ESTATE SALE BENEFITS SAFE HOUSE; OTHER ITEMS SOUGHT OR AUCTION

An estate sale from the family of Kathryn Sackman will be held July 11 at 8 a.m. at the Plaza Galleria, with proceeds going to the Safehouse for Women.

Sackman, a long-time social studies teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School, died April 14, 1992. In recent years, she had resided at Chateau Girardeau.

Sally Kerkorian, member of board of directors for the Safehouse for Women, explained that Sackman left her estate to the Safehouse in hopes of raising money for the organization.

"The sale has been expanded and we are encouraging anyone in the community to donate items," Kerkorian said.

Persons with antiques, working appliances, furniture, pictures, frames, vases, knick-knacks or household items may donate them for the fund-raising sale.

Smaller items can be brought to Plaza Galleria Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Arrangements can be made to pick up larger items by calling Smothers at 335-2443.

Harlan Smothers, who will direct the auction, said the Sackman estate contains many fine items that will be sold. "These are her personal belongings that she lived with every day at the Chateau."

He said the collection consists of a Victorian-style parlor set, other furniture, glass and collectible pieces, some antiques, and many small items. There are several hundred items in all.

The sale, itself, is rather unusual, said Smothers, because a charity will benefit. While there are a number of estate sales in the area, this is the first one that Smothers has handled that was earmarked for charity.

Smothers is more than the auctioneer he is a former student of the benefactor.

"She was my teacher when I was a sophomore at Central High School," he said. "She was a good teacher. I thought a lot about her."

He pointed out the family history dates back to before the Civil War in Cape Girardeau. "A lot of people knew her, and knew the family," he said.

The Safehouse opened in November 1991. As of June 10, the shelter had provided a safe haven to 61 women and 59 children. The hotline has received 111 calls. Some callers were looking for information, others for help. The hotline number is 651-1614.

The money raised through this sale will be used for operating expenses at the Safehouse, Kerkorian said.