State briefs 4/30

Cape County man sentenced in meth case

A Cape Girardeau County man was sentenced to two years in prison on felony drug charges Monday.

Patrick W. Scholl, 31, was sentenced in federal court on two counts of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine.

Last May 6, police witnessed Scholl in the process of manufacturing meth in a wooded area of the county. Although he and a co-defendant, Pat Evans II, initially evaded police, Scholl later was arrested and Evans surrendered.

On May 30, investigators searched Scholl's car and seized parts connected with a meth lab.

Evans was tried in state court, pleaded guilty to possession of chemicals, received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on five years probation.

Morehouse woman injured in morning mishap

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Morehouse, Mo., woman sustained moderate injuries Monday morning in a collision just south of Sikeston.

Christina Kindred, 31, was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston after the 6:30 a.m. crash on U.S. 62 at Route BB.

The driver of the other vehicle, Jeremy Huckabee, 25, of Alton, Mo., was not injured.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Huckabee's vehicle pulled into the path of Kindred's vehicle. He was issued a summons for failure to yield the right of way.

PSC warns of higher natural gas rates

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Although it is barely spring, state utility regulators are warning Missourians that next winter's natural gas rates could be on the high side.

The state Public Service Commission said Monday that several factors could cause rates to be higher next winter.

Natural gas rates last spiked in the winter of 2000-2001, when colder-than-usual temperatures combined with lower-than-usual gas supplies. This past winter was warmer and gas supplies were higher.

Fifth case of meningitis confirmed at fort

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- A male soldier at Fort Leonard Wood has contracted bacterial meningitis -- the fifth case of the disease confirmed at the fort in the last five weeks.

The 20-year-old soldier, who was in training, is expected to make a full recovery, fort officials said Monday.

A 12-year-old boy who lived on the fort died of the disease in late March.

The other cases have involved soldiers or sailors, all of whom have or are expected to recover.

The Army has been vaccinating people ages 2 through 29 who work, attend school and live at the post and those who visit it regularly. More than 5,500 people have been given vaccinations in the last two weeks.

The soldier had received the vaccine last Wednesday but it takes 10 to 14 days to take full effect, Deaton said.

Relative finds Fulton woman dead in home

FULTON, Mo. -- The death of a rural Fulton woman whose body was found Sunday is being investigated as a homicide, the Callaway County sheriff said.

A relative found the body of Debra Dickens, 43, after she went to the rural mobile home where Dickens lived because she could not reach her, Sheriff Dennis Crane said.

He says investigators are trying to determine where Dickens had been between Saturday night and the time her body was found.

An autopsy has been ordered.

In March, Dickens filed for divorce from her husband, Harold Dickens, who also lives in Callaway County. -- From staff and wire reports