State digest 2/12

390 cited, but Mardi Gras gets high marks

ST. LOUIS -- Police issued 390 citations, but overall, the St. Louis version of Mardi Gras received high marks from organizers and police.

Sunny and unusually warm weather with temperatures around 60 degrees drew large crowds Saturday to the parade and other festivities in the city's Soulard neighborhood. The city's Mardi Gras is considered one of the largest outside of New Orleans.

Despite numerous citations for violations such as underage drinking, public urination and the occasional fight, police reported no serious criminal offenses.

Last year, fewer than 300 summonses were issued on the day of the Grand Parade and Fat Tuesday. Police said the increase in citations this year could be attributed to a bigger crowd and better coordination among the police, state liquor control agents and the city excise commissioner's office.

Former shoe factory fire losses put at $4 million

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- Losses from a fire that destroyed the former Bluff City Shoe factory in this northeast Missouri town could reach as high as $4 million, the state fire marshal's office said.

Preliminary reports from state fire officials and the Hannibal Fire Department indicate that the fire Thursday may have been caused by faulty electrical wiring near the south side of the building.

The three-story brick building, nearly a century old, was used as a storage facility for the Display Center, a display advertising and sign company owned by Bob and Margie Rasmussen of Hannibal. Dryden said items stored in the 80,000-square-foot building, such as 40,000-plus pounds of plastic, cardboard and other supplies, helped feed the fire, adding to the damage estimates.

The fire was one of the largest in Hannibal in several years. The block-long brick and stone structure was built in 1904 when shoe factories were beginning their reign as the city's largest employer and major industry.

Shoe production ended in Hannibal in the 1960s.

A firefighter suffered minor burns.

Police identify baby killed in apartment fire

MEHLVILLE, Mo. -- A 2-month-old boy has died following an apartment fire in south St. Louis County.

The fire happened Friday night in south St. Louis County. Firefighters rescued the baby, Nasser Hawatmeh, but he died early Saturday at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Occupants of the apartment escaped after the fire started in the kitchen. But according to police, one of the occupants then realized the baby was still inside, lying on a bed in a rear bedroom.

French Legion of Honor given to World War I vet

COLE CAMP, Mo. -- As a Marine during World War I, George Shirley helped chase occupying soldiers out of France. On Sunday, France said "Thank you."

French Consul General Dominique Decherf pinned his country's Legion of Honor award on the 103-year-old former Marine, along with a kiss on each cheek.

"In the first world war, America came to our aid to protect France," Decherf said. "With the help of men like Mr. Shirley, we were able to protect Paris and defeat the Germans."

After the war, Shirley worked in farming and real estate near Cole Camp.

The National Order of the Legion of Honor, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the highest award bestowed by the French government.

Decherf also delivered certificates of thanks to 57 World War II veterans from the Benton County area.

-- From wire reports