FRIENDS OF PARK AID IN RECORD NUMBERS

The smell of flowers and the sight of 500 people cleaning, mulching and raking city parks can only mean it is springtime.

The largest group of "Friends of the Park" volunteers in the program's 12-year history turned out Saturday at Cape Girardeau's city parks. Capaha Park saw the largest group, more than 400 people; 50 more tended Arena Park. Groups of 20 worked at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course and Washington Park, while another 15 put a shine on Dennis Scivally Park.

"This was a record year," Penny Blandford, recreation supervisor and cleanup organizer, said. "The weather was very cooperative -- it certainly brought the volunteers out."

In Jackson, almost 75 people spent the day cleaning three of the city's parks. Volunteers raked and picked up litter and leaves at Brookside, City and Litz parks, Jackson Park Superintendent Dave Bierer said.

The city coordinated the cleanup with its Arbor Day celebration. Seedlings were distributed and Mayor Paul Sander signed the Arbor Day proclamation. Bierer said it was one of the largest turnouts Jackson has seen for park clean-up.

In Cape Girardeau, Blandford said the size of the volunteer group allowed for the completion of a wide range of projects, including: planting the flower boxes, mulching the trees and "tot lots," waxing playground equipment, painting, raking the sand volleyball courts at Arena Park and general spring cleaning.

Blandford said even though park workers are constantly tidying up the park, it takes the effort of hundreds of busy hands to really get things clean.

"The volunteers get to see the fruits, so to speak, of today's labors all summer long," she said.

Blandford said park officials began planning projects for the cleanup in late March.

Jackie Todd, a former Cape Girardeau park board member, has been participating in the Cape Girardeau cleanups nearly every year since it started. A master gardener, Todd said one of the things he does is teach some of the area's youth the finer points of planting flowers.

Every year he works with a group of 7- to 9-year-old Brownies, showing them how to handle the flowers they will be planting and how to organize the arrangements. He encourages the girls to return later in the year with their parents and friends to show off the results of their labor.

Todd said picking up other people's trash in the park might make some of the younger participants think twice about littering.

Drew Dietz, park foreman, said each spring more than 1,200 flowers are planted in the city's parks. Almost 80 percent are planted during the Friends of the Park Day.

"This really helps out," Dietz said. "If we had to do this on our own, especially around construction projects, we would really be stretched."

Dan Muser, parks and recreation director, said it must be civic pride that draws so many people to the parks.

"They get a good meal, hot dogs and potato chips, but I don't think that in itself is what is bringing people out," Muser said. It gives him great pleasure to see people all year wearing their Friends of the Park T-shirts.

"I think parents like to bring out their kids to teach them community spirit and responsibility," Muser said.

Jackson golfers a 'tiger' on the links

JACKSON -- Jackson's golf squad remained undefeated on the season, defeating Notre Dame and Malden in a triangular match at Bent Creek on Wednesday.

Jackson (10-0), which saw three of its players share medalist honors, finished with 155, followed by Notre Dame (164) and Malden (206).

Travis Reiminger, John Litz and Clint Faries all shot 2-over-par 38s on the front nine. Matt Wilson shot 41 to round out Jackson's team total.

"That's a good score for us," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We had been around 159, 160."

Jonathan LeGrand led Notre Dame with a 40. Dan Buerck and Chris Koepper each carded 41s and Cliff Seratti shot 42.

Jackson girls 'kick' Notre Dame

Jackson 3, Notre Dame 1

JACKSON -- In soccer action, the Jackson girls team improved to 4-2 and dropped Notre Dame to 4-4-1 with Monday's win.

Dana Eakins scored two goals and Hallie Roseman had the other for Jackson while Jill Edwards tallied for Notre Dame.

"It was a pretty good game," said Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley. "We played them pretty tight, but Jackson has a good team."

Jackson isn't scheduled again until the Lady Indians travel to Marion (Ill.) on Tuesday.

Jackson golfers tie for third

Poplar Bluff Invitational

POPLAR BLUFF -- Jackson and Cape Central golfers placed well behind first-place Poplar Bluff last Monday during the seventh annual Poplar Bluff Invitational.

Poplar Bluff won the 14-team tournament with a team total of 307 for 18 holes. Jackson tied with Sikeston for third with a 341. Central took seventh with a 345. Arcadia Valley finished in second place while New Madrid and Farmington tied for fifth.

Jackson was led by a 79 shot by Travis Reiminger. John Litzelfelner and Tyler Luebbers both carded 85's and Clint Faries shot 92.

