The Southeast Missourian has announced that new, specialized birth announcements are available to new parents and grandparents.

In addition to the free birth notices that appear in the records section of the newspaper, personalized birth announcements with details and photos will also be featured in Sunday's Good Times section.

The specialized birth announcements will be free of charge through April. Go to semissourian.com/forms/birth to find out how to submit your birth announcement and attach your photo.

Beginning in May, the cost for the announcements will be 15 cents per word with a minimum cost of $15. Photos may be attached at no extra charge.

Editor Bob Miller said he hopes that parents and grandparents who participate will be creative with their announcements.

"I can see parents writing these as letters to their newborns about what the world was like when they were born," he said. "Foremost, I hope parents include the essential information, such as you would see in any birth announcement. But I'm looking forward to seeing the personal touches that parents put into them. I think it will make a great keepsake to reflect back on. And I think our general reading audience will appreciate them as well."

The announcements will run as time and space allows in the "Love" pages of Good Times along with weddings, engagements and anniversaries.