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Missouri bill would make lack of seat belt cause for traffic stop (3/2/09)Scott County Commissioner Jamie Burger always uses his seat belt. He said his family buckles up too, and for those workers driving county vehicles, "it's a condition of employment." Under Missouri law, Section 307.178 to be specific, failure to wear a seat belt will cost the offender $10 — unless there are more people in the vehicle than there are seat belts, for which there is no penalty. ...
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Some swearing we can all appreciate (12/29/08)I was fortunate during the Christmas holiday to spend some time with family and while back home, stayed with my best friend and her husband. Linda and Kent have been together for nearly 15 years, but I never noticed until last week how often they refer to one another as "honey."...
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Times push politicians to think before speaking (12/22/08)Larry Bock, 1st District Commissioner for Cape Girardeau County, is wrapping up his 16th year in office. At 10 a.m. today, he'll be the honoree at a reception in the county administration building, 1 Barton Square in Jackson. In reviewing his political career -- look for the story in Tuesday's paper -- it's hard to look away from the tumult of the last few months, though he has easily been the quietest of the three commissioners, particularly in matters relating to the ongoing Sunshine Law suit filed by 2nd District Commissioner Jay Purcell.. ...
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Working to avoid the stories reporters don't want to write (12/15/08)Some of the best stories end up on the Southeast Missourian pages because someone called or just showed up in the the lobby. Friday's visitor arrived looking scared and embarrassed, asking if I would make sure his name didn't appear in the police report, published on our records page...
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Still here after 200 years (7/28/08)The excitement over the city of Jackson's 100th Homecomers seems to have overtaken another significant anniversary: the 200th year since the city of Cape Girardeau was incorporated. After Wednesday morning's brief ceremony at the Red House Interpretive Center, many of the 50 or so people who attended went inside to enjoy a cup of lemonade and old-fashioned baked goods served by docent Boots Jessup — I can vouch for the delightful ginger cake and tart lemonade — before checking out the Red House's multimedia history show.. ...
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Jackson revs up TIF commission (5/5/08)The city of Jackson is beginning its second phase of a plan to lure business. According to Mayor Barbara Lohr, the Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) Commission is being reactivated. "The whole purpose of a TIF is to allow the developer to be able to do all their infrastructure up front," she said. "Then they're allowed a tax abatement to pay it off. It's an incentive."...
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Survey results? DREAM on ... (4/21/08)Remember the DREAM Initiative survey of Cape Girardeau residents that kicked off in November? I do. Remember how it was leaked on an Internet forum and 851 people ended up answering questions? Ditto. Remember the results of the survey? No? Yeah, me neither. ...
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Old Town Cape seeks reservations, wins national designation (2/11/08)A part-timer at Old Town Cape has helped win a national designation for the city. Cape Girardeau is now a Preserve America Community. This White House program is supported by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and many other federal agencies. ...
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Deadlines for voters loom large (12/31/07)Jan. 9 is the last day to register to vote in Missouri's Feb. 5 presidential preference primary. Also on the Feb. 5 ballot are contenders for replacing former state representative Nathan Cooper. The candidates are former state representative Mary Kasten, a Republican and a former state representative; Mike Keefe, a Democrat and former Cape Girardeau postmaster; and Steve Kinder, a Libertarian and a pharmacist...
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A mixed bag of news (12/24/07)Covering government sometimes means passing up small items to pursue bigger stories. This column is where you'll find small but important items and the occasional behind-the-scenes moment. The city of Cape Girardeau's planning and zoning advisory board has approved the comprehensive plan. ...