A mixed bag of news

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. The entire document is online at www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/pdfs/COMPREHENSIVE_PLAN_DOCUMENT.pdf. Personal copies are available at $5 for the compact disc or $50 for a binder-worthy stack of more than 300 pages. The plan has plenty of maps, and is in color, too.

Charlie Haubold, recently re-elected as the planning and zoning board's chairman, reminded city officials the plan is subject to change and will be updated.

"It's a working document," he said. "It's a good plan."

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Every year, city officials recognize outstanding workers. Cape Girardeau's 2007 employees of the year are: Regina Hunt, administrative services; David Goldak, development services; Randy Lueder, parks and recreation; Joe Shuffler, fire department; and Steven Barry, public works.

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Freelance travel writer Pamela Selbert blew through Cape Girardeau earlier this year on assignment for the Chicago Tribune. She must have been charmed. Selbert's story, "The spell of history in Cape Girardeau" ran Nov. 18 and took up most of a page. Frank Nickell, director of Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Regional History, merited a mention. Here's a long and complicated link worth checking out: www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-girardeau_m_rc_pmnov18,0,2503307.story? page=1.

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Ameren sent a $1,000 check to Old Town Cape to improve the riverfront area. The grant paid to replace trees in empty planter boxes on Themis, Main and Water streets. In a written statement, Old Town Cape's executive director, Marla Mills said it takes many partners, including corporations such as Ameren, "to beautify our city."

Mills said Cape Girardeau's parks and recreation department helped choose the trees, then planted them.

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Cape Girardeau's prosecuting attorney, Reagan Holliday, has left to take on law duties in St. Louis. Sylvia Edgar is the new assistant city attorney.

Edgar graduated from Indiana University School of Law, where her studies included an emphasis on employment and human relations issues. She passed the Missouri Bar exam in July.

City attorney Eric Cunningham said he enjoyed working with Holliday and looked forward to working with Edgar.

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Hayden Jansen, 4, got the biggest laugh from those attending the double ribbon cuttings for East Main Street and the Interstate 55 interchange. He'd come with his parents and sister to see Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr -- also known as his grandma -- speak.

After the long walk up the hill from the car, Hayden announced he was tired and lay down on the pavement to take a nap. Not sure how much shut-eye he got, but it led to MoDOT engineer Mark Shelton teasing the mayor that she now had proof of a smooth street. Lohr shared the story in her remarks to the crowd.

Paul Sander, Jackson's former mayor, got a round of kudos from speakers for pushing the roadwork forward for 14 years. Sander later told me he doesn't miss being out of office. After 21 years of politics -- which he said he enjoyed -- he's busy finishing a last final year of studies at Southeast Missouri State University. His name appeared on the summer dean's list. Sander is also coaching baseball at Saxony Lutheran High School.

Questions, suggestions or tips for Lost on Main Street? E-mail me at pmcnichol@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 127