Tragedy hits close to home

Local volunteers going to East Coast

Billie and Jim Probst of Doniphan, Mo., had only an hour between the time they were called to relief work with the American Red Cross to the time they reported to the Southeast Missouri chapter office in Cape Girardeau.

The couple left their tasks at a Red Cross blood drive in Poplar Bluff, Mo., when they were called. They will drive the chapter's emergency relief vehicle to New York so that first-aid supplies, crowbars, gloves and food can reach relief workers there.

Another Red Cross volunteer trained in mental health work was activated for duty earlier in the week, said Mary Burton, executive director of the local chapter.

The vehicle is filled with supplies and always stands at the ready. It will be among a "sea of emergency relief vehicles there," Burton said.

When floods devastated parts of Southeast Missouri, 19 emergency relief vehicles from around the nation arrived in Cape Girardeau to offer help. "This is a much more concentrated effort," Burton said.

Curious call, visit recruiting stations

Military recruiting stations across the United States have received a deluge of calls and visits from patriotic Americans asking to sign up.

In Cape Girardeau, it has been a little different.

"Mostly, they're just calling to inquire about it," said recruiter Mario Butel. "But we've had quite a few older individuals -- older than the requirement -- trying to come back."

Those 35 and over cannot enlist in the armed forces.

Ostendorf leaves Pakistan for China

Cape Girardeau native Ann Ostendorf has been chronicling her trip to England, Pakistan, China and India for the Southeast Missourian. She sends stories and pictures to run on the Learning page.

Many readers wondered, after learning Tuesday about Ostendorf's experiences in Pakistan, if she was OK in light of that day's terrorist activities apparently involving Islamic extremists.

She was.

"Luckily, I entered China the day before the bombings," she e-mailed from a remote village in western China called Kashgar. "All I can really tell you is that, while in Pakistan, I never heard any Pakistanis speak favorably of Islamic fundamentalists or terrorism or bin Laden.

"Many expressed displeasure at the Taliban and all they stood for ... I met several travelers who were either coming from Afghanistan or going to Afghanistan. From what I could understand, the Afghani people are amazingly hospitable and friendly but more and more repressed.

"I am very glad to be in China now, though, and feel safe here."

Downtown merchants providing flags

The Downtown Merchants Association is filling a void in Cape Girardeau -- a flag shortage.

The DMA, which had a large number of flags left over from a fund-raising project over a year ago, made the flags available Friday, asking for donations with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross Southeast Missouri chapter.

"Most merchants were sold out of flags this week," said downtown businessman David Knight, a former president and still a member of the DMA.

The flags originally sold for $19.95, but Knight says they can be obtained for "any donation" to the Red Cross.

Man with Cape ties recounts event

Bob Evenden works as a stockbroker at 1 Liberty Plaza across the street from the World Trade Center. His wife, Nancy, is the daughter of Cape Girardeau resident Ruth Knote and the sister of Cape Girardeau resident Lizbe Knote. Following is part of an e-mail he sent family members and friends the day after the tragedy:

"It took about 10 minutes to make our way down and at the end, we opened up the door, and faced out to the West Side highway (which for us meant that we were facing east). We looked up an saw, smelled, heard the impact of the first tower burning. Then people on the ground started to scream in terror ... people were jumping from the top of the WTC!

"... While we were trying to grasp the fact that people were being forced to jump because of flames, or whatever was going on up there, an engine roar began to get louder. Was it a missile, a bomber, a jet? ... Then the seconds of not knowing were abruptly ended when a huge commercial airline came over the buildings, flew over our heads (literally), and flew right into the 2nd WTC building!!! Something about our perceptions went berserk at that point. We all thought it was a video movie, or a stunt, and someone would yell, 'cut, try it again, and get a better shot.' But there was no one to ease the horror."

Bank of America accepting donations

Bank of America will begin accepting financial donations immediately at any of its banking centers for victims of the recent terrorist acts against the United States.

The bank will forward the donations to the September 11th Fund established nationally by the United Way. Checks should be made payable to that fund.

Veterans home erects Avenue of Flags

The Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau began putting up its Avenue of Flags on Friday morning.

The display of 32 American flags was given to the home in 1992 by U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond and U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson. When U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Bill Emerson's widow, introduced a bill this week asking institutions and individuals to display the flag, the home decided to make a special show of patriotism.

"We arranged for additional lighting so the flags could remain up at night," said home spokesman Ken Lipps on Friday.

The flags will be up throughout the 30-day period requested by Jo Ann Emerson. The main flags in front of the building are at half staff until sunset Sunday on orders from the governor.

Staff writers Laura Johnston, Sam Blackwell and B. Ray Owen contributed to this report.