YELL: THANKS FOR SUPPORTING LITERACY EFFORTS

Today is YELL Day, another annual episode in this newspaper's continuing effort to promote Youth, Education, Learning and Literacy. Hundreds of volunteers are out on street corners this morning, hawking special YELL editions of the Southeast Missourian that aim to foster these goals. These are your friends and neighbors, taking time out of busy schedules to join in this worthy cause.

In the short seven years of its existence, YELL has won countless state and national awards, both within the newspaper industry and within the volunteer sector. Timed to coincide with the start of the annual United Way fund drive, YELL has been a successful way to stimulate reading in people of all ages, but especially in young people of school age.

Through YELL, the Southeast Missourian is proud to join with our many hardworking educators in the Newspaper in Education program. Each year, thanks to the support you give to YELL, we are able to place thousands of newspapers in area classrooms. There they are used by students and teachers to promote literacy and reading habits while helping to teach everything from current events to science and geography.

An effective, broad-based program such as YELL doesn't just happen. It takes a great team effort from hundreds of volunteers working with staffers at this newspaper. To one and all, an especially to those of you who buy this special edition, a big thanks.