Region digest 09/11/04

Mall store giving money to ease Russian tragedy

Hailing from Ukraine, Cape Girardeau's Nataliya Agashchuk said the recent tragedy in Beslan, Russia, affected her not only as a fellow Eastern European, but as a mother. "Children have no nationality," she said. So to help the victims of the terrorist incident and their families, Agashchuk will donate 10 percent of every purchase made at her Euro Decor collectibles store up to Oct. 1 to the American Red Cross. Euro Decor, at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau, sells porcelain figurines, china and tea sets for gifts and home decoration. The Russian restaurant Cafe Azu on Broadway also is donating 10 percent of its gross sales to the Red Cross until Oct. 1.

Head-on collision results in minor injuries

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A two-car head-on accident a mile east of Marble Hill sent two people to the hospital with minor injuries. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said that at 11:55 p.m. Thursday, a northbound 1996 Ford driven by Billie J. Wade, 25, of Marble Hill, crossed into the southbound lane of Bollinger County Road 401 and hit a 1999 Ford driven by Jeffrey L. Keim, 35, of Leopold, Mo. Wade and a passenger in Keim's car, Robin L. Cook, 43, of Jackson, were taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Cape history book to be topic of KRCU show

Dr. Frank Nickell and Joel Rhodes, authors of a new book on Cape Girardeau history, will be the featured guests Sunday on KRCU's "Going Public" radio show. The two Southeast Missouri State University history professors recently wrote "Historic Cape Girardeau: An Illustrated History." The show will air at 3 p.m. on 90.9 FM.

Missouri plans to open marketing office in China

CLAYTON, Mo. -- Missouri will open a marketing office in China by the end of the year in an effort to help the state's businesses gain a foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing markets, Gov. Bob Holden said Friday. To help inaugurate the effort, Holden and his wife, Lori Hauser Holden, will visit China Sept. 21 through Oct. 2. That trip will be paid for by the Hawthorn Foundation, a privately funded group aimed at assisting the state in economic development activities. The office in Shanghai will cost the state $150,000 annually, Holden said.

-- From staff, wire reports