Woman pleads innocent to child abuse charges

BENTON, Mo. -- A woman accused of slamming her daughter's head on a doorway when the child would not sleep pleaded innocent to the charges Thursday. Susan Cabiness, 34, of Chaffee, Mo., entered her plea to two felony counts of child abuse during an appearance before Circuit Judge David Dolan. Officials accuse Cabiness of violently shaking her then 2-month-old daughter and striking her head on a doorway in February. The child was taken to a St. Louis-area hospital for treatment of two skull fractures.

Oran man gets probation for pot possession

BENTON, Mo. -- An Oran, Mo., man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing more than 100 grams of marijuana, and was sentenced to five years probation. Mark E. Gordon, 25, was pulled over Feb. 7 in Oran by a Scott County sheriff's deputy, Sheriff Rick Walter said. During a search of the man's vehicle, the officer found 104 grams of marijuana. At a court appearance Thursday before Circuit Judge David Dolan, Gordon pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of felony possession, according to a court official. He was originally charged with possession with intent to distribute.

Drivers face highway repairs on I-55 today

Traffic on northbound Interstate 55 in Perry County will be reduced to one lane for repairs today. Between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., maintenance crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be making pavement repairs to the lanes between Biehle, Mo., and the Perryville, Mo., exit, a release from the department stated. Drivers were urged to use caution while traveling in the area.

-- From staff reports