YELL IS NEAR; MCGWIRE SOUVENIR INCLUDED IN EDITION

Remember the way Mark McGwire watched the specially marked ball head toward left field as he sprinted toward first base? Remember, in his jubilation, how he almost missed first base? Remember where you were when McGwire hit his record-breaking 62nd home run?

The Southeast Missourian is putting together a souvenir, eight-page section to help everyone remember McGwire's swing into history.

The McGwire section will be included in this year's YELL edition and will be sold Tuesday on street corners in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. The $2 donation for the special edition will fund literacy efforts locally.

In addition to eight pages of photos and stories about McGwire, the YELL edition will have a 16-page reprint of the Southeast Missourian's eight-day series on methamphetamine. The newspaper examined in-depth the drug's hold on the region and efforts to stamp it out.

Some 40 Beanie Babies will be awarded to lucky YELL purchasers. Coupons for the collectible babies will be randomly inserted in the newspapers. Among the 40 Beanie Babies to be given away are the highly sought-after Glory Bear and Fortune Bear.

The YELL edition will contain stories about literacy efforts under way in the community. A number of local people have written essays about the importance of reading or what they enjoy reading.

YELL stands for Youth Education Literacy and Learning. Money collected during the one-day fund raiser is used for the Southeast Missourian's Newspaper In Education program. Newspapers are delivered to area classrooms at no cost to schools. In addition, a portion of YELL proceeds will be awarded to local literacy initiatives.

For information, contact Kim McDowell, YELL coordinator, at (573) 335-6611.