OLD LORIMIER TELETHON BRINGS IN OVER $10,000

A telethon to benefit preservation of Cape Girardeau's historic Old Lorimier Cemetery raised more than $10,000 Sunday.

John Schneider, a member of the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission, said $10,093 was raised when the telethon ended at 10 p.m., but pledges were continuing to come in.

"We're really pleased about it," he said.

The Historic Preservation Commission and the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau hosted the telethon to raise money to erect a fence around the cemetery.

TCI Cablevision of Missouri Inc., which operates the local cable system, sponsored the event. The telethon was broadcast on channel 13, the local cable access channel, and Carol Keeler of radio station KZIM and John Twidwell of TCI were hosts.

Schneider said the event included discussion of the cemetery's and city's history by historic preservation officials.

The 186-year-old cemetery along North Fountain Street has been the target of repeated vandalism over the years. Numerous headstones have been toppled and broken.

Last year, through the efforts of the preservation commission and the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, a committee was established to preserve the cemetery.

The committee's top priority was erection of a security fence to protect the cemetery from vandals. A mail campaign already has raised about $9,000 for the project, which could cost $30,000.

"The purpose of the telethon was to help educate the community about the history of Cape and get just as much money as we could for the fence," said Schneider. "With some of the other money we've raised already, we've got close to $20,000."

The fence at the front of the cemetery on Fountain Street would be ornamental, with chain-link fencing being used along the cemetery's perimeter.

Schneider said the telethon likely will have other positive affects on historical preservation in Cape Girardeau. He said the idea of a telethon for a cemetery was a unique way to bring various historical organizations together for a common cause.

"We think that we'll promote a greater community awareness of associations interested in preservation of our city's history," Schneider said. "I think the idea of a telethon for a cemetery is the first of its kind, and we received many favorable comments about it."