STUDENTS TO HEAR FROM FORMER NFL LINEMAN

John Earle, a former NFL lineman, will be giving a series of inspirational speeches to area students next week.

On Monday, he will meet with students at Central High School, Central Junior High School and Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau.

On Tuesday, Earle will meet with students at Cairo High School, Kelly High School in Benton and Schultz Middle School in Cape Girardeau.

On Wednesday, he will speak to students at Chaffee Junior/Senior High School, St. Vincent High School in Perryville and Advance Junior/Senior High School.

Earle's visit is being sponsored by SportsWorld Ministry, said Bob Nations, who helped organize Earle's visit to Southeast Missouri. Earle will deliver a message of hope geared toward helping students "make the right decisions and treat others the way they want to be treated," Nations said.

From 1992 to 1996, Earle played as center and guard for several teams, including the St. Louis Rams, Cincinatti Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Stallions.