Region briefs 2/17/06

Man pleads guilty to charge of resisting arrest

An 18-year-old accused of striking a police officer pleaded guilty to a lesser count and was sentenced to time served. Marcus A. Rice, of 1038 W. Mount Drive, pleaded guilty Feb. 10 to one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 175 days in the county jail and released on time served, according to court records. Rice had been held in custody since his Aug. 19 arrest. Felony charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest were dropped as per the plea agreement, said assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff. Rice had been accused of using a metal object to strike police Sgt. Kevin Orr as he was arresting a youth for illegal fireworks during a Fourth of July celebration. His case went to trial in January, but a hung jury resulted in a mistrial.

ADDY Awards to be held Feb. 24 at Drury Lodge

Local advertisers are to be honored next Friday in the 10th annual Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals ADDY Awards dinner. Last year, more than 130 people from advertising and media businesses in the Cape Girardeau, Paducah, Ky., and Harrisburg, Ill., markets attended the dinner. The banquet will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Drury Lodge, 104 S. Vantage Drive. For questions or reservations, contact Carol Robert at the Southeast Missourian at 335-6611. Deadline for reservations is Tuesday. The ADDY Awards is a three-tier national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation.

Cape County Clerk Miller will not seek re-election

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller announced Thursday he won't seek re-election. Miller, a Democrat, has served as clerk since 1978. Miller said he felt it was the right time to retire. "I feel very fortunate to have served in this position," Miller said. "I am very proud of my service to Cape Girardeau County, not in a bragging way, but one that represents sensible progress and doing my very best to serve the citizens of this county."

-- From staff reports