Region digest 04/05/03

Man stabbed during argument at gas station

An argument over a woman between two Cape Girardeau brothers escalated into a stabbing in a gas station parking lot Thursday night, police said.

The victim, 41, was allegedly cut on his upper right arm by Bobby E. Reed, 39, of Cape Girardeau, said police spokesman Sgt. Rick Schmidt.

Reed was arrested and charged with second-degree domestic assault in connection with the incident occuring after 10 p.m. outside Rhodes 101 a 1126 N. Sprigg. He remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Reed faces another second-degree assault charge filed March 8.

The victim, unnamed by police, was treated and released at Southeast Missouri Hospital for a 3-inch cut inflicted by a pocketknife.

Preliminary hearing set for former judge

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 1 for Cape Girardeau lawyer Michael L. Richey, 56, a former municipal judge for Scott City. Richey is charged with five felony counts of writing bad checks.

He was charged with the first two felonies Feb. 11 for allegedly writing $112,428.92 in bad checks to clients. Three more charges were added March 25. The Missouri Attorney General's Office is handling the cases, acting as a special prosecutor.

Richey resigned as Scott City's "disqualification judge" in March, said city manager Ron Eskew. His role was to fill in for the regular judge, Alan Moss, whenever Moss had to disqualify himself from hearing at trial.

Contract awarded for Highway 34 widening

The Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract during its regular meeting Friday to begin clearing the way for the Highway 34/72 improvements in Jackson.

A $169,995 contract was awarded to Premier Demolition Inc. of Cedar Hill, Mo., for the demolition and removal of structures necessary for the Highway 34 widening.

The contract includes the removal of 18 structures in Phase 1 of the improvements. Phase 1 construction begins at Highway 25 and continues west to Main Street. The structures are removed as they are purchased and based on the schedule of the property owner, MoDOT officials say.

Work is expected to begin in May.

MoDOT resident engineer Bob Wilson said he didn't expect any impact on traffic.

NFIB holds reception for small business

The National Federation of Independent Business/Missouri held a reception Friday evening that was intended to "celebrate the spirit of small business." Local legislators were scheduled to appear, including state Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, state House Speaker Pro Tem Rod Jetton, state Reps. Jason Crowell, Rob Mayer, Scott Lipke and local small-business owners.

Updates were given on issues affecting small business in Congress. State legislators were to address what's going on with the small-business agenda at the state capital.

-- From staff reports