closing. The DNR anticipates the park will be fully operational in 2008. AmerenUE is responsible for the redevelopment of the park. For more information, call the park at (573) 546-2450 or the DNR at (800) 334-6946.

Two men charged in Scott County burglary

BENTON, Mo. -- Two New Madrid County residents were charged with felony stealing and burglary in Scott County on Friday following an investigation of a Sept. 22 break-in at the General Watkins Conservation Area near Morley, Mo. Joseph T. Johnson, 33, and Donald E. Taul, 37, both of Canalou, Mo., are accused of breaking in a storage shed at the conservation area and stealing $10,000 worth of equipment, including a Polaris ATV, a flatbed trailer, an air compressor, a generator, chain saws, string trimmers, various power tools and a tree stand. The items have since been recovered and returned. Johnson is in custody in New Madrid County, while Taul is still at large. Bond for Johnson has been set at $25,000. Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said the investigation is not related to another investigation into the theft of another ATV from Beggs Family Farm near Blodgett, Mo. The stolen ATV in that case has been recovered. Walter said ATV thefts are coming this time of year with the approach of deer season.

Benefit dinner for youth diabetes foundation

A dinner to benefit Southeast Hospital's youth diabetes foundation will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Don Heuer farm, County Road 621 and Route Y intersection in Jackson. Call 334-5536 for more information.

-- From staff reports