Drivers warned of road work on Independence Street, Highway 177 today

Fronabarger Concreters is finishing construction of new sidewalk, curbs and gutters on the south side of Independence Street between Sprigg and Spanish streets. The work is scheduled to take one to two weeks, weather permitting. Only westbound traffic will be allowed through the construction area. Eastbound traffic will be detoured to Merriwether Street.

Highway 177 down to one lane today

Highway 177 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction while crews repair pavement. The section of road is from the Highway 177 and Route J intersection to one mile south of the intersection. Tthe work is set to take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution in the area. For more information, call MoDOT at 1-888-275-6636.

Early morning fire damages apartment

Fire chief Rick Ennis of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department said crews responded around 6:15 a.m. to a call at 45 S. West End Blvd., Apt. 411. The apartment suffered moderate damage. Smoke from the fire spread to other apartments in the building but did no damage. No one was inside the apartment at the time of the fire. Its cause remains under investigation.

-- From staff reports