CAPE SCHOOL PHONE NUMBERS ARE MIA

Had trouble locating Cape Girardeau School District phone numbers in the new Southwestern Bell telephone directory?

That's because they aren't there.

Apparently due to a clerical error, the phone numbers of the district's schools were omitted from both the white and yellow pages of the latest edition of the directory, which won't be replaced until December 2001.

Laverne Smith, administrative assistant to the school superintendent, said she noticed the numbers were missing last week and called Southwestern Bell.

"They had absolutely no reason, rhyme or excuse," said Smith. "There are 28 phone numbers they omitted. We asked them if they could put out a supplement, and they said they couldn't do that. But they said anybody who called directory assistance for Cape Girardeau School District listings would not be charged."

A Southwestern Bell spokesperson said Tuesday an investigation regarding the omission is ongoing. The spokesperson declined further comment.

Cape Girardeau public schools phone numbers appeared in last year's telephone directory, right between Cape Girardeau Printing Company and Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.