Region briefs 04/02/03

Rust Communications purchases Indiana paper

Rust Communications has purchased the daily newspaper in Bloomfield, Ind., from William Miles. The sale of the Evening World was effective Tuesday.

Randy List, publisher of three other Rust newspapers in Greencastle, Brazil and Linton, Ind., will also be the publisher of the Bloomfield newspaper. Chris Pruett, general manager of the Linton Daily Citizen, will also be the general manager of The Evening World.

With this latest acquisition, Cape Girardeau-based Rust Communications has 17 daily newspapers, 28 paid-circulation weekly newspapers and several other publications and niche products in seven states.

Exporting will be topic of First Friday Coffee

Representatives of the U.S. Export Assistance Center and the Missouri District Export Council will discuss exporting for small and medium businesses at First Friday Coffee.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event will be held Friday at 7:30 a.m. at the Show Me Center.

Award presentations will be given to two Chamber members for their achievement in exporting. Lloyd Smith, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's office, will make the presentations. Also, the recipients of the 2003 Educator of the Year Awards will be announced.

Man pleads innocent to killing KMOX personality

CLAYTON, Mo. -- After earlier insisting that he was guilty, Thomas Erbland Jr. entered an innocent plea Tuesday in the death of his wife, KMOX radio personality Nan Wyatt.

Erbland, 43, is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 18 shooting death of Wyatt, 44, at the couple's home in the St. Louis suburban Twin Oaks.

Erbland originally admitted shooting Wyatt several times with a .357-caliber handgun. Police say the couple had been having marital difficulties.

-- From staff, wire reports