Region/state digest 05/28/05

Red Cross extends hours over holiday weekend

The Memorial Day weekend includes an appeal for all blood donors to help increase the region's blood supply. According to the American Red Cross, all donation centers are extending their hours over the holiday weekend. All donors will be entered to win a road trip weekend package, and one donor over age 21 at each donation center will be entered to win a barbecue grill. The center at 20 S. Mount Auburn Road will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Sunday and from noon to 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. To schedule an appointment, call (800) GIVE LIFE.

Sheryl Crow impressed with aquatic center

KENNETT, Mo. -- Anyone attending the grand opening of the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center today will get to take a dip with the namesake of the pool. "Absolutely, I'm going to be in there on Saturday," Crow said when asked if she would be taking a plunge into the pool. The grand opening begins at 9:45 a.m., and Crow is tentatively scheduled to appear at 11 a.m. The aquatic center, which features eight competition lanes, is opening thanks to funds supplied by Crow and community donations. "I'm amazed at how beautiful it turned out," Crow said. "I'm really excited and proud of the work that's gone into it."

Crawford Co. clerk pleads guilty to stealing

STEELVILLE, Mo. -- The Crawford County circuit clerk pleaded guilty Friday to seven counts of stealing money from the county and was given a suspended sentence and probation, Attorney General Jay Nixon's office said. Karen McPeters, 48, pleaded guilty to five felony and two misdemeanor charges of stealing more than $10,000 from the county. She was given a suspended sentence of five years on each count, placed on probation and ordered to repay $10,830 to the county. The court also ordered her to forfeit her office. Nixon's office said McPeters admitted to appropriating cash and a money order from several people by telling them it would be used to pay court costs. Instead, she kept them. Nixon was appointed special prosecutor in the case.

St. Louis Zoo polar bear dies during surgery

ST. LOUIS -- A popular male polar bear has died at the St. Louis Zoo. Eighteen-year-old Churchill died Thursday during a two-hour surgery to remove an obstruction from his stomach. Churchill was popular with zoo staff and visitors. "He was like a member of our family," said Dr. Eric Miller, director of the zoo's WildCare Institute. The bear had shown signs of abdominal discomfort and lack of appetite in the past week and underwent diagnostic evaluation. When his condition worsened, zoo staff decided to do a laparotomy to identify the obstruction. Surgery revealed a piece of cloth and bits of plastic trash bag had obstructed the stomach. Polar bears usually live about 25 years.

Fate of starved horses going to high court

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The question of what to do with more than 100 horses that authorities say were starved and neglected in southwest Missouri will be heard by the Missouri Supreme Court next month. The Humane Society of Missouri and the Carthage Humane Society are currently caring for the horses, which were taken taken from William Zobel's rural Republic ranch in January. Greene County Circuit Judge Don Burrell ruled that the humane societies could decide what to do with the horses after Zobel failed to pay a $105,000 bond for his animals. Zobel's attorney appealed that ruling. The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments June 16 on whether Burrell's original ruling was legal.

Feds say former Jackson Co. exec solicited bribe

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Federal prosecutors said Thursday that former Jackson County executive Bill Waris tried to get two members of the St. Louis Police Officers Association to pay him to deliver the votes of four state representatives on a 2001 bill. Waris is facing charges of perjury and obstruction of justice because of testimony he gave a grand jury in a case involving him and current Jackson County Executive Kathryn Shields. The allegation Thursday is not a criminal charge, but prosecutors said it shows Waris' predisposition for unsavory political deals.

-- From staff, wire reports