PANEL TAPS SOUTH SIDE FOR PROJECT; WEED AND SEED FUNDS GIVEN TO FOUR GROUPS

Cape Girardeau's Weed and Seed committee has established the city's south side for its first project.

The Cape Girardeau committee met Tuesday night to decide how to distribute about $40,000 to groups that provide educational development and recreational activities on the city's south side.

Organizations that provide tutoring, mentoring, job training and recreational activities will receive funding based on their existing programs.

The committee decided to give local funds to the Cape Civic Center, the Greater Dimension Church of God in Christ, May Greene Elementary School and the Salvation Army. They were chosen as ideal "safe haven" sites because they have existing programs on the city's south side.

The project area is bound on the east by the Mississippi River, on the west by West End Boulevard, on the north by William Street and on the south by Southern Expressway.

The boundaries were selected based upon crime and economic statistics provided in a study conducted by Southeast Missouri State University students and faculty in 1995, said regional Weed and Seed executive director Calvin Bird.

Operation Weed and Seed is a federal anti-crime and neighborhood revitalization program.

Operation Weed and Seed, operated through the Justice Department, aims to "weed" out crime and "seed" communities to improve neighborhoods.

The program was first introduced in Southeast Missouri in 1995 in Sikeston's Sunset Addition and has expanded to include Poplar Bluff, Charleston and Caruthersville.

Cape Girardeau became the latest city to join the program when the City Council approved it in January. A focus committee of 25 residents organized to determine the local target area and safe haven sites.

The committee is responsible for developing the logistics of the local program. It's recommendations are local but must receive final approval from the Southeast Missouri Weed and Seed board of directors. The regional board is scheduled to meet March 26.

Of the $40,000, $25,000 will go into a fund for the four groups in the project. The rest will be set aside to pay a director to administer the funds and oversee local programs.

"These are all great sites that will fit very well into our scene," said regional committee member Rick Murray. "Now we need to set our priorities as to what we want to do the most and work to accomplish those goals."

Residents can become a member of the Weed and Seed committee. The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. March 31 at the Cape Girardeau Police Department.