YELL PAGES ON MCGWIRE ARE BEING EXPANDED

Response to a souvenir newspaper section dedicated to Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire will be 12 pages, four pages more than originally planned.

"It's a home run," said Pat Zellmer, advertising manager for the Southeast Missourian. "It's a home run for those people who have chosen to participate. They help celebrate this wonderful achievement by Mark McGwire, and at the same time they are making it possible for our own children to achieve their dreams."

The section is part of this year's YELL edition, which will be sold Tuesday morning on street corners in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. The $2 donation helps literacy efforts in the community.

Only 10,000 copies of the McGwire section will be printed.

In addition to highlights from the hitter, the YELL edition will have a 16-page reprint of the Southeast Missourian's eight-day series on methamphetamine. The newspaper examined in-depth the drug's hold on the region and efforts to stamp it out.

Some 40 Beanie Babies will be awarded to lucky YELL purchasers. Coupons for the collectible babies will be randomly inserted in the newspapers. Among the 40 Beanie Babies to be given away are the highly sought-after Glory Bear and Fortune Bear.

The YELL edition has stories about literacy efforts under way in the community. A number of local people have written essays about the importance of reading or what they enjoy reading.

YELL stands for Youth Education Literacy and Learning. Money collected during the one-day fund raiser is used for the Southeast Missourian's Newspaper In Education program. Newspapers are delivered to area classrooms at no cost to schools. In addition, a portion of YELL proceeds will be awarded to local literacy initiatives.

For information, contact Kim McDowell, YELL coordinator, at (573) 335-6611.