TUESDAY IS YELL DAY

The weather forecasters say Tuesday will start off clear and cool as the sun comes up. That is welcome news for several hundred volunteers who will spend a few early-morning hours hawking copies of the Southeast Missourian's annual YELL edition.

This award-winning project, now in its fifth year, raises money for reading programs, literacy grants and the Newspaper In Education program. Each year the volunteers stand on street corners selling the special edition. Year after year, the general public responds graciously and enthusiastically. Many individuals purchase several copies just so they can show their support.

YELL stands for Youth-Education-Literacy-Learning. The aims of the program are to help students and adults learn how to read and to encourage reading for a lifetime of benefits. Thousands of young people -- and older ones too -- have benefited from the various programs that share the proceeds of the one-day YELL campaign.

Be sure to watch for all those volunteers with their special copies of the YELL edition. Participate in the battle to fight illiteracy and promote reading by purchasing a copy. Future readers will thank you for it.