CHAMBER HIGHWAY DINNER IS TONIGHT

Turnout likely will be better than usual for the annual Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Highway Dinner.

The dinner, which will be attended by members of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission and Department, will be held tonight at 6 Drury Lodge.

John Mehner, president of the chamber, said that more than 150 people had registered to attend as of late Wednesday. Approximately 130 people attended last year's meeting.

The chamber sponsors the annual event in part to allow members an opportunity to meet Missouri road officials and discuss concerns, but it is mainly intended to thank the officials for their efforts, Mehner said.

Thomas M. Boland, chairman of the commission, will be the primary speaker.

"We hope he will provide a brief update of projects locally, but obviously he will be free to do what he wants to do," Mehner said.

Projects of interest Boland is expected to discuss include a destination and location study being conducted on state highways 25, 72 and 34. Also, he may touch on Highway 60, the Mississippi River bridge route, and Jackson and Oak Ridge interchange projects, Mehner said.

The chamber will take advantage of the occasion to recognize the contributions of John Oliver Jr., an outgoing member of the commission. Oliver's term expired Oct. 1, but he remains on the panel pending appointment of a replacement by Gov. Mel Carnahan.