The Daily Journal from Flat River, Missouri • 2

1 7 Page 2-- The Daily Journal, Flat River, Wednesday, October 21, 1987 New Post Office Farmington chamber hears plans for building The Farmington post office has reached the "saturation point," a condition which has created the need to build a new facility or renovate an existing building, Dee Griffin told the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Griffin, the superintendent of postal operations at Dexter, is currently serving as the officer in charge at Farmington until a new post master is selected. He told chamber members the current facility, built in 1932, has become "cramped," 1 both for postal worker and the customers they serve. A new or renovated post office will benefit everyone, he said, adding, "we are here to serve the public, not make it hard on them." The Farmington post office currently has six rural and seven city mail routes. A total of 568 post office boxes are now being rented, with a waiting list of 25 customers, Griffin said.

A larger post office will accomodate 1,000 post office boxes, as well as "parcel boxes" for customers, he added. Rural route delivers have increased from 1,255 in 1969 to more than 2,900 currently. "In town" mail delivers have also increased to 3,519, from a level of 3,189 in 1979, Griffin said. Ten years ago, the Farmington post office served a population of more than 15,000 customers; today it has more than 18,000 customers, according to figures presented to the chamber. Based on projections for the year 2001, Griffin said the new post office will need 87,000 square feet for operations.

Additional parking for customers, and expanded mail routes are also on the horizon, according to the postal official. He said the Postal Service began seeking bids for another building Sept. 15, with the bidding process running for one month. The bids and acquisition of property will be handled by officials in Overland Park, and Griffin estimated that a site could be selected next March. Griffin anticipates the site of the next Farmington post office will be in the downtown area.

It will be up to Postal officials in Kansas to decide if a new building will be erected, or an existing site will be renovated. The entire project, including land acquition and work on the facility will carry a price tag or approximately $2.5 million, Griffin said. Completion of the facility i is projected for 1991. The post office will be large enough to accomodate a work force for 2001, which means six to eight employees will be added to work in the facility as well as deliver mail. A larger lobby and service window will be included, and Griffin anticipates driveup windows will be part of the package to serve postal customers.

Responding to a question from the audience, Griffin said the current post office on East Columbia will be appraised and offered for sale after another facility is found to replace it. The old facility could be offered for sale to the city or the county, he added. During his address to the chamber, Griffin said he wanted to stress that "the post office here is not closing." Bonnie Born, field representative for the American Cancer Society, also addressed the chamber during the October meeting. She said during visits to the community, she determined there is a need for cancer prevention and control in the area. Mrs.

Born said she will be working with local residents, school officials, businesses and organizations to establish educational programs and services dealing with cancer prevention and control here. Volunteers interested in taking part in the programs are welcome to join the American Cancer Society, she said. Success in Grand Prix clears debt for city's Chamber of Commerce The success of the Flat River Grand Prix means that city's Chamber of Commerce is "debt-free," according to chamber president Ken Douglas. Douglas said the motorcycle race grossed $12,500, with profits of $5,800 for the chamber. With those profits, he added, the chamber paid off a note to Coca Cola on the Industrial Park land purchase.

A write on the two-day race will be published in January 1988 issue of "Dirtbike" Magazine. "We're in the best financial shape we've been in for years," Douglas said. Douglas also announced that the chamber's Installation Banquet has been scheduled Saturday, Jan. 16 at Mineral Area College. Plank Road Inn will cater the event, and speakers are being sought.

His remarks came at the regular October meeting at the Southwestern Bell office in Flat River. A tour of the facilities and the new switching station highlighted the meeting. "We're very proud of this switch," said Mike Bertrand. Bertrand said the new switching equipment went into operation Oct. 3.

The new equipment allows for expanding and updating the local office's services he said. "This equipment will take us way into the year he said. Bertrand explained the Farmington office will be the next to be converted to digital equipment in September 1988. "I'm real anxious to convert the whole territory," he said. Jerry Burton, manager for network maintenance, explained the Flat River switch handles 6,500 customers in the '431' exchange, and acts as the toll-switching center for 23 surrounding communities, routing long distance calls up to St.

Louis for or the Southwestern Bell station there. Above, Jerry Burton of Southwestern Bell shows off the main distribution frame at the Flat River switching station. The Flat River Chamber toured that facility Tuesday afternoon. Staff photo by Peggy 'Farrell Low bid given recommendation in Wolf Creek bridge project 20 The low-bidder on the contract to construct a new bridge over Wolf Creek on Possum Hollow Road south of Farmington was recommended Tuesday by the County Commission to get the project. The commission's recomendation was forwarded to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department by letter, as suggested by the consulting engineering firm of Bryan and Associates of Jefferson City.

Project engineer Mitch Strother of the consulting firm said all bids received last week had been reviewed in detail and the bid of Harry Houf and Sons, of Prison (Continued from page 1) does not see the population at Farmington going much beyond currently projected levels. "Unlike the other places, such as Moberly and Pacific, we do not have any place to put more inmates," he said. One area in which a major difference exists from what was anticipated, Dowd admits, is the number of inmates in protective custody. When inmates were being transferred from other institutions to Farmington, FCC got many who were i in protective custody. These are inmates who, for varying reasons, consider it extremely hazardous to be in the general prison population.

Some, by agreement, may be double-bunked but in most cases the inmates are assigned one to a cell. The general situation is that they are segregated from the general population. Administrative segregation also requires individual cells for many who are being disciplined, Dowd said, but officials are trying to reduce this number. Depending upon what caused the discipline and the compatibility of the inmates, they might be assigned two to a cell. Dowd said the FCC staff will be Today's Stocks The following selected stock information is supplied by Edward D.

Jones and Farmington. All prices are as of about noon EDT. LG (Laclede Gas) UEP (Union Electric) MD (McDonnell-Douglas) WETT (Wetterau) MTC (Monsanto) MTRC (Mercantile Bank) BOAT (Boatman Bank) FLR (Fluro-St. Joe) RAL (Ralston) CM (Comm. Bancshares) WMT (Wal-Mart) ABUD (Anheuser-Busch) EN (Enron) AC (American Can) Students at West Elementary in Elvins have nominated a couple from each grade to compete in the Family Fun Day King and Queen contest Saturday, Oct.

24. In the first row, from left, are Christy AuBuchon and Tony Crabdree, kindergarten; second row: Rory Dischbein and Michelle Dix, second grade, and Angie Nabors and Lucas Politte, first grade; third row: Brian McFarland and Jodi Warwick, fourth grade, and Christy Murphy and Chris Halters, third grade; last row: Jimmy Barnett and Sara Cross, fifth grade, and Misty Bales and. Scott Faircloth, sixth grade. Winners will be crowned Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Staff photo by Peggy 'Farrell Family Fun Day planned by West Elementary PTA The ninth annual Family Fun The coronation of the Family Day is in the works at West Fun Day King and Queen is Elementary School in Elvins.

The scheduled at 7:30. A couple from Saturday fair will feature a each grade has been nominated variety of activities for by classmates. Donations to the youngsters and their parents. chili supper in each candidate's The fair, sponsored by the West name will determine the winner, PTA, kicks off at 1 p.m. Kiddie according to PTA member Nedra rides and games and a Country Easter.

One couple from each Store featuring hand made crafts building will be crowned. will be set up around the grade The carnival is one of the PTA's school grounds. major fundraisers, said Kevin A chili supper will be served Miller, PTA president, more starting at 2 p.m. in the school than that, it gives a great deal of cafeteria. Cost is $1.75 for adults school spirit.

It's just a fun day for and $1 for students. A spook House has also been set Admission to the carnival is up, and will be open to youngsters free. For more information, call from 4 to 8 p.m. the school at 431-1302. Farmington.

(Continued from page 1) Wellsville not only appears to be low, but also best bid. The Wellsville firm bid $339,799 on the project was $30,000 below the next lowest bid and only $1,678 above the projected cost stated by the consultants. Officials estimate it will take several weeks for final state and federal approval to proceed with the project. It is included in the offsystem bridge program under which the federal government pays 80 percent of the cost and the county pays the remaining 20 percent. Commissioner Ron VarVera also announced there will be a meeting reviewing the space situation at the prison and conferring with other corrections officials to determine future inmate assignments to the prison.

