SIZZLIN' SUMMER: FORECASTERS EXPECT LITTLE HEAT RELIEF

With the heat index at 112 sizzling degrees in Cape Girardeau Monday afternoon, Ken Hennemann and three others were finishing their first day of work replacing a storm sewer at the corner of William and Frederick streets.

Two of the men toiled underground while a third laid an air hose around the opening. Hennemann shrugged and smiled at the suggestion that the subterraneans might be hot. "They're in the shade," he said.

After a sweltering weekend, the Salvation Army office was swarmed with requests for fans Monday. The Salvation Army and KFVS-TV jointly sponsor the Salvation Army Fan Club, which distributes fans to people who need them.

"Number 199 just walked out of here," said Sava Savage, a volunteer with the Salvation Army.

Forty-five fans were distributed Monday alone, leaving the program with 20 or 25 in storage. More fans are needed.

"We could sure use them," Savage said.

The heat advisory that has been in effect is being withdrawn by the National Weather Service today but only because the heat index is expected to sink below the 105-degree mark that prompts an advisory.

"It's not going to be a huge, noticeable difference," said Jim Keysor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

A small decrease in temperatures is expected because more clouds and scattered showers are entering the region. But Keysor said temperatures are due to heat right back up by the end of the week and through the weekend.

The Weather Service computer forecast calls for a cold front to push through the region in about a week, but Keysor said that prediction is too long range to count on.

Cape Girardeau residents are attempting to hold down their water use, a request that was made last week after three straight days of high use.

"I'm convinced people are cooperating with our request," said Kevin Priester, manager of the water system.

"Usage is still high, but it's not something we can't keep up with.

Use is now at 6.5 million to 6.8 million gallons a day, which is just above typical for this time of year. "If people weren't conserving water we would be at 7 million and over," Priester said.

He said residents will need to keep conserving water as long as the hot spell holds. "My biggest concern is if the weather weren't to break before the SEMO students return," he said, referring to Southeast Missouri State University students. "That would put an added burden on the system."

The heat is keeping air-conditioning companies busy. "It's crazy," said an employee at Coomer's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning in Cape Girardeau. "So many people are calling in. We're trying to get to everybody who doesn't have air conditioning first."

She said servicemen have been working until 8 or 9 every night.

"They're doing a lot of repair work, and a lot of people are sizing up," in air-conditioning systems, she said.

The American Red Cross is maintaining shelters from noon to 5 p.m. daily at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau and at the New McKendree United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 225 N. Main St. in Jackson. But Ron McCubbin, director of emergency services, said they have seen little use. "I think people would rather go out to the mall."

Indeed, the traffic count at West Park Mall has increased dramatically during the past week over the numbers a year ago. Traffic counters on the doors recorded 4,300 more people last Tuesday and 3,000 more people on Friday. The mall normally draws 20,000 to 30,000 people per day.

Jim Govro, the mall manager, said the increases usually occur during the middle of the day. "It's mostly people who don't have any air conditioning at all," he said.

One consequence has been higher casual sales, Govro said. Thursday's sidewalk sale set records.