Rescue a queen (or 15) from obscurity

Linda Penzel sent an e-mail asking for help.

She's organizing the part of Jackson Homecomers devoted to the 63 queens named since 1935, the year Ruby Johnson Conrad won the crown.

"I have found 48 of them and have had contact with them," she wrote. "I am missing 15."

The names she sent are all Missouri women: Betty Jo Behrens, 1938; Jeanne Priest, 1949; Jo White, 1951; Janeeice Sirclum (Elvins), 1959; Pat Bangert (Illmo), 1963; Pamala Reynolds, 1964; Dorothy Young (Farmington), 1965; Colleen Highly (Desloge), 1968; Karen Wibbenmeyer (Cape Girardeau), 1969; Alyssa Fallert (Ste. Genevieve), 1979; Gail Phillips (Oran), 1980; Carla Cureton (Fredricktown), 1981; Carol Schilly (Ste. Genevieve), 1982; Rebecca Epps (Millersville), 1983; and Cynthia Barnett (Bertrand), 1992.

If you can help locate a missing queen (or 15), e-mail Penzel at lpenzel@yahoo.com or call the Jackson Chamber of Commerce at 243-8131. She's hoping to reach them as early as possible so they can make plans to attend a reception sponsored by the American Business Women's Association at 5:30 p.m. July 26 at Jackson City Hall. Immediately following the reception, the queens will be presented on stage.

*

Here is an answer to a question posted online by a reader identified as "Budman," who asked what it takes to get charter status for Cape Girardeau County on a ballot. There are two ways. The county commission can vote to put the charter question on the ballot or a petition signed by 10 percent of the total vote for governor in the last general election can be submitted to the county clerk.

After that, it's up to the voters.

The Franklin County commissioners voted to put this question on April's ballot and voters approved it. Earlier this month, seven Democrats and seven Republicans were named to Franklin County's Constitution Commission. The process of drafting a constitution is expected to take a year.

*

The Cape Girardeau City Council will take a final vote at today's meeting on accepting responsibility for the city's two levee improvement districts. Andy Juden, president of the Main Street Levee District since 1962, has said he would retire when the city takes over. He's been invited to today's meeting, at 7 p.m. in city hall, 401 Independence St. (If you want to get a jump on what's coming up for July's meetings, come to the 5 p.m. study session.)

The city council will also likely approve an ordinance banning the so-called "people signs" on public streets, sidewalks, medians and right-of-ways, as well as next year's budget.

*

Meanwhile, the Jackson Board of Aldermen meets at 7:30 p.m. today at city hall, 101 Court St., to discuss and vote on donating $3,000 to the Jackson Chamber of Commerce to help pay for Independence Day fireworks and on spending more than $140,000 for changes to the city's electric system, as well as the $40,220 bid by the Cape Girardeau company, Monroe Plumbing & Heating Co. Inc., for the East Jackson Boulevard water line replacement project.

The aldermen will also decide whether to close East Jefferson Street between South High and South Hope streets from 8 a.m. to noon July 7 through 11 to accommodate the First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School and consider an ordinance amending the city's parking ban to include a section of Oak Street, near the recreation trail project.

At 8:15 p.m., the board will hear a quarterly update from Mitch Robinson, executive director of Cape Girardeau Area Magnet.

Questions, suggestions or tips for Lost on Main Street? E-mail pmcnichol@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 127.