Even though he does not feel FCC will be pressed to take more inmates than can be adequately housed, Dowd said conditions may mandate such a situation. (Continued from page 1) that discourages charitable giving through churches and other nonprofit organizations." Missouri has 78,000 of the nations 4.3 million SSI recipients. In Washington, Iron, St. Francois and Madison counties, 2,330 stand to lose benfits. Total benefits in the fourcounty area are $451,759, based on a figure of $194.80 per month.

Total recipients and the benefits they receive are as follows: In St. Francois County, 980 receive a total of in Iron County, 460 receive in Madison County, 322 receive and in Washington County, 568 receive $110,130. Maximum monthly SSI benefits are $340 for individuals and $510 for couples. Under the new policy, payments would be reduced by as much as $113 for individuals and $170 for couples. (Copyright 1987) Eastern Missouri Publishing Co.

The Daily Journal (USPS 513-600) RON WEIR, Publisher P.O. Box Flat River, Mo. 63601 Second Class Postage Paid at Flat River, Mo. Published Daily, Monday Through Friday by Eastern Missouri Publishing Co. SUBSCRIPTION RATES 4.50 per month by carrier 5.00 per month by motor route year 60.00; 6 months 33.00; 1 month 6.00 in or outside of St.

Francois County Mail must be paid in advance. NOTICE: Contents of this newspaper, pictures, news stories and advertisements cannot be used for reproduction without the consent of the Publisher. The Daily Journal reserves the right to edit or reject advertising at its discretion. Monday between the members of the th will extend the Sikeston district's with 1,000 students in the high school commission and two district responsibilities from St. Francois and "basically two counselors." engineers from the Highway and and Ste.

Genevieve counties to the During 1986-87, 41 percent of the Transportation Department. Arkansas state line. tested siudents expressed satisfacFrank Kriz, District 6 engineer VarVera also announced that the tion with career education and planfrom Kirkwood, and Allen Laffoon, Kirkwood district has agreed to re- ning, during 1985-86, the number was District 10 engineer from Sikeston, measure the number of miles in the 46 percent. will be in Farmington to discuss the county's road system before the transition that will take place Jan. 1.

transition takes place. There has The Board of Education gave its St. Francois County is among four been a feeling on the part of the coun- endorsement to a model guidance that are being shifted from the Kirk- ty officials that the state figure for program, which is being imwood district to District 10. the miles of road the county main- plemented in the district with the The change is an efficiency move tains is lower than what is actually help of a grant. The comprehensive planned the state agency to create maintained.

This is significant in program will be geared to students by more balance in the workload of that the figure is one of the factors enrolled in grades K-12. Sandra different districts throughout the used in determining how much Carrico, chairman of the program, state. The plan announced last mon- money the county gets in road funds. outlined some of the goals for the Schooling (Continued from page 1) "And it was prepetrated at the request of the parenCain said, "Education is a shared responsibility." If ts. They didn't care if (their children) couldn't read or a child attends school everyday from kindergarten write, they didn't want them held back," Cain said.

through his senior year, Cain said, he still spends only According to Russ McCampbell of the state Depart12 percent of his time in the classroom. ment of Education, the department has no stance on He also pointed out that of the students who began home schooling. "We have no authority in that area," school in 1940, only 26 percent graduated in 1952. "'We he said. have made allowances for special education," he said.

While public educators may not like home schooling, "Those youngsters can now remain in they do not seem to be especially worried about the Cain also blamed the practice of "social promotion" competition, and even home schoolers concede very for much of the bad publicity public schools have been few parents would take on the responsibility of receiving. Once popular, the practice of keeping a educating their children themselves. child with his peer group to ensure proper "social Said McCampbell, "'What we're probably going to see development" has fallen out of favor with school in the next two, three, four years are some of the superintendents. families who were educating their children in the He said educators "fell into peer pressure from the home sending them back to public schools. public to accept social promotion, and called the prac- "Then we have to ask the question: How do we go tice "the biggest cancer ever perpetrated on public about actually admitting these students back into public schools?" McCampbell said.

good," and commended the students and their teachers. He noted the lowest ranking from the students came in the area of "remedial skills development," where 32 percent of the students expressed dissatisfaction, opposed to five percent who said they were satisfied. Webb believes the district should work to improve the remedial skills development area and career education "and planning. "He said counselors just do not have enough time to work with all the students home in Leadwood. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Bert Boyer Funeral Home.

