VO-TECH SCHOOL TO AUCTION AUTO

Ron Baker, who teaches the auto collision course at Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, says someone is likely to get a good buy on a 1997 Ford Escort.

The school is auctioning the car at public auction Thursday. The auction starts at 4 p.m. at the vocational school. The car is available for viewing at the school.

It has 4,645 actual miles.

"The car was wrecked. We bought it from an insurance company, and the students rebuilt it," he said.

The car was hit in the front end. "It wasn't hurt bad at all," Baker said. It needed new fenders, a hood, air bags and a new windshield. "It looks brand new."

The program rebuilds cars and sells them as part of the course. Proceeds from the sale of cars go into the program for new equipment and another car to rebuild.

This is the first time the school has held an auction. In the past sealed bids were used to sell the cars.

"This is just another avenue we're trying," Baker said.