RUST COMMENTARY: DAYS ARE GETTING SHORTER, BUT THERE IS MORE AND MORE TO DO

As the daylight hours get shorter (which will be even more noticeable Oct. 26 when daylight-saving time ends), I seem to be filling my days with more and more exciting events or things I'd like to do and don't have time to do.

Message ... the Cape area is a busy place with many activities and options.

Example ... JACK FARIS, president of the National Federation of Independent Business was in Cape last Friday along with U.S. Rep. JO ANN EMERSON, starting a petition drive to end the present federal tax system and IRS and to start anew and simplify it.

Former SEMO basketball coach RON SHUMATE got a new job as director of promotions for athletics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (thanks to the support of that school's president, BILL STACY, who originally hired Ron at Cape). Shumate had formerly coached and starred in athletics there.

In parting remarks, Ron thanked GARY and JANE STANLEY who had hired him at Crown Cadillac and helped him during his unexpected transition.

GARY STANLEY has done many unsung and unpublicized acts of humanity for Southeast Missouri residents (I personally know of six instances).

* * * * *

I heard a tape of the 15-minute back-to-back KMOX interviews of GOV. MEL CARNAHAN and state Sen. PETER KINDER a few days prior to the vote attempt (one vote shy) to override the governor's veto of the PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION ban.

KINDER won hands down with his fact-loaded responses to what was understood only on the emotional level by most.

* * * * *

Some BIOKYWA officials from Japan will be in Cape Girardeau today to help celebrate the 15th anniversary of the BIOKYWA PLANT in Cape.

We're proud to have them and the plant here, and we hope they choose Cape for future expansions of the successful company.

The new University of Missouri president, Manuel Pacheco, is also scheduled to be in Cape this morning, and we're looking forward to an interview and meeting with him.

The CAPE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Industrial Appreciation Week is in progress featuring the big awards dinner Thursday night at the Show Me Center.

* * * * *

Sometime within the next two weeks our company hopes to complete the acquisition of the previously announced four additional dailies and two weekly groups to our organization.

At whatever time that is complete, we will also be announcing the purchase of another shopper and commercial print shop in a geographical location outside of this area. A one-foot stack of legal papers is being combed through in anticipation of the closing.

Two of the driving forces in back of these acquisitions: 1) A desire to help establish a family of independently owned newspapers with strong local presence. And 2) the heavy tax load that every successful company carries. Today ... you're rewarded financially for borrowing, not saving. This needs to be changed. Our biggest major expense is taxes, which take over 40 percent of every profit dollar plus over 20 percent from every one of our associates' paychecks. Government rules and regulations are also one of the biggest threats to our freedoms and growth potential.

The recent Associated Press coverage of the PROMISE KEEPERS MEETING scheduled for this weekend was 50 percent slanted negatively. The AP, the network TV news and major urban newspapers (such as the St. Louis POST-DISPATCH) need assistance on getting accurate facts to the public.

* * * * *

Since I had TWO daughters who attended the "Renewing the Heart" conference in Nashville two weeks ago and HOLLY'S guest column got so many favorable comments ... I'm sharing PENNY'S column which she wrote for her local newspaper in Fayetteville, N.C.

Both had a positive experience at this event, which received little to no network or AP coverage. ... Penny has touched on some remarks of the speakers not previously shared.

I enjoyed both columns. ... I hope you will too. ... Here's Penny's:

Why did 19,000 women from 47 states and Canada flock to Nashville, Tenn.. Sept. 20 for one of the nation's largest women's gatherings? They wanted to experience Focus on the Family's inaugural women's conference, "Renewing the Heart." This one-day conference, filled with joy, genuine fellowship and inspirational teaching from five dynamic speakers, far exceeded anyone's expectations, particularly the president of the Christian-based ministry from Colorado Springs, Colo., Dr. James Dobson. In a surprise guest appearance, he told the enthusiastic crowd, "I anticipated 6,000 coming to this event," adding that 40,000 applied. "In the past year, how many of you have had this conversation: "Listen, Promise Keepers, you had your day, now it's my turn."

The conference sold out in two months, meeting what organizers believe is a big need for women to corporately come together in fellowship and be renewed by biblical teaching and truth. "Although I have a lot of friends, I can still feel disconnected and lonely because of the daily stresses of being a homemaker and wife," said a conferee from North Carolina. "This conference was a welcomed intermission in my hectic life. I felt spiritually renewed, refreshed and filled with God's love and forgiveness. It a great day to spend with a friend."

Why do so many women want to be here? Women universally are under pressure with all the roles they play, Dr. Dobson commented. "There is a desire to maintain a healthy family in the midst of a culture that undermines and contradicts the family." Former public policy maker Kay Cole James said that "the best thing women can do is to take care of the relationships God has given you. Whether you are a wife, a mom, a daughter, an aunt, a grandmother, etc." She continued, "This will do more to help your culture than any public policy you could push." "Renewing the Heart" conference coordinator Lisa Harper warmly reminded the women after a song entitled, "Our God Is an Awesome God" that "the Lord is the only one who can meet your expectations." And based on the enthusiastic response from the crowd, he did.

The one-day conference featured humorist Patsy Clairmont, National Day of Prayer Task Force chair Shirley Dobson, internationally renowned Bible-teacher Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of evangelist Billy Graham), dean of the School of Government at Regent University Kay Cole James, and full-time homemaker and Christian speaker Eva Self who was confined to a wheelchair. Sprinkled throughout the day were praise and worship led by Christian recording artist Kim Hill and Cheri Keaggy in the round stage. Some of the following topics were discussed: using meaningful words, the power of prayer, five ways to prepare your children to be inoculated from the world, dying to self, and Heaven. Because of the overwhelming response from women, Focus on the Family plans four to five more "Renewing the Heart" conferences next year. For more information write, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Penny Rust Terry

~Gary Rust is president or Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian and other newspapers.