DOROTHY WINEBARGER Dorothy Mae Winebarger, 66, of Farmington, died Oct. 20 at Farmington Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 15, 1921, the daughter of the late Oscar Paul Cash and Fannie Isabell Walker Cash of Farmington who survives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Winebarger.

She is survived by her mother and by two daughters, Ruth Ann (Mrs. Lyndell) Tucker of Ste. Genevieve school board night. Webb told board members that school officials, teachers, members of the Booster Club and others are actively promoting the tax levy proposal of 95 cents per $100 assessed valuation which will be presented on Nov. 3.

But he reminded board members to contine to seriously think about a series of proposed cuts in school programs which have been developed in the event the levy increase fails. The school district recently lowered the tax levy to $1.98 per $100 assessed valuation, a move which will represent the loss of more than $60,000 to the district, according to Webb. The board set a special meeting for 7 a.m. Nov. 5 to canvass the election results.

In other action Tuesday night, the board approved a motion to explore the possibility of conducting Country Days 1988 at Truman Field. Board member Ron Short explained how the Chamber of Commerce had requested the use of Wilson-Rozier Park for the celebration. Markets(Continued from page 1) Tuesday despite the rise in big-name stocks such as International Business Machines Corp. and General Motors which were seen as safer in a time of trouble. Losers outnumbered gainers by a 5-2 margin on the New York Stock Exchange in record-heavy trading, and prices fell broadly on the American Stock Exchange and overthe-counter market.

The volume of trading rose to 608.12 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange, surpassing Monday's record-shattering 604.33 million-share day. The Dow industrials' plunge Monday wiped out 22.6 percent of the index's value. Obituaries. LELA STEVENS Lela Hicks Stevens, 83, of Farmington died Oct. 20 at Farmington Regional Medical Center.

She was born Feb. 29, 1904 in Flat River to the late John Frederick and Zada Mercer Hicks. Her husband, John Thomas Stevens, preceded her in death. She is survived by one son, Randell Stevens of Rivermines; one daughter, Carol Lynn Hammett of Dallas, Texas; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending at Miller Funeral Home.

THERESA PINSON Theresa Marie Pinson, 79, of Flat River died Oct. 20 at the Bonne Terre Hospital. She was born Feb. 22, 1908; to the late John Lucian and Mary Elizabeth DeClue Boyer. She is survived by her husband, Theodore "Hap" Pinson of Flat River; three sons: Charles Anthony Pinson of Atlanta, James Pinson of Flat River and Tom Pinson of Farmington; three daughters: Margaret LaBruyere of Desloge, Mary (Mrs.

Tom) Konieczny of Troy, and Brenda King of Farmington; two brothers: Leo Boyer of Hillsboro and Pete Boyer of Potosi; two sisters: Catherine (Mrs. Edward) Politte of Old Mines and Sister Miriam of St. Louis; 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six brothers and one sister. Friends may call at Caldwell Funeral Home after p.m.

today. A Rosary will be recited Thursday at 7 p.m. at Caldwell Chapel and funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Ambrose Stratmann officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery in Flat River.

CLEO DUNLAP Cleo Dunlap died Oct. 21, at her and Wilma Delores (Mrs. Bill) Wills of Bonne Terre; one sister, Loretta Biri of Ste. Genevieve; two brothers, Milford Cash and Oscar Cash, both of Farmington and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Friends may call after 6 p.m.

today at Miller Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Farmington with Dr. William Miller officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens.

The family requests memorial gifts to The American Heart Association. Miller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. You've planned your future- WHY STOP THERE Did you also make plans for your funerals? You can ease that particular burden on your family. Call us. We may help you pre-plan.

JON COZEAN Funeral Home 217 West Columbia Street 756-4541.