FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAHEC ANNOUNCES AUCTION ITEMS FOR UPCOMING DINNER AUCTION ON APRIL 6

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., April 1, 2002 - Several items have been donated for auction at the Sikeston (Mo.) Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC) dinner auction planned for 6 p.m. April 6 at the Sikeston Ramada Inn.

At the dinner, door prizes will be given, a silent auction will be held and many items will be auctioned. The auctioneer for the dinner will be Mike Reynolds.

Door prizes to be given include: two $25 gift certificates from MJ's Jewelry; one case of Smirnoff Ice from Mike Kohlfeld; a $25 gift certificate from Special Effects in Cape Girardeau donated by Debbie Bickings; one night's lodging at a Cape Girardeau Bed and Breakfast; gift certificates from the Pasta House and Garfield's in Cape Girardeau; PGA merchandise; Cardinal baseball hats and autographed baseballs; a $100 savings bond from Union Planters Bank in Sikeston; a manicure and hairstyle from Shear Perfection Beauty Salon; plants donated by Bizzell Lawn Care; a John Deere wheelbarrow with fern or flowers donated by Jerry and Judy Aufdenberg; four $25 gift certificates from Falkoff's in Sikeston; and a $100 savings bond from First Security State Bank in Charleston.

Silent auction items include: an unframed lithograph by Professor Bill Needle; original painting by artist Judy Comer; a personalized slide show made from 50 photographs by Dave Andrews, Southeast Missouri State University Video Services; an autographed copy of the book, "All Things Possible," signed by Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams; an original painting by artist Ann Shuchart; a Circuit City color printer valued at $80; a one-year supply of the dessert of the month from Susies in Sikeston; two tickets to the Yakov show in Branson, Mo.; a lithograph by Dessie Gross, donated by the Charleston Chamber of Commerce; an autographed photo of Tim McGraw with an initialed guitar pick; two tickets to the Neal McCoy concert April 9 at the Casino Aztar along with two dinners at Corkey's Barbecue and a one-night stay at Drury Lodge in Hayti, Mo.; services to prepare a simple will valued at $150, donated by Phil Barkett; an afghan donated by Jan Barkett; two hours of decorating consultation by Robin Dial of "Designs and Blinds," valued at $50; a wood-framed wall mirror from Hooker Furniture Corporation, donated by Hutson Furniture Company in Cape Girardeau; an autographed #20 Kim Herring mini-helmet, donated by the St. Louis Rams; two 35-pound bags of Kitty Litter from Ralston/Golden Cat-Bloomfield, Mo.; and a heart-shaped 14 karat gold diamond pendant from Michelson's Jewelry of Cape Girardeau.

Five packages are to be auctioned at the dinner. They include: a "Meet Me in St. Louis" Weekend Package; a "Go Cardinals!" Package; a "Hitting the Greens" Package; "And How Does Your Garden Grow" Package; and a "Dinner to End All Dinners" Package.

The "Meet Me in St. Louis" Weekend Package includes a Saturday night stay at the St. Louis Ritz Carlton, dinner for two at Café Mira, Sunday brunch at the Ritz Carlton and two Swedish massages at the Green Door. This package has been donated by Mr. And Mrs. Greg Boldrey, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leible, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Barkett, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Colwick, Bill Green Equipment Company and Café Mira.

The "Go Cardinals!" Package includes four tickets to the St. Louis Cardinals game on May 18, a parking pass, a $50 gift certificate for the stadium concessions or gift shop, four Cardinal caps and a signed baseball by J.D. Drew. This package has been contributed by Gary Welker, Bob Ralph Distributing Company and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The "Hitting the Greens" Package includes PGA golf merchandise, a case of Coor's Light, a golf umbrella, private golf lessons by Southeast Missouri State University golf coach Carroll Williams and a golf bag. This package has been contributed by PGA, Catherine Bird, Mike Kohlfeld of Kohlfeld Distributing, Union Planter's Bank of Sikeston, Carroll Williams, and Mary Ann and Smith Deline.

The "Dinner to End All Dinners" Package includes an eight-course dinner for four cooked in your home with proper wines and a centerpiece for the table. The dinner is valued at $250 and will be prepared by Dr. Hugh and Donna Protzel and Dr. Jon and Jill Hopson of Sikeston. This package has been contributed by Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Protzel, Dr. and Mrs. Jon Hopson and Terry Kay's Florist in Charleston, Mo.

Dinner auction tickets are $35 each. A reserved table of eight is $350. Tickets are available in Sikeston at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center and First State Bank and Trust. In Dexter, tickets are available at the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Bill Kane's Office. In New Madrid, tickets are available at the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce, the Bank of New Madrid and from Steve Pheeters at Noranda Aluminum. In Charleston, tickets are available at the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, Citizen Bank, Deline Agri Products and L & S Pharmacy. Tickets also are available at the East Prairie Chamber of Commerce and the University Advancement Office at Southeast Missouri State University.

For more information, call Jane Cooper Stacy, Southeast director of development, at (573) 651-2930; Judy Buck at (573) 472-3210; or Michael Parker, campaign chairman, at (573) 471-4007.