TOURNEY RAISES $5,000 FOR OFFICER

JACKSON -- Organizers of the Dan Niswonger Benefit Golf Tournament estimate they raised more than $5,000 Monday for the injured police officer and his family.

And they would have been hard-pressed to find a better day for golf.

"Everything went great," said Nash Haxel, the course professional at Bent Creek. "Everyone, no matter how they played, had a great time."

A foursome representing the Cape Girardeau Fire Department walked away with the top prize after shooting a net score of 54. City fire inspector Tom Hinkebein, Capt. Bob Kembel, and firefighters Ray Warner and Sam Adams received plaques and $50 gift certificates to the Bent Creek Pro Shop after turning in the 17-under-par score.

The four men were among 29 foursomes playing in the benefit scramble to raise money for Niswonger, a Cape Girardeau police officer injured April 2 when he was thrown from his police motorcycle after it collided with another vehicle.

Niswonger was working traffic control for a running event near the Show Me Center at the time of the accident.

After being released from the hospital earlier this month, Niswonger took time out of his therapy schedule to attend Monday's event. After speaking to the golfers at lunch, Niswonger rode around in a golf cart, as the golfers made their ways around the course.

But the tournament was about more than winning, said some participants.

"We just came out today because of the contribution that Danny made to Cape Girardeau," said James Banken, who took the day off from Van Matre Buick to play golf. "He is just a genuinely good guy."

Charles Lockheart, also from Van Matre, was impressed by the local support of a fallen police officer.

"I'm from Dallas, Texas, and something like we're doing today would never happen in a big city like that," he said. "The concern and compassion that is reflected by something like this, really puts a feather in the cap of the people of Cape Girardeau."

As the golf tournament wrapped up Monday evening, organizers of Saturday car and bike show at Arena Park met to iron out last minute details of the event.

The car show starts at 10 a.m. at Arena Park, followed by a parade at 3 p.m., and a poker run at 4 p.m. A benefit dance will be held from 8 p.m. until midnight at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. All proceeds from the day's events will be donated to the Niswonger family.