STORIES OF KINDNESS ARE ABUNDANT ALL YEAR

Catherine Greaser says Patty Turner and the Friends Forever Preschool in Cape Girardeau are great.

Her son attends the day-care center, and Greaser nominated Friends Forever for the K103 Random Acts of Kindness recognition given each month.

Greaser said the staff at the center take wonderful care of her son, and they act as an extended family for working parents.

"She always has a smile on her face and is thinking of bigger and better ways to brighten the days of our children," Greaser said.

"I just love this week," said Turner, owner of Friends Forever. The day-care center is delivering Popsicles and toys as their part of the Random Acts of Kindness celebration.

As a K103 winner, Turner received a floral arrangement, a gift certificate for dinner and a coffee mug.

Other winners:

Dennis Bess was the June winner. He was nominated by Sally Eaker and Glenda Riggins. Bess is service manager at Crown Cadillac. "He treats each person as if they were the only one to ever have car trouble; therefore, you get his individual attention," they wrote. "He is a kind, honest, trustworthy person."

Lois J. McFadden, a checker at Schnucks, won in July for her kindness at the grocery store. She points out sale items and always has a smile. She also volunteers with Project Charlie and the Girl Scouts.

Amy Bucher, who works at Chad Hartle Rentals in Jackson, was the August recipient for her kindness to a stranger. Sharon Mansell was attempting to find help for her stranded friend Elaine, who was late for a meeting. Mansell found Bucher by accident when she made a telephone call trying to find the meeting hall. Bucher took time from work to go pick up the friend and her three children and delivered them safely to the meeting. "I called Elaine and told her to be on the lookout for an angel in a blue Beretta."

Jackie Johnson won in September for being a good sister and daughter. She was nominated by her youngest sister, Dayneen Glastetter. Their father died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm. Their mother is battling ovarian cancer. "Throughout the past three years Jackie has been the one of our eight children to handle the financial affairs and the paperwork that is involved when there is someone with a terminal illness and with parents that are disabled," Glasteter said. "Thanks so much for your time."

Tim Burk of Burk's Automotive Sales in Chaffee was the October winner. He was nominated by Patrick Kennedy. When John and Patsy Kennedy's car broke down, they didn't know where to turn. Over the past two years they had terrible luck with cars and had just purchased the car from Burk's Automotive Sales in Chaffee. Their son, Patrick, took the car back to the car lot after hours and left it. Tim Burk fixed the car and gave the Kennedy's another car to drive while their car was in the shop. "I just wanted to thank Tim for what I feel is going above and beyond for Mom and Dad and for putting their worries, along with mine, to rest."

Kevin Compass of Automation Services in Cape Girardeau got a pat on the back in November from Donna Lacy for being a considerate brother-in-law. "Kevin's brother-in-law was in a bad wreck, hurting his wife and baby. He was behind in his work on the farm, so Kevin took a week's vacation to help him on the farm. Kevin also always helps others," Lacy wrote.

Tommy and Sonja Miller of Scott City were honored in December for their work with disabled children. Karen Wynn nominated them. "They have formed a soccer league. Tommy and Sonja volunteer hours of time on the weekends to coach any child regardless of ability to play," Wynn wrote. "They also schedule social events to allow disabled children to participate."

Tim Lowery, a senior at Scott City High School, was the January recipient. He was nominated by Carla Wiggins. To Wiggins' second-grade son, Lowery is a bigger star than Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippin. Eight-year-old Marcus became a Lowery fan during the University High Christmas tournament. Wiggins wrote a note to the coach commending the Rams players on their good sportsmanship at the tournament. The coach sent Marcus a blue and gold basketball, but Marcus wanted an autograph. Wiggins said: "Guess who showed up at our house to talk to Marcus? None other than Tim Lowery himself. This couldn't have excited Marcus any more than if it had been Michael Jordan. He came by to get the basketball for signatures, and he also gave Marcus his lucky wristband, the one he wore in every game," Wiggins said. "How many senior star basketball players do you know that will take time out of their busy schedule to visit and spend time with a second grader that they do not even know?"

Kathy Kraemer nominated her husband, Greg, for the February sweetheart of the month. "He has shared tears and fears, smiles and dreams. He listens with his brain and his heart. He rejoices with me in success, no matter how small. He overlooks the dark side of my humanity, anger or jealousy and helps me get pat through laughter," she wrote.

Kim Pool, receptionist at Midwest Physicians and Surgeons, was honored in March for her work by Dr. Greg Tobin and Anita Pennington, a physician's assistant. "Kim deals with the public all day, every day. Some of the people are difficult and demanding, and some are just not nice," wrote Pennington. "But she is always smiling and pleasant. She never gets short or cross even with the crankiest of patients." Kim also makes sure that everyone at the busy office gets lunch, even if she has to go get the meals herself. "She is among one of the last to leave because she is making sure everything is ready for the next day so that our day runs smoothly."