Highway reopens with ribbon-cutting today

Highway 34/72 in Jackson officially reopens today, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. More than two miles of road were widened and repaved, starting one mile west of Highway 25. Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr will be among those speaking. Also slated to appear are Penzel Construction project manager Paul Koepper; Cape County Commissioner Jay Purcell; Jackson chamber president Marybeth Williams; Kristi Nitsch for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson; Tom Schulte for U.S. Sen. Kit Bond; and MoDOT southeast district engineer Mark Shelton. The event will be held at the Jackson Medical Center, 2387 W. Jackson Blvd. In case of rain, speakers will be at the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, 210 N. West Lane in Jackson.