RESERVE WILL EXPAND TO CAPE; TWO DETACHMENTS SHOULD PROVIDE BOOST TO ECONOMY

The U.S. Army Reserve is reorganizing two of its reserve detachments, which could lead to a multimillion-dollar operation in Cape Girardeau.

A new engineer reserve unit is in the process of putting a detachment here.

"We already have a full-time person here," said Maj. William Roykaup, who has 20 years in the military, 16 with the Army Reserve in the St. Louis area.

The 348th Group will train at the Naval Reserve Training Center, 2530 Maria Louise Lane. Plans call for two engineer groups in Southeast Missouri with about 124 members at Cape Girardeau and 33 members at Poplar Bluff, said Roykaup.

"We'll be looking for pipefitters, construction workers, masons and mechanics," said Roykaup, who was guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee Friday.

Prior to Roykaup's presentation Cape Girardeau Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Steska discussed Tuesday's passage of the bond issue for a new high school. "We're looking at dirt work beginning this summer with a target date of opening the school during the fall of 2002," said Steska.

Roykaup also revealed plans that the government will bring back the 21st General Hospital Detachment. It was here from 1985 through September 1993, when it was deactivated as part of downsizing and reorganization. The detachment is among the oldest units in the Army Reserve. It was formed at Washington University in St. Louis during World War I and saw action in World War II and Desert Storm.

The detachments will provide an economic boost to the area, said Roykaup. Payroll for the two groups in Cape Girardeau could amount to $759,000, with the larger engineer detachment accounting for the lion's share at $534,000. The smaller Poplar Bluff engineer group's payroll could amount to $256,000.

The financial impact will mean much more, said Lt. Col. Kimberly Weaver, an administrator in the Reserve at St. Louis. "We figure the overall impact at about $10,000 per member, not counting the salaries," said Weaver, who was on hand for Friday's coffee.

That adds up to some hefty totals for Southeast Missouri: $2 million, with $1.67 million at Cape Girardeau and $333,000 at Poplar Bluff.

"It could be more," said Weaver. "At first the groups will be training at the Naval Reserve. We could be looking at another facility here if everything goes well."

Sgt. 1st Class Warren Mosbey is already stationed at the Naval Center here.

"We're looking for recruits now," he said. "Anyone interested can contact the Army recruiting station on Broadway." Reservists train one weekend a month and serve on active duty two weeks out of the year.