Region digest 08/28/04

Center needs volunteers to tutor an hour a week

Cape Girardeau's Adult Learning Center is searching for volunteers to tutor students. According to director Nancy Branson, several students in the program currently need tutors in reading, writing, math and English as a second language. Tutoring is typically one hour a week at the center at 301 N. Clark St. For more information about volunteering, call 334-3669.

Two people injured in accident near Benton

BENTON, Mo. -- Two Scott County residents sustained moderate injuries on Highway 77 on Thursday. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at 5 p.m. 2.5 miles south of Benton when a 1993 Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by Benny DeLong, 37 of Scott City rear-ended a 1991 Dodge Shadow driven by Sequoyah Colbert, 73, of Benton. Both drivers were taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Senate leader Kinder speaks at area business

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder held a small business roundtable discussion on Friday at JCS/Tel-Link in Cape Girardeau. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the benefits of President Bush's policies toward small business. The Cape Girardeau Republican told the gathering of about eight area business people that Bush's tax cuts have greatly benefited small businesses and the economy. However, Kinder said that the proposals Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry is making -- such as repealing Bush's tax cuts -- would harm the economy. "I believe Kerry when he says he wants to turn this economy around," Kinder said. "I believe he wants to turn around the economy from the robust recovery it has experienced over the last 14 months."

-- From staff reports