"We'd been averaging a lot lower than what we shot, so it wasn't a really good day for us," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "But we still tied for third."

Central was led by Danny Grossbeck, who shot an 81. Dane McLaird followed with an 85, then Bryan Welker (86) and Chris Patterson (93).

CAPE COUNTY EXTENSION CLUBS CONVENE IN JACKSON

JACKSON -- Members of Cape Girardeau County extension clubs held the annual All Clubs Day on March 31 at New McKendree United Methodist Church.

The devotional was given by Mary Clingingsmith of Cheerful Country Doers. Roll call was each telling her most enjoyable program of the year.

Mary Klaproth conducted the business session. It was decided that Oct. 10 is the deadline for applying for the $300 extension club scholarship. May 15 is the deadline to apply for the MAFCE scholarship to attend the state meeting.

The district meeting is April 23 at the KC Hall in Jackson, and each club is to bring a pound item for auction.

A trip to Nashville is planned June 6-8.

The morning program was presented by Robert Lancaster. He gave a magic show, told of his heart transplant and urged members to consider being an organ donor.

Opal Collins presided during the afternoon session. Joe Horner gave a slide presentation of a month-visit in Kazakhstan.

Several members were recognized and received pins for their years of extension work. They are: Becky Franklin and Nell Houlihan, 20 years; Roberta Cotner, Joan Meyer, Verna Petzoldt, Carolyn Thompson, Linda Thompson and Vera Weiser, 30 years.

Kage, Capaha and Cheerful Country Doers clubs received attendance awards. The Oak Ridge Club received the traveling silver cup for Outstanding Club of the Year. Town and Country and Kage clubs were first and second runners-up, respectively.

JACKSON SCHOOLS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The Board of Education of Reorganized School District R-2, Jackson, is seeking applications for consideration of the following positions for the 1997-98 school year: Assistant director of building and grounds, and certified school bus diesel mechanic. Applications and position descriptions may be obtained at the office of the Superintendent of Schools, 221 S. Oklahoma, Jackson, Mo. 63755.

Life skills taught by Jackson intramurals

Sixth-grader Damien Heuring, left, returned the ball during a game of intramural pingpong while Matt Gregory watched. Sixth- and seventh-graders have been enjoying pingpong, kick ball, volleyball and basketball since the program began this year.

Johnny Gast, right, slapped the ball away from Lance Bolling during a game of basketball after lunch at Jackson Middle School. Sixth- and seventh-graders have lunch and then about 20 minutes of exercise.

JACKSON -- Students are enjoying food, fitness and fun during lunchtime at Jackson Middle School.

After a quick meal in the cafeteria, sixth- and seventh-graders are running into the gymnasium for a ballgame as part of the school's pilot intramural program. The program has been very successful this year, and teachers hope it will be expanded next year to include even more students and activities.

T-shirts, trophies and bragging rights are at stake during the games, which were developed to teach kids how to stay healthy. Winners of the round-robin tournaments also get to hear the names of their teams announced each morning over the school loudspeaker.

"We're teaching lifetime skills out there," said physical education teacher and program volunteer Josie Glueck. "We're trying to teach them to find something, anything they want to do and build on it."

The program is set up with athletic tournaments for various sports, including basketball, volleyball, kickball and pingpong. Sixth-graders form classroom teams for their group competition, and seventh-graders form their own teams.

"I think this gives them the chance to succeed with groups they feel comfortable with," Glueck said. "We've got 100 percent participation from the sixth-graders, and out of 300 seventh-graders we've got 180 to 190 participating. I think that says a lot."

Glueck said the program helps students learn to work in groups and to develop individual skills. It also builds the physical equation program because the students use skills they learn in their P.E. classes.

It also helps build self-esteem because students don't worry about not being the best at a sport and are able to concentrate on having fun.

"Right now it's a chance they're getting to participate without feeling they're getting penalized for not having a lot of skill," Glueck said. "Everybody gets to play, so everyone has a chance to get out there and have fun."

Sixth-grader Erin Mayfield, 11, said she enjoys the program because it's voluntary and because everyone gets to be involved. It's also fun to have the floating trophy in the classroom after winning a tournament, she said.

"When we win, it's like a big accomplishment," said Mayfield. "It sits up in our room and other classes come in and look at it. It's pretty neat."

Glueck said the program also allows teachers to show they care about the students and their interests. "The teachers are always coming in and out to see how their kids are doing," she said. "The kids appreciate it when the teachers come in because they are showing they care. That's one of the main things we hope they get out of this."