AREA LEGISLATORS JOIN DRIVE TO AID DELTA CENTER

PORTAGEVILLE -- Six Southeast Missouri legislators have joined the effort to build a $1 million endowment for the University of Missouri Delta Center.

The newest members of the Delta Center Endowment Club of 1,000 are Sens. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau and Jerry Howard of Dexter.

Reps. Joe Heckemeyer of Sikeston, Don Prost of Caruthersville, Larry Thomason of Kennett and Gene Copeland of New Madrid also joined the effort.

University President Emeritus George Russell, formerly of Bertrand, and Jim Snider, university lobbyist, of Columbia, have also joined the club.

All have pledged to give $1,000 for a permanent endowment for the Delta Center, the university's agricultural experiment station in Portageville. The annual field day was Aug. 29.

The Delta Center Advisory Board has set a goal of $1,000 donations from 1,000 supporters to establish the endowment.

The endowment would be used to fund research projects, scholarships and fund the station's operations. So far, 150 people have pledged donations.