Region digest 09/06/03

Sikeston teen dies in crash early Friday

BLODGETT, Mo. -- An early Friday accident claimed the life of a Sikeston, Mo., teen.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tyler Wayne Mattison, 18, was killed instantly when a vehicle he was riding in overturned on Route H near Blodgett at 1:20 a.m. Friday.

The patrol said Christopher M. Carlyle, 18, of Sikeston was traveling in his vehicle on Route H when the vehicle ran off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox. Carlyle steered back onto the road, lost control and ran off the left side of the road. The vehicle then overturned, striking a tree.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Carlyle will be charged with vehicular manslaughter, pending a warrant.

Sikeston seeks opinion on conflict of interest

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston City Council will seek an opinion from the state attorney general on a possible conflict of interest for a key board appointee.

The council discussed communication among its members and the appointment of George Swogger to the Board of Municipal Utilities during a special meeting Friday.

A letter to city counsel Charles Leible from Ed Throop, general manager of BMU, was reviewed advising of the possible conflict of interest.

As the power marketing agent for Noranda, Swogger works with two independent power marketers the BMU has sales relationships with, according Throop.

Noranda "will eventually come to Sikeston for some of its power needs," Throop wrote. "I want the ability to serve Noranda, if possible."

"I think we need to get an outside opinion," Mayor Mike Marshall said. "If this is a conflict of interest, he'll have to be removed."

Mississippi County buys land for detention center

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Mississippi County will soon have room for its detention center to grow, but county commissioners declined to reveal any plans they may have for the additional space.

County officials confirmed during their regular meeting Thursday that the county has agreed to purchase the lot northwest of the Mississippi County Detention Center from Tommy Butler for $9,000.

The county will need to have a rezoning request approved to allow for commercial use, Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said.

-- From wire reports