Progress reporter profiles: Carrie Bartholomew

I've always been interested in government.

As the Jackson bureau reporter, I primarily cover issues affecting Cape Girardeau County government and the city of Jackson, regularly attending county commission and Jackson Board of Aldermen meetings.

While not everyone may find the day-to-day operations of local government all that interesting, the decisions made by the three-member commission affect daily life in Cape Girardeau County. Whether they're discussing the potential purchase of the old federal building to replace the Common Pleas Courthouse or approving a service contract for a few hundred dollars, they are using taxpayer money.

In Jackson, aldermen actions also have a direct impact on residents -- a new sales tax to fund a second fire station, granting special use permits for nightclubs and in-home businesses.

As the county government reporter, I was able to witness first-hand the intense public reaction to last year's peripheral zoning request from the city of Cape Girardeau. During that time, it was imperative to report the facts in an objective, accurate manner, despite the strong emotions that were dominating much of the discussion.

Follow Carrie on her blog at www.semissouran.com/jackson