HOLIDAY PROMPTS CLOSINGS; SCHOOLS, CITY OFFICES WILL REMAIN OPEN

Christopher Columbus discovered the New World on Oct. 12, 1492. But the Congress, in order to allow workers a three-day holiday weekend, has decreed Columbus Day will be observed on Monday, Oct. 14.

However, observance of the holiday is not universal. While all federal, state, and county offices will be closed Monday, most area municipal offices and schools in Southeast Missouri will be open.

However, many Southern Illinois schools, including the Shawnee, Egyptian, Century, and Mounds-Meridian districts, will not be in session Monday.

Municipal offices in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee, and Scott City will be open during regular hours Monday, and all Monday trash pickup routes in those towns will run as scheduled.

County offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson will be closed, along with all offices in the Cape Girardeau Federal Building.

All banks and financial institutions in the area will be closed Monday, but most businesses and retail stores will remain open.

The Cape Girardeau license fee office will be closed on Saturday and Monday. It will reopen Tuesday.

The Jackson and Chaffee license fee offices will be closed Monday only, and will reopen Tuesday.

There will be no drivers or commercial driver's license tests given at the Jackson armory on Monday.

There will be no home delivery of mail in Cape Girardeau Monday. All area post offices will be closed. First class mail will not be put up in post office boxes Monday morning, but mail in Cape Girardeau will be collected as scheduled Monday afternoon, and dispatched later in the evening.

The Southeast Missourian will publish a Monday morning edition.