Federal funds flow to area

CAPE GIRARDEAU - With the passage of the omnibus appropriations bill, millions of federal dollars are headed this way, much of it earmarked for educational purposes.

"Missouri needs these critical investments to grow its economy and create jobs, modernize highways and protect and secure the future for Missouri families in areas such as health care and education," said Sen. Kit Bond in a recent press release. "This money will help ensure that our state has the resources it needs to safeguard the quality of life of Missouri residents."

"These programs are vital to jobs, growth, and public programs in our congressional district," agreed Rep. Jo Ann Emerson. "This is how Southern Missourians get a return on our investment of federal taxes - transportation, infrastructure, higher education, community betterment, and help in our fight against drugs."

Containing seven of the 13 spending bills needed to continue funding the federal government for the remainder of this fiscal year, the bill was passed by both the House and Senate and sent to the President for his signature.

Among the largest appropriations in this area is the $1.5 million for Southeast Missouri State University's NASA Educator Resource Center.

Located at 222 N. Pacific in Cape Girardeau, the Center makes a wide variety of free educational and instructional materials related to science, mathematics and technology education available to K-12 schools, teachers and students throughout Missouri.

The Center also provides presentations, teacher-training programs and student-centered activities both on campus and at regional school sites.

"The NASA programs and materials are the best educational resources I have ever encountered in my 31 years in science education," said Dr. Ernest Kern, director of the NASA ERC Program at Southeast. "And contrary to what one might initially think, the NASA materials do not only address space science. They address all the sciences and mathematics and technology."

Southeast was selected in 1999 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as the site for Missouri's NASA Educator Resource Center through the efforts of Kern and Dr. Sharon Coleman, director of the Godwin Center for Science and Mathematics Education.

"Students and parents in Missouri owe Senator Bond a great deal of gratitude," said Kern. "More than most, he is aware that we are now living in a world society that is becoming increasingly technology-based and science-oriented. His vision is to prepare Missouri students to face that future."

Kern said that while not every student will become a scientist, mathematician or technologist, "the primary objective is to provide all students with a background and exposure that will allow them to live and function successfully in that future."

Also listed under "Other Missouri science, research and technology priorities" in the bill is a $45,000 appropriation for Mid-West/Mid-South Irrigation research for humid areas at the University of Missouri Delta Center in Portageville.

"Over the last 20 years there's been a huge increase in irrigation along the Mississippi River delta area - just a tremendous increase," said Joe Henggeler, irrigation specialist at the Center.

Historically, about 90 percent of irrigation research was focused on the arid conditions found in places like California and Texas. While irrigation is booming in the delta areas, in the desert areas it's actually decreasing, Henggeler said.

Past irrigation research just isn't applicable to this area. "We have different conditions," Henggeler said such as shallow roots, soil compaction and too much water after a rain "which is probably never a problem in the desert."

In comparisons between irrigated field yields and non-irrigated field yields, before studies began in 1987 irrigated fields were producing an additional 10 bushels per acre.

"Now we're about 17 bushels more and that's very significant," Henggeler said. "We're seeing benefits to farmers already. We feel this really is working."

Henggeler said this is far from being "pork barrel" money. "We see that there's a yield increase and that's going to go back into taxes," he said.

Other projects in this area funded by the Omnibus bill include:

* An access ramp for Interstate 55 at Scott City for which $250,000 has been appropriated.

"That will cover the entire cost of the project," said Craig Compas, project designer for the Missouri Department of Transportation. "It's an access to the existing northbound onramp from James Street."

The project will also add an acceleration lane, Compas said.

* Southeast Missouri Bus Service Capital Improvements will receive $1.5 million.

* As part of the bill's "Protecting Missouri's communities" category, the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force will receive $240,000.

* Stoddard County will receive $250,000 for archiving facility upgrades and equipment at the Stars and Stripes Museum/Library under the bill's "Securing our families' health care and education" category.

"We don't know what it can be used for," said Deloris May, director of the Stars and Stripes Museum. "We've had different newspapers call and ask what we're going to use it for, but we don't know until they tell us."