New call center could open in Cape Girardeau

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A new call center could bring up to 500 jobs to Cape Girardeau.

That’s the message Cape Giradeau Area MAGNET Director Mitch Robinson brought to last week’s First Friday Coffee.

Robinson did not disclose the name of the call center company, but said its arrival in Cape Girardeau will be similar to the opening of the NARS in 2007.

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will host a career fair on Thursday, October 20. Representatives from the new call center will accept applications, as well as several other local businesses. The career fair will be held at the Osage Center.

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Cape Central to begin construction of Performing Arts Center

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Construction crews will break ground next week on Cape Central High School’s new Performing Arts Center.

The Cape Girardeau School District awarded the construction contract to Sides Construction from Jackson on September 26. The school system used the same contractor to build the new Tiger Stadium.

Assistant Superintendent of operations Neil Glass says the 1000 seat facility will benefits students who are interested in performance and in technical aspects of the theatre.

"It will be a start-of-the-art auditorium with everything that students need now to be able to go out in the real world and run their own performing arts center if they so choose," Glass said.

The project will cost 6.6 million dollars. One million dollars come from a individual donor, while the rest is from a voter-approved bond issue to renovate, expand and modernize Cape Girardeau Public School facilities.

Glass says he hopes to complete the Performing Arts Center by November or December 2012.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Mo. GOP accuse Nixon of not doing homework on Weaver Dickerson

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - After the Stoddard County Prosecuting attorney is published saying the Department of Economic development isn't cooperating, the Missouri Republican party accused Governor Jay Nixon of protecting a felon.

The Southeast Missourian published an article saying after 8 months there has been no progress on the Weaver Dickerson case - involving 2 million dollars to a proposed medical facility.

According to the Stoddard County Prosecuting Attourney Nixon's Department of Economic Development didn't give the material he needed to continue the case.

Dickerson was the proposed CEO of potential Medical Facility in Cape Girardeau.

He was found to have lied about his criminal record a week after Governor Nixon announced the 2 million in funding for the project.

The Missouri Republican Party claims Governor Nixon could have prevented this- and other economic development failures like Mamtek - if he would have just done his homework.

Ashley Massow, Missouri Digital News

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Southeast volleyball team continues "Dig for Life"

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Southeast Missouri State University volleyball team has been participating in the Dig for Life campaign since it was started in 2000 by volleyball coach Cindy Gannon.

When current volleyball coach Julie Folliard was hired, prior to the 2011 season, she was given the opportunity to stop the Dig for Life campaign.

But Folliard said, without hesitation, she wanted to get involved and keep it going.

"The amount that they’ve done, St. Francis has been a huge part of it, and really made it a successful campaign. I’ve known many women that have battled the disease; parents of former players, lots of people in my life that have battled this disease, so I think it’s really something that we need to get the word out," Folliard said.

The personal connection Folliard has to breast cancer is shared by many people in Southeast Missouri.

That is why the campaign has raised over $75,000 since it began in 2000.

All proceeds go directly to St. Francis Medical Center and are used for breast cancer awareness and mammogram screenings for those women who can’t afford them.

Drew Yount, KRCU

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Over 300 students visit Southeast Ag Center

GORDONVILLE, MO (KRCU) - Over 300 high school juniors and seniors from 14 high schools visited Southeast Missouri State University’s agricultural facilities Wednesday for an Educational Field Day.

Many of the students are members of Future Farmers of America.

David Mauk instructs agricultural business and agricultural education at Southeast. He says the field day is different because many high schoolers only see the university’s main campus.

"Not all of the students get to see the ag research center. So it’s an opportunity for them to see something from what they normally see, as well as the greenhouse complex that we have," Mauk said.

Students visited the Barton Agricultural Research Center and the Hutson Horticulture Greenhouse.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Cab Calloway Orchestra coming to River Campus

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus touring series will kick off with the Cab Calloway Orchestra this Friday.

The orchestra is directed by Calloway Brooks, the grandson of legendary band leader Cab Calloway. He will bring the orchestra’s jazzy, upbeat sounds to the Bedell Performance Hall stage.

Ellen Farrow is the River Campus box office manager.

"We’re about 50% sold, a little over 400 tickets. Normally with this economy, everybody waits until the last minute, so we have plenty available for the public to purchase," Farrow said.

The Bedell Performance Hall’s capacity is 900. Tickets can be purchased at the River Campus box office.

Lauren Campbell and Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Ozark hellbender listed as an endangered species

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Ozark hellbender as a federally endangered species that cannot be harmed, killed, or bought and sold as a pet. The new legal protections should improve the chances of survival for this unusual aquatic salamander.

The now officially endangered Ozark hellbender is found only in the streams of the White River system in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.

Ozark hellbender populations have dropped by 75 percent since the 1980s, with fewer than 600 remaining in the wild.

The main threats facing hellbenders are water pollution, habitat loss from mining, dams, and erosion, and collection for the pet trade.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also listed both the Ozark and eastern hellbenders as protected under CITES, an international agreement to prevent rare and endangered species from being commercially bought and sold.

At up to two feet in length, the hellbender is one of the largest salamanders in the world.

Véronique LaCapra, St. Louis Public Radio

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