Man sentenced to death again for 1996 murders

WARRENTON, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was once again sentenced to die for two murders he was found guilty of committing in December 1996.

A sentencing hearing was conducted at 9 a.m. Friday for Cecil Barriner, who was found guilty in February for the murders of Candy Sisk and her grandmother, Irene Sisk, at their residence in Tallapoosa. Judge Edward D. Hodge of Audrain County, who heard the case on a change of venue to Warren County, handed down the death sentence, which had been recommended by jurors.

Barriner was ordered returned to the state prison at Potosi, Mo.

The case, like all death penalty cases in Missouri, is automatically appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Mississippi County employees insured again

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Mississippi County officers and employees are again insured, and that's a good feeling.

Good enough that commissioners decided to stay with Trustmark health insurance for the time being despite a company offering to take them up April 1 for a lower price.

Trustmark accepted the county's premium in the middle of March but backdated their coverage to March 1. "I feel like there's an obligation," said Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg.

He said there were several nights he laid awake worrying about the county becoming liable for a $100,000 medical bill if something happened while the county had no insurance.

County officers and employees were without coverage since Feb. 7 when their former provider was placed in forced receivership by a Texas judge on the grounds they were unlicensed.

Two teachers involved in strip-search fired

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two teachers involved in strip-searching third graders at a Kansas City school have received termination notices, a newspaper reported.

Betty Bettis and Thomas Sims received hand-delivered notices Wednesday, The Kansas City Star reported Friday.

Parents say the two teachers strip-searched 23 students for $5 in missing lunch money. The money was found, but not because of the searches.

The Kansas City school board would have to approve firing the two teachers.

Branson completes high-tech crosswalk

BRANSON, Mo. -- Pedestrians should have an easier and safer time getting to venues along one busy thoroughfare in the bustling resort town of Branson.

The city has spent $35,000 to build a crossing along the five-lane Shepherd of the Hills Expressway.

The project included adding high-intensity lights to ease walking after dark. Pedestrians wanting to cross the road can push a button and a row of lights embedded in the pavement will begin flashing in both directions of traffic.

Motorists should be able to see people in the crosswalk from a quarter of a mile away, officials said.

-- From wire, news service reports