ORCHESTRA, HEADLINERS, SENIORS DESERVE PRAISE

The little things in life add up. A number of items in the news recently are deserving of brief comment. We offer a thumbs up sign to items deserving of praise, thumbs down to those we would have preferred not to learn about.

After scrubbing its European tour because of Persian Gulf hostilities, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra found space available on its usually busy schedule. To fill this new-found time, the world-renowned players scheduled a series of concerts around Missouri, including one in Cape Girardeau last Saturday night. The orchestra's Arena Building performance, bursting with patriotic music, played to a full and appreciative house. Europe's loss was Missouri's gain and Cape Girardeau appreciated the concert.

Anyone doubting the far-reaching influence of the local university should have taken note recently of the San Diego Press Club's "Headliners of the Year" ceremony. In the nation's sixth largest metropolitan area, two graduates of Southeast Missouri State University were counted among the top 17 movers, shakers and newsmakers of that southern California city. Dr. Bill Stacy, Southeast Class of 1960 and former president of the Cape Girardeau university, was named to the honor in the field of education, while Dr. Jerry Caulder, Class of 1964, was honored in the field of biotechnology. We exclaim no surprise that graduates of the university meet with such success, only pride that their achievements are recognized.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department has been dealing recently with a rash of thefts from cars parked along Broadway. In most cases, the items were taken from cars that were unlocked. The police have recognized the pattern and advised citizens to take proper precautions. In fact, the warning should not be necessary. The job of police is made tough enough with the routine run of crimes; citizens, who don't need the hassle of stolen goods either, could help out by making sure they don't leave valuable items visible inside their cars and locking the doors of their parked vehicles. It is the responsibility of all to combat crime.

As a culmination of Black History Month, the Southeast Area organization in Cape Girardeau will honor 20 black senior citizens today for their contributions to the community. All the honorees are 80 or older and have persevered through unfortunate days of racial segregation. Many were instrumental in fighting for civil rights, paving the way for a better life succeeding generations enjoy. The ceremony will be held today at 3:30 p.m. today at the Second Baptist Church. We commend the Southeast Area group for according this recognition.