Old Town Cape honors several at annual celebration

Old Town Cape recognized several local individuals and groups during its annual dinner celebration Thursday evening at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Each year, the awards go to local entities who make outstanding contributions to the culture and atmosphere of Cape Girardeau’s downtown that in the past has been designated a Great American Main Street Community by Main Street America.

Bo Kleman of Realty Executives of Cape Girardeau was named Volunteer of the Year for her work with Old Town Cape.

In announcing the award, Old Town Cape director Marla Mills said Kleman is the ideal volunteer.

“Volunteers are kind of a big deal for us,” she said. “Old Town Cape is a volunteer-driven organization.”

She currently serves as chairwoman of the organization’s Economic Restructuring Committee and has been involved downtown consistently since relocating to Cape Girardeau in 2014.

Kleman served last year as lead volunteer for the Margie Johnson project, helped facilitate last year’s commercial open-house event and helped organize Old Town Cape’s dinner and auctions.

Mills recalled the first time she met Kleman and the unadorned manner in which she offered to help Old Town Cape.

“She jumped right in,” Mills said.

The award for business excellence went to Sherry Yaeger’s Renaissance for outstanding business practices and support of the Old Town Cape vision.

In announcing the award, Kleman said in the past year, 36 new businesses have opened, adding more than 90 jobs to Old Town Cape’s area of concern.

After 15 years in Cape Girardeau, owners Mike and Sherry Yeager have managed to keep their business viable through versatility in the downtown market.

Part of keeping downtown Cape Girardeau interesting is revamping old landmarks and properties.

Shiloh Property Management transformed the service station at 915 Broadway into an apartment space and office space last year, earning the business the Adaptive Use Recognition award.

Rocky and Laurie Everett received the John Boardman Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation award for their work reinvigorating the Indie House, the building at 605 Broadway, which is more than 100 years old.

Mike and Paula Haas were awarded the Judith Ann Crow Residential Historic Rehabilitation Award for their restoration of the Queen Anne-style home at 401 Themis St.

The home, which is almost 130 years old, features restored Palladian windows, shingles and a wraparound porch.

“This project demonstrates everything that Old Town Cape works to promote,” said Dr. Steven Hoffman, a history professor at Southeast Missouri State University.

The Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award went to Jayne Ervin of Jayson Jewelers, who has been a member of Old Town Cape from the organization’s beginning. Ervin played an invaluable role in the organizing of Cape’s Riverfest, downtown Christmas festivities and other projects, in addition to living and working downtown for 25 years.

The night’s festivities also included welcoming incoming and outgoing board members.

Dr. Lisa Bertrand of Spanish Street Mercantile and Southeast Missouri State University and Cory Daniel of Montgomery Bank will be leaving the board this year and will be replaced by Kyleigh Baliva of Pastimes Antiques, Bill Cole of Realty Executives of Cape County and Danny Essner of Capaha Bank.

In closing, incoming Old Town Cape president Dawn Dauer urged members of the community to get involved with the organization.

“If you have a passion for downtown,” she said, “we can help you with that.”

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573)388-3627