JANUARY 2017 ‘HAPPY TO DO IT’ Area senior citizens volunteer at local senior centers, deliver TBY meals to elderly THE BEST YEARS Page 8 Area native Bruce Qualls has worked as assistant director of local Christmas tournament for 15 years. Page 12 BINGING ON BASKETBALL WARM-WEATHER WINTER ESCAPES. PAGE 16 2017 Gorgeous Apartments and Duplexes available with amazing amenities, complete with up-keep and maintenance provided. We take care of everything so you don’t have too. Just a few things you’ll enjoy! Snow removal/lawn service • Cleaning service • Computer lab Fitness room and exercise pool • Mini bus service • Full time wellness coordinator Delicious meals • Paid utilities • Paid property taxes • Full Security 24-hour health care at your disposal & Much more Call Scott Sprandel, Manager 986-6290 for a personal tour or more information. 2 • TBY JANUARY 2017 in this issue FEATURES Model citizen 10 Local veteran Harold Illers has built to-scale models of area buildings, landmarks Binging on basketball 12 Area native Bruce Qualls has worked as assistant director of local Christmas tournament for 15 years Lifelong passion 14 Emil Brase, 97, shares rich history as coach and spectator of area Christmas tournament DEPARTMENTS 5 things to do this month 5 health & wellness 6 • Be ready: Simple preparations to ensure winter weather doesn’t catch you by surprise philanthropy 8 • ‘Happy to do it’ travel 16 • Warm-weather winter escapes home & garden 18 • Cheerful chirps columnists 20 • Steven Bender • Jo Ann Bock PAGE 14 a look back 22 out & about 23 ADVERTISING DIRECTOR FEATURES TEAM ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES TBY Donna Denson [email protected] Ashley Aufdenberg, Jennifer Berti, [email protected] Emily Colbert, Elizabeth Gooch, THE BEST YEARS PUBLICATION DESIGN Laura Hulcy, Glenda Mayberry, is a Rust Communications publication published in Nadir Hussein Samantha Mlot, Jody Seabaugh, January 2017 ©2017 Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702. Phone: 573-335-6611 [email protected] Debbie Stoverink and Paul Walker TBY JANUARY 2017 • 3 MAGAZINE WOMEN’S SUMMIT A Leadership and Empowerment event SAVEM DATE MAYMAY 4, 2017 • OSAGE CENTRE IN CAPE KEYNOTE SPEAKER ADRIENNE ROSS ABOUT ADRIENNE ROSS Adrienne Ross is an author, columnist, editor, speaker, and former teacher and coach. Author of an illustrated book of humorous quotations and stories, #AuntAlma: Raising a Little Hell Heaven on Earth is filled with common sense, comedy and a little bit of crazy, straight from the mouth of her real-life aunt Alma. Adrienne is the owner of Adrienne Ross Communications, through which she works as a speaker, writer, and entrepreneur. She aspires to encourage others to embrace their destiny and pursue their dreams through her work and community involvement. She serves on the editorial board of the Southeast Missourian; speaks at churches, schools, and political functions, and has been interviewed numerous times about politics, education, and the overall cultural climate. Adrienne has learned the power of perseverance through faith and hope through life’s challenges, and is a firm believer that every person has a unique calling. TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 2017 For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Denson Must be 21 years old to attend at 573-388-2751 or [email protected]. Purchase Tickets at www.women.semissourian.com notredamehighschool.org 4 • TBY JANUARY 2017 COMPILED BY LOGAN YOUNG 5 things to do this month JAN. 20: ‘The Bartered Bride’ to show at River Campus he Bartered Bride,” a comic opera written by “T the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20 and 21, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus, 518 S. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau. Tickets cost $18 and may be purchased at the River Campus box office, by phone at (573) 651-2265 or online at www.rivercampus. org/tickets. JAN. 21: Our Big Year event planned at nature center kickoff to the birding year will be from 1 to 3 p.m. JAN. 15: Steve Hess & Southern Salvation to present A Saturday, Jan. 21, at the concert Cape Girardeau Conservation he gospel group Steve Hess & Southern Salvation will Nature Center, 2289 County perform a concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at Fellowship Park Drive in Cape Girardeau. T Baptist Church, 430 Koch Ave. in Cape Girardeau. The trio Attendees will be able to pick of Steve Hess, Jay Arview and John McCall will present spiritually up a bird sighting book and join uplifting Christian music and ministry. The concert is free and open the staff to compete for Birder of to the public. the Year. The event will include activities and a craft, and there will be a drawing for a beginner’s birding bag. No registration is required, and the event is free. JAN. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner set he annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration T Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. JAN. 26: Bread-making class to be offered Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Show bread-making class Me Center, 1333 N. Sprigg St. will be offered from 6 in Cape Girardeau. This year’s A to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, featured speaker will be Dr. Mary Jan. 26, at the Shawnee Park Frances Berry, a respected voice Center, 835 S. West End Blvd. in the nation’s civil rights, gender in Cape Girardeau. Attendees equality and social justice will be able to learn the basic movements. Tickets for the event techniques, chemistry and will cost $20 per person or $160 for a table. To purchase tickets or superstitions behind making for more information, contact Sia Sharma or Deborah McKee at great bread with confidence. (573) 651-2626 or [email protected]. The class is free and open to the public. TBY JANUARY 2017 • 5 Have a story idea? Contact the features team health & wellness at [email protected]. Stock photo BY BRANDPOINT valid cause for concern. According to the United Nations, When severe weather hits this extreme weather and natural winter, the difference between disasters have killed more than BE READY: being safe and stranded can often 600,000 people and left behind come down to how prepared you trillions of dