Region digest 05/12/06

Section of river reopens after barge accident

A 24-mile section of the Mississippi River near Thebes, Ill., closed since Wednesday due to a barge accident has been reopened. Before midnight May 9, the Mary Kay Eckstein, a towboat pushing 30 barges containing grain, coal and rock, collided with the Thebes Bridge. Twenty-two of the barges broke away, drifting down river. One barge containing grain sank. Lt. j.g. Anthony Baird of the U.S. Coast Guard said collisions at that location are not uncommon. "It's a very challenging part of the river because it bends right before you reach the Thebes railroad bridge," he said. Baird estimated 10 collisions per year occur at that location.

Man charged in lighter theft misses court date

A man charged with leading police on a car chase through Cape Girardeau and assaulting two officers failed to appear in court Thursday. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Daric A. Stotts, 27, of 3007 Wisteria Drive, when he did not show for a preliminary hearing before Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp. Stotts is accused of stealing a cigarette lighter around 2 a.m. April 12 from Rhodes 101, 1126 N. Sprigg St., when the clerk told him it was too early to sell alcohol, police Sgt. Barry Hovis said at the time. He fled police at speeds exceeding 100 mph. When his vehicle crashed, Stotts fought off and injured one officer to escape to his home, Hovis said. There, Stotts grappled with two other officers, causing minor injuries to one officer's hand. Stotts had been free after securing a $15,000 bond. With his failure to appear Thursday, Kamp ordered him held in lieu of a $30,000 cash-only bond.

Blunt issues position on UP railroad swap

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt is the latest politician to weigh in with concerns about a proposed rail swap between Union Pacific and Burlington-Northern Santa Fe railroads in Scott County. In a news release Thursday, Blunt expressed concern about the proposal, but stopped short of outright opposition. In the release Blunt said he has written a letter to the federal Surface Transportation Board, the agency that must approve the swap, calling for a balance between the need for a modern transportation system and safety of people in the Scott County area and motorists along U.S. 60. Train traffic would increase from a few trains per week on U.S. 60 to about 10 per day. The trains would cross the four-lane highway near Morehouse.

One-ring circus coming to Scott City Park

On Saturday the Scott City Park will play host to the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus, with show times at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Festivities will start in the morning, with the raising of the big top tent at 10 a.m., followed by a free tour of the circus grounds. Culpepper and Merriweather is in its 21st year as a one-ring circus traveling the country. Paul Schock, president of event sponsor the Scott City Kiwanis Club, said this is the first time in recent memory a circus has been to the city and the first time one has been to the city park. The free tour will take visitors behind the scenes to learn about circus life. For more information, call Roth Hardware, city hall or the Boxcar Cafe in Scott City.

New support checks issued after error found

The Central Bank in Jefferson City, Mo., has reissued child support checks after an error was discovered on about 19,000 checks. First issued on Tuesday, the checks were missing a necessary MICR number, according a news release from the bank. New checks were mailed on Wednesday and Thursday. The first check is no longer valid and should be destroyed, the release stated.

-- From staff reports