Region briefs 12/4/07

Poplar Bluff police seize suspected crack cocaine

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Already on parole for drug distribution charges, a Hayti, Mo., man may face federal charges after local authorities seized about 3/4 of a pound of suspected crack cocaine from his vehicle Friday, according to the Daily American Republic. Ronald Lee Johnson, 22, is being held without bond in the Butler County jail on the class A felony of second-degree drug trafficking and on a parole hold. Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher filed the trafficking charge against Johnson on Friday. When stopped on a traffic charge Friday afternoon, Poplar Bluff police chief Danny Whiteley said a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a plastic bag with a large amount of suspected crack cocaine and two brown paper bags containing plastic bags of suspected crack and powder cocaine. He said the street value of the drugs was in excess of $75,000. Officers also seized more than $2,800 in cash from Johnson's person. The suspected cocaine was turned over to a Cape Girardeau Drug Enforcement Administration agent. Johnson reportedly is on parole on three class B felonies of distribution/delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance.

Dexter man taken to ICU following stabbing

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Dexter man is in the intensive care unit of a St. Louis hospital following a stabbing early Sunday morning, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. According to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn and Dexter Police Department Detective Corey Mills, the stabbing took place in the 400 block of North Poplar Street sometime shortly before 1:35 a.m., when a 911 call was received from a witness to the stabbing. According to the report, several Dexter officers responded to the residence to find Joseph Helton, 23, lying on the carport of the residence in a pool of blood. Helton was unresponsive, according to the report, and an "excessive amount of blood" was noted on Helton's shirt and pants. Witnesses told officers that Helton was stabbed by 27-year-old Michael Atkins of Dexter during an altercation between the two men. "During Atkins' interview, Atkins admitted to stabbing Helton once in the chest with his pocket knife during a brief altercation," the report said. Mills then stated that Atkins allegedly admitted he left the knife he used to stab Helton lying next to a tree on his property, where detectives were later able to recover the weapon with blood on the knife blade. At this time officials are unsure what prompted the stabbing, stating that attempts to further interview witnesses were unsuccessful because of suspected intoxication.

Bloomfield schools cancel classes Monday

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Bloomfield schools canceled all Monday classes as a result of the boiled water order in the city, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. The order was posted Friday and is reportedly a result of the city flushing hydrants.

Jackson police face accreditation process

On Dec. 9, the Jackson Police Department will be examined inside and out by a team of assessors from the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement agencies, according to a news release from the police department. At the end of the visit, the assessment team will help to decide whether the Jackson Police Department meets the commission's standards for using the latest, most state-of-the-art procedures and policies. As part of the accreditation process the Jackson Police Department began in 2005, the assessment team provides a report of their findings to the Board of Commissioners, which will then hold a hearing to rule on accreditation. The assessment includes a public information session to hear resident's comments on the police department's functions, scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 10 in the council chambers at Jackson City Hall. Anyone not able to make the public session is invited to provide comments at 243-2411 between 1 and 3 p.m. Monday.

Sikeston police checking report of shot to head

Sikeston police officers are investigating reports that a man was inadvertently shot in the head Monday. Around 3:50 a.m., the Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a 911 call from a caller stating her husband was accidentally shot with a gun, according to a news release issued by the department. The victim was transported to the Missouri Delta Medical Center emergency room. Sikeston's criminal investigations unit collected evidence at the scene and interviewed family members who were at home at the time of the incident. No arrests have been made, but the DPS is still investigating the case, according to the release. No one at the police department was available to field media questions Monday afternoon, according to a dispatcher.

Jackson groups, schools, collect items for baskets

In a combined community effort between local organizations and schools, members of the Jackson Elk's Lodge will distribute Christmas baskets brimming with food, toys and clothing Dec. 13 to eligible families. Michael Browne is the chairman of the Christmas Basket Program, a charitable cause the Elks have participated in for 17 years. Co-chairman Joe Brice said the program is only possible through community efforts in Jackson. The Girl Scouts of America, along with Oak Ridge Homemakers FCE, collects mittens, gloves, scarves and other garments to donate to the program. The Jackson Police Department is in charge of collecting toys and also accepts monetary donations. Six area schools collect money and canned goods, typically resulting in the collection of up to 15,000 cans for the project. A 5-pound cooked ham, canned goods, boxed food items, bread and cereal are just a few of the staple food items included in the baskets. All donated items are distributed at the Jackson Elks Lodge.

Chamber's holiday lights contest has begun

The annual Holiday of Lights contest, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Beautification and Enhancement Committee, is underway. Volunteer judges will select winners from each of the seven sections within the city. Two residential and one commercial candiate will be chosen from each section. The contest has been run for more than 20 years, said Tim Arbiter, spokesman for the committee. Judges typically look for the "wow factor" in deciding which decorations are the most dazzling, Arbiter said. Winners of the contest will be named in a news release from the Chamber committee. Winners will also have a sign posted on their lawn declaring them winner of the 2007 Holidays of Lights contest, Arbiter said. Anyone wishing to make a nomination should contact Lynn Winslow at 335-3312. The nomination deadline is Dec. 11, and judging will be held Dec. 12.

Kit Bond hosts 'Listening Post' Wednesday

A representative for Sen. Kit Bond will make four stops in the region Wednesday to talk to voters. Bond's spokeswoman, Shana Marchio, said Tom Schulte is scheduled to visit Scott City, Sikeston, Dexter and Poplar Bluff. Bond started the Listening Post dates in 1987 as a way to connect with constituents, Marchio said. "If a person's have problems with bureaucracy or a piece of legislation or has an opinion on the war in Iraq or the farm bill, that's what the Listening Post is about," Marchio said. "Those comments are passed along to Sen. Bond." Wednesday's Listening Post schedule is:

• 9:30 a.m. Poplar Bluff, Mark Twain National Forest Service, Ranger District office, 1420 Maud St.
• 11:30 a.m. Dexter, Pizza Hut, Business U.S. 60
• 1:30 p.m., Sikeston, Cole Insurance, 1515 E. Malone St.
• 3:30 p.m. Scott City, Riverside Regional Library, 2106 Main St.

-- From staff reports