MISSOURIAN HONORED FOR LITERACY EFFORTS

The Missouri Council of the International Reading Association has honored the Southeast Missourian newspaper for its support of literacy programs.

The newspaper was nominated by the Southeast Missouri Council of the IRA for the state newspaper media award.

Kim McDowell, who coordinates the newspaper's literacy efforts, accepted the award Thursday at the IRA state conference in Springfield.

Mary Ann Maloney of KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau was scheduled to receive the broadcast media award.

Ann Porter Gifford with the local chapter of the International Reading Association wrote the nomination letter for the Southeast Missourian.

She explained that the newspaper sponsors YELL for Newspapers. More than 200 volunteers sell special editions on street corners to raise money for literacy projects, including Newspapers In Education.

The paper also donated equipment, supplies and staff to co-teach a graduate-level class on using newspapers in the classroom.

Each week, more than 1 1/2 pages are devoted to education news. The Missourian also adopted L.J. Schultz seventh-grade center and helps them publish an award-winning school paper, The Paw.

"The Southeast Missourian has been a strong supporter of literacy programs in Southeast Missouri," Gifford wrote.