VENTURE INSERTS WILL BE IN MISSOURIAN

Venture stores Inc. inserts will appear in the Southeast Missourian newspaper Sunday, despite rumors that the company had canceled all insert advertising.

"We have our inserts in hand, and they will appear in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff and Dexter newspapers," said Irvin Landewee, Major Accounts Manager and Pre-Print Coordinator.

Reports early Thursday from the St. Louis area indicated that inserts had "been pulled," fueling some speculation that Venture Stores may be preparing to go out of business.

Later in the day, some area broadcast media reported that the insert would not appear in local Southeast Missourian newspapers.

But, the inserts are going out Sunday, and a Venture Store spokesman at Cape Girardeau, said the store would be open.

A Venture Store spokesperson at St. Louis called reports of "going out of business" speculation.

Jan. 20, Venture Stores Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.