Stories from Tuesday, February 18, 2014

State emergency officials say Missourians need to prepare for a potential earthquake. February is Earthquake Awareness Month and the 202nd anniversary of the 1812 New Madrid earthquake. State Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Barrett says an earthquake offers no advanced warning -- unlike other natural disasters -- and would have a significant and long-term effect on Missouri...

Plans are well underway for the Third Annual Dexter Parents as Teachers Strollerthon, 5K and KidFest. The event, which has become a hometown favorite, is slated for Saturday, March 29 this year at Southwest Elementary School and benefits the local PAT program...

A Passion for Service, billed as one of the top workshops in the country for Chamber of Commerce members, will be presented at the local Chamber offices this Thursday, Feb. 20. The Bill Drury workshop, open to all area business owners and employees and potential business owners, will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. until noon...

Nearly 500 voices were raised in song recently as middle school choral students from across the area took part in a unique performance and at the same time to raise funds for a worthy cause. On Thursday, Feb. 13, students from Poplar Bluff, Bloomfield, Sikeston and Jackson joined seventh and eighth graders from T.S. ...

A Cardinal lurks in the background as a hungry squirrel takes his time filling up during the recent cold weather. Temperatures are expected to climb to the mid-60s by Thursday, a welcome change from the recent wintry weather across Missouri.

Stacey Hyten of Puxico was among the American Red Cross blood donors at Monday's drive held at the Sacred Heart Church hall. The drive was sponsored by SoutheastHEALTH Center's Auxiliary. A critical shortage in blood supply currently exists, following several cancellations of recent scheduled blood drives due to the winter weather. Hyten is among a minority of folks who give blood whenever the opportunity is presented...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau County circuit judge on Friday rejected a guilty plea from a Jackson man accused of engaging in a shootout with police during a June 2012 confrontation. In turning down Lawrence Guthrie's plea Friday, Judge Benjamin Lewis left open the possibility for him to enter another plea before his March 11 trial date...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The wheels of justice continue to turn, albeit slowly, in a series of criminal and civil cases against a Cape Girardeau businessman accused of defrauding nine people of more than $560,000 over a six-year period. At one point, Keith Monia, 53, faced 15 criminal charges and two civil actions in four counties...

ADVANCE, Mo. - The Advance varsity boys basketball team cruised past the East Prairie Eagles 84-59 Monday night. Advance outscored East Prairie by 23 points in the first half. Lane Below scored 24 points for Advance. Austin Miller and Eli Seger both tallied 11 points. Garrett Walker recorded 10 points...

DEXTER, Mo. - It was nip and tuck if the Dexter Bearcats or Poplar Bluff Mules varsity girls basketball team would emerge victorious for most of the first half Monday night. Poplar Bluff led by as many as four points in the opening quarter before falling behind 31-27 at halftime...