Southeast Missourian receives preservation award

The Southeast Missourian building will be honored Thursday with a "Preserve Missouri Award," from the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation.

The 81-year-old building housing this newspaper was restored in 2005 using Historic Tax Credits from the state.

Thursday, Jon K. Rust, Rex D. Rust and Gary Rust will accept the award honoring the Southeast Missourian in the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City. The building is being honored along with six others located around the state.

Karen Bode Baxter is a historic preservation consultant who advised the newspaper on the rehabilitation work. Baxter also nominated the Rusts for this award, something she says she rarely does.

"They went above and beyond what they would have to do to save that building. They went above and beyond to rebuild the bay windows on the front of the building, they went above and beyond to repair and replicate those beautiful multi-colored glazed tiles on the building, just to take the building, retrofit it and then use it for a 21st century news publication is really an accomplishment," she said.

Check out www.semissourian.com or the Southeast Missourian Wednesday for more details.