Stories to look for SATURDAY

Stories developing for Saturday's Southeast Missourian include...

Fountain Street extends

The city of Cape Girardeau receives its first check in a series of federal grants to help pay for the extension of Fountain Street from Morgan Oak to William. The $1.4 million project will be funded largely with federal money. It won't be just a regular concrete street. This one will feature pavers, decorative lighting and a planted median to complement the decorative section of Fountain Street by the River Campus. Reporter MARK BLISS shares the details.

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Scott County seeks new emergency director

Scott County is seeking a new E-911 director after the resignation of Lisa Mullin, who started around the beginning of the year, in June. County commissioners say turnover has been a major problem in the department, as communications personnel leave to take more lucrative employment elsewhere. Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger says the current plan is to try going without a director, using the county's jail administrator and a senior worker at the communications center for those duties. Scott County reporter MATT SANDERS reports how the county is dealing with the lack of a director in a department that has struggled with budgetary problems.

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Illinois goes smoke-free

Illinois will go smoke free in every business and other publc venue beginning Jan. 1. Business editor RUDI KELLER visits some restaurants in Alexander County to talk to the patrons and the employees about how they view the change and whether it will help or hurt sales. For one business owner, Bill Zelmer of Cape Girardeau who operates a Buffalo Wild Wings in Carbondale as well as the Cape Girardeau location, the ban isn't an issue as long as there are no exceptions.

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Cape names new engineer

Kelly Green has been dividing her time between her traffic planning duties for Cape Girardeau and the city's engineering office. She may be the first woman to hold the position, but she's also set to have a baby. With Kent Bratton's impending retirement and Green facing (at least some) maternity leave, reporter PEG McNICHOL finds out the future of the city's planning leadership.

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CHECK BACk at www.semissourian.com throughout the day for updates on these stories and more.