St. John News hams it up on Tonight Show By Gale Rose of the Tribune Staff

The St. John News is in the business of reporting news in the St. John area but it was recently the focus of national attention when one of its stories was featured on a special segment of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The popular weekly segment features humorous items from newspapers from around the country. Someone, exactly who is unknown, sent a copy of the Wednesday, May 18, St. John News to The Tonight Show.

The front page story on that day featured the opening of the Twin Pines Restaurant. A portion of one paragraph describing the menu caught the unknown reader's eye.

Leno displayed the front page of the paper and read the highlighted paragraph giving it his special comedy comment.

"Here's the Twin Pines Restaurant set to open next week in Kansas.

"It says, 'Breakfast will include the traditional bacon-and-eggs fare.

"However, for those with healthier appetites, pork steak and eggs will be available.' Yes, if you're one of them health conscious folks, we have pork and eggs," Leno said.

To view stills of Leno with the St. John News and other humorous newspaper headlines, articles, advertisements and wedding announcements, visit the web site at: www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Tonight _Show_with_Jay_Leno/headlines/H_2960/19.shtml#headline.

The St. John News is a sister publication of the Tribune. Both newspapers are owned by Liberty Group Publishing of Northbrook, Ill.