Concrete work by MoDOT scheduled in Perry Co.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Crews for the Missouri Department of Transportation will make repairs to highways in Perry County during the coming week. Concrete repairs to parts of Interstate 55 will be made today from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. While the repairs are being made, traffic will be reduced to one lane. A portion of Route P will be closed beginning April 6 for replacement of a bridge over Dry Fork Creek, about 2 miles west of Crosstown, Mo. The route will be closed for 1 1/2 miles west of Route C. Only local traffic will be permitted through the construction area. The bridge over the creek will be replaced with a 32-foot wide bridge and work includes grading, paving and drainage. The work is expected to be complete in August. Motorists are urged to use caution when driving through the construction area.

Cape chamber names educators of the year

The 2004 Educators of the Year, recently selected by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, are:

Dr. Shelba Branscum of Southeast Missouri State University

Teri Jones of Clippard Elementary

Rich Payne of the Cape Gir-ardeau Career and Technology Center

Barbara Randolph of Central Junior High School

Rhonda Young of Cape Christian School

Each year the chamber education committee selects four winners from K-12 public, private and parochial schools servicing Cape Girardeau. The chamber-university relations committee selects one winner from Southeast Missouri State University. The winners will be honored at the annual Educator of the Year Awards Banquet to be held at Drury Lodge on May 6. Each recipient will receive the prestigious Crystal Apple Award, $500 and a commemorative video.

Three school districts holding 'non-elections'

KENNETT, Mo. -- There will be no school district ballots available to voters in the Delta, Senath-Hornersville and Southland school districts when polling begins on Tuesday. Those districts will have what are called "non-elections," said Charles Isbell, Dunklin County clerk and the county's chief election official. The Missouri Legislature last year passed a law that allows candidates filing for office to be elected without a vote of the people when the number of candidates for office equals the number of positions to be elected, Isbell said. Only two candidates have filed for the two positions in each district.

-- From staff, wire reports

House candidate accused of stabbing

ROLLA, Mo. -- A candidate for the state House has been arrested on charges of first-degree assault for allegedly stabbing another man in the chest with a steak knife. James T. Brady, 56, of Doolittle, is accused of stabbing James Alton Shields, 31, of Rolla. The incident occurred Sunday night at the Rolla apartment of Marsha Ray, Brady's girlfriend. Brady is being held at the Phelps County jail in lieu of $150,000 bond. Shields was taken to a hospital but was released Monday. Brady is a Republican candidate in the 149th House district, currently held by Republican Bob May, of Rolla.