COMMUNITY OUTPOURING ASSISTS FRANKLIN; PUPILS, TEACHERS, CITIZENS REPLACE WORK OF VANDALS

It's been nearly three weeks since vandals trashed the colorful landscape at Franklin School. But evidence of the devastation is hard to find these days thanks to a community outpouring.

The broken windows and glass doors have been replaced. The battered rose bushes along the front sidewalk are blooming again. Brightly colored bedding plants again surround the flag pole, and other flowers, shrubs and bushes in the front of the school have replaced those destroyed by the vandals.

Only the remains of two small dogwood trees on either side of the school entrance remain as a silent testimony to the destruction of nearly a month ago. Franklin School Principal Jim Watkins said the damaged trees will be replaced later this fall, when new trees can be transplanted from the nursery.

Watkins said the outpouring of concern and help from teachers, parents, students, the business community, and other citizens of Cape Girardeau was overwhelming.

"When the story of the vandalism came out in the paper, the next day we started getting phone calls from people wanting to know how they could help," said Watkins. "I received many phone calls from parents of students, and former students, of Franklin who told me, `This is not Franklin School. This is not how we are so; please don't get the wrong impression."

Watkins said the school has received cards, letters, and monetary contributions to help pay for the damage.

"On day one, our first concern was to secure the building. We pulled our maintenance staff off their regular duties to replace the broken windows and glass doors. The following day, we turned our attention to the exterior damage, cleaning up and replacing the flowers, shrubs and bushes," Watkins said.

At that point, members of the Franklin School Beautification Committee, headed by Fourth Grade Teacher Ruth Rhodes, went into action. Together, the committee, along with Franklin students and parents, and community residents worked to replace the damaged flowers, plants, shrubs and bushes by the opening day of school, Aug. 27.

"The day after the vandalism, two mothers, Donna McGuire and Linda Tansil, and their children, came by to help set out the bedding plants around the flag pole and rake the front lawn. The landscaping people (Lix Nursery of Jackson) came by the first day to replace everything that had been broken off," Rhodes said. "Since then, a lot of other parents have come by to help with the cleanup."

Knaup Florists of Cape Girardeau donated 250 bedding plants to replace those torn out by the vandals. Rhodes paid special tribute to Todd Knaup, Charles Ayers, and Wendy Rust for their assistance. "Charles has been coming by the school at 6 a.m. every day to water the flowers to make sure they're all right," Rhodes said.

Watkins and Rhodes said they were amazed at the extent of concern and support show by the community when word of the vandalism spread.

Watkins, who moved to Cape Girardeau several years ago from Elsberry, said he wasn't surprised by the community concern, but was overwhelmed at the extent. "I've found Cape to be a caring community. Where there is a need, the people will help or find a way to meet that need," he remarked.

Rhodes said she, too, was not surprised by the support from the community, but added, "to unexpectedly get 250 bedding plants to replace those we lost, yes, that certainly was a surprise to me. I knew we'd have parents and students up here to help make our school beautiful again before the start of school, but I never thought it would be to this degree."

All of those efforts paid off in another way last week. Franklin School was selected to receive the September Yard of the Month from the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce City Beautification Committee. Rhodes said when students at Franklin learned their school had won the Yard of the Month award, "everyone was absolutely thrilled. Their eyes just lit up," she added.

Since the vandalism occurred, Watkins said Franklin students and their parents, and neighbors who live near the school, have taken an even greater concern and protective interest in the school.

"The bottom line is that everyone is watching Franklin School, day and night," said Watkins. "I have kids who come back into my office after school is out for the day to let me know who is still outside. They are watching the building and the grounds."

Rhodes said she has been contacted by many former Franklin students who have provided tips or information about possible suspects. "Even our students have their ears to the ground, trying to listen for possible names of those responsible for the damage," she said.

Meanwhile, Cape Girardeau police said their investigation of the Franklin School vandalism continues. Detective Lt. John Brown said officers have interviewed some juvenile suspects, but no charges have been filed. "Everything points to the suspects, but at this time we have no physical evidence or admission," said Brown.