Briefly

Saxony graduation ceremony set for May 20

Saxony Lutheran High School in Cape Girardeau County will hold its commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. May 20 in the high school gym. Larry Cleair, the school's athletic director, will be the featured speaker. Fourteen students are scheduled to graduate, school officials said. The graduating class will be led by valedictorian Kory Mueller and salutatorian Benjamin Meyr.

City's plan shows desire for quality of life

Cape Girardeau's update to its comprehensive plan is more than halfway complete and scheduled for a fall rollout. In an update to city council at the May 7 meeting, Bill Burke, principal for planning with the St. Louis-based firm Arcturis, provided an overview of the work accomplished, major themes from resident input, and upcoming steps. Burke said after 400 surveys, two town planning workshops and meetings with major stakeholders and city staff, Cape Girardeau has spoken. People want parks, they want trails, they want better pools and they want green space. The final recommendations are not in yet, but Burke said he feels confident Cape Girardeau could ask taxpayers to help fund recreation improvements.

Local physician works at state legislature

Dr. Robb Hicks of Immediate HealthCare in Cape Girardeau was Wednesday's Missouri Legislature Physician for the Day in Jefferson City. The volunteer program sponsored by the Missouri State Medical Association calls on one physician to be on call for medical emergencies in the Capitol building. Hicks said he met with state Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Jackson and Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau. Hicks also bumped into Gov. Matt Blunt while on the elevator. During several of the meetings, Hicks said he voiced concern that there will be enough funding under Gov. Blunt's proposed MO Healthnet program to replace all Medicaid services in Southeast Missouri.

Ceremony today marks donation of wetlands

PULASKI COUNTY, Ill. -- A ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. today celebrating the donation of 251 acres of wetlands to the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Illinois. The ceremony will take place at the Cache River Levee Access in Pulaski County near Highway 127. The property was donated by the American Land Conservancy made possible by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Representatives from the American Land Conservancy, Shawnee Resource Conservation and Development and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will attend.

-- From staff reports