BELL AWARDS HONOR FOUR

St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary, and three area residents were honored at the 6th annual Bell Volunteer Awards Luncheon Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Jon Rust, assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian, gave the keynote address - and then was surprised with the Bell award in the youth category. Dale Rauh of Jackson earned the volunteer award in the adult category. In the senior division, Billie Roth of Cape Girardeau was the winner.

In all, 31 individuals and six organizations were honored for their volunteer efforts. Craig Felzien, area manager of community relations of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, served as the master of ceremonies.

St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary was honored for donating 72,081 hours of service in 1992. But the auxiliary reached out into the community in many other ways including participation in the Regional Nursing Library, Older American Health Fair, Lifeline, Telecare, Sister Esther Fund, tutoring, childrens' health fairs, tours and blood pressure checks. The group was nominated by Bonnie Perdue of St. Francis Medical Center.

Roth was honored for her participation in the Association for Retarded Citizens, the ARC pantry and Marian charities, FISH, VIP Industries, Regency Management, Regional Nine Council for Handicapped, American Association for Retired Persons, United Way and St. Mark's Lutheran Church. She has donated in excess of 1,000 hours in 1992. She was nominated by Wende Pruden and the Rev. Craig Nessan of St. Mark.

Rust has spent in excess of 300 hours of volunteer work for the Civic Center through the Alumni Shoot Out and several programs. He initiated and organizes the annual YELL, which raises funds for Newspapers in Education and local literacy programs. He is also active in the Leadership Cape program with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. He was nominated by Calvin Bird of the Civic Center.

In 1992, Rauh donated more than 1,500 hours in volunteer service. He volunteers with the Lutheran Family Services, Jackson Rotary Club, American Heart Association, Senior Citizens Tax Fund Board, KRCU Radio at Southeast Missouri State University, Friends of St. Francis, Jackson Community Chorus, Southeast Missouri University Community Chorus, Jackson Municipal Band and St. Andrew Lutheran Church. He was nominated by Dale Trimberger and Nancy Stiegemeyer of Lutheran Family Services.