FUND RAISERS HELP TRANSIT SYSTEM REPLACE AGING VAN

CHAFFEE -- The Scott County Transit System, Inc., is having a dinner, dance and auction to raise money to purchase another van to add to its aging fleet.

"We have six vans now we're replacing one all of them have well over 100,000 miles on them," said Marilyn Schlosser, project manager of the transit system.

In 1981, Scott City Senior Citizens Transportation System, Inc., started to answer a need for transportation in the Scott City area, with one van and one volunteer. In 1985, the system expanded into the Chaffee area and changed its name to Scott County Transit System, Inc.

The system once again expanded in 1988, this time into Sikeston and surrounding rural areas to provide transportation service to the entire county.

The purpose of Scott County Transit System is to provide safe, efficient transportation service for elderly, handicapped and for the general public in Scott County.

More recently, the transit system has transported children for the Division of Family Services, the Easter Seals, Head Start and to several other day-care or educational facilities.

The six, specially-trained employees of the transit system make between 1,500-2,000 trips each month, taking those who can pay and those who can't, anywhere they need to go, she said.

"We have a lot of contracted runs," Schlosser said. The contracted service runs pays for a fraction of the operational costs of the transit system.

"The majority of our funds come from the Missouri Highway Transportation Department, in the form of grants," Schlosser said.

Those who are able to contribute for their transportation to and from the doctor, therapy, GED-classes, etc., do so; if they are unable to pay, they arenot be denied transport, she said.

To buy a new, 15-passenger van, the transit system must raise $4,000-$5,000, outside the operational account. The state will make up for the rest of the cost of the van.

The transit system has one van that is specially equipped for wheelchair access, but Schlosser admits that there will be a need for another one like it within the next couple of years.

So to raise money for the new van, the transit system will host a dinner-dance at the VFW Hall in Chaffee on March 27, starting at 5 p.m.

The highlight of the evening is a fashion show hosted by several Scott County businessmen.

For more information about the Scott County Transit System or for tickets to the dinner, call the transit offices at 472-3030 or 887-6577.