LETTERS: THANKS FOR HELP WITH TREE-TRUNK STATUE

To the editor:

The students, faculty and staff of Franklin Elementary School thank the many people who have helped to make our new tree-trunk statue of Benjamin Franklin such a wonderful school and community asset.

First, we would like to recognize the artist, August Birk. He is a very talented and caring individual. The idea to engage Mr. Birk in this undertaking came from our Franklin PTA board, a supportive and energetic group of school leaders and active volunteers.

Thanks should also be shared with several area businesses for contributing materials for the attractive planting area that has been completed around Ben. This includes Into the Garden, Big Kmart, Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse and Kasten Masonry. An additional thank you goes to Aubrey Kiplinger and Paul Lett for their masonry work and landscaping help.

We also thank the Southeast Missourian for its coverage of the project's progress and for the paper's ongoing encouragement of the teaching, learning and service that are the essence of Franklin Elementary and the Cape Girardeau public schools.

JULIE DAVENPORT, PrincipalFranklin Elementary School

Cape Girardeau