YELL: PROJECT RAISES $13,000 FOR KIDS, LITERACY

Hundreds of volunteers hit the streets Wednesday morning selling a special YELL for Newspapers edition and generating excitement and awareness about literacy.

Adding to the excitement was a special appearance by Marvel Comic's super hero, Spiderman.

All the YELL newspapers sold out. In all, 9,000 YELL newspapers were printed. The Southeast Missourian printed 7,000 of the special newspapers. The Cash-Book Journal printed 2,000.

The project raised close to $13,000. That money will be divided equally between the Southeast Missourian's Newspaper In Education program and the United Way's literacy programs.

Organizers said Wednesday's success means it is likely that YELL for Newspapers will become an annual event.

Jon Rust, coordinator of the project for the Southeast Missourian, said: "Absolutely, it was an incredible success for a first-year project. It's really a tribute to the community spirit."

United Way President Craig Felzien said, "We got out a really good message about the agencies United Way serves, and the volunteers had a lot of fun. I feel it generated a lot of good community spirit."

A minimum donation of $1 was asked for each of the newspapers, but some purchasers also felt the spirit of the program. One man bought a single issue for $100, several people bought papers for $20, and many paid $5 for their copies.

The response on the streets was so good Wednesday morning that at some busy intersections, volunteers ran out of newspapers by 7 a.m. Sales began at 6 a.m.

Rust said, "We were really anxious that we would sell out before 7 a.m. In fact, we sold out at Thorngate (factory) by 6 a.m. And we sold out at most stoplights on Kingshighway and William by 7:30 a.m.

Felzien said, "We went around to some of the less busy intersections and redistributed the newspapers."

Rust added, "Ultimately, we raided all the racks. We took every paper we could get our hands on."

The response was much greater than anticipated, Rust said. "We hoped we would end up selling them throughout the day. We certainly did not anticipate that they would go that quickly. Most were sold out at 8:30 a.m."

Cape Girardeau Police Capt. Steve Strong said YELL for Newspapers marks the first time individuals have been allowed to sell on street corners.

"That was allowed by a resolution of the City Council," Strong said.

"It is my understanding that we had no complaints," Strong said. "Apparently everyone was very cooperative and understood the importance of this project."

Over 250 volunteers worked on the project Wednesday morning.

Rust said, "Everybody was out. Sigma Chi fraternity did a great job at Broadway and Caruthers. Schnucks sold the most of any group. They sold nearly 600 papers alone."

"With all the business volunteers and different civic organizations, we had every aspect of the community involved.

"I think they had a great time. Certainly some of them were tired after starting at 5:30 a.m.," Rust said. "But all through the morning, they were calling in to say they could use more papers.

"Everyone was geared towards bringing as much support in for United Way and Newspaper In Education as possible," he said.

Included in each of the YELL publications was a lottery number printed on a pink piece of paper. Those numbers were entered in a drawing for grand prizes.

Winning numbers drawn Wednesday evening are: 10318, 15364, 15365, 12176, 13577, 16063, 14772, 11387, 11486, 19426, 16283, 11268, 10608, 17041, 16211, 16230, 12667, 17046, 11383, 14013, 11680, 18070, 12534, 15956, 16203, 12268, 14327, 18344, and 19679.

Prizes may be redeemed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the United Way office, 100 Broadway, beginning today.

Rust encouraged everyone to hold on to their pink slips for a few days even if their numbers weren't drawn.

An additional prize is available for those who purchased a YELL newspaper. Those who solve a spelling search in the issue are eligible to win a compact disc radio recorder.

Each YELL newspaper included a Marvel comic book donated by VIP Industries. In addition, the company, along with Marvel Comics, brought super hero Spiderman to town.

Spiderman appeared at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson, and at St. Mary Cathedral Grade School and Washington Elementary School in Cape Girardeau.

He talked with children about the importance of literacy.

Spiderman also appeared at West Park Mall where he signed autographs and talked with children.

Hilary F. Schmittzehe, president of VIP Industries, explained why his company is so concerned about literacy.

"It's part of what we consider prevention," he said. "Mental retardation is caused by several things. Some are genetic. But some are cause by cultural deprivation.

"One of the most basic things we can teach is how to read," he said. "If you can read, you can do anything."

Schmittzehe said Spiderman generated a lot of excitement among students he visited. "He turned more things on about reading in 10 minutes than a teacher might be able to do in three or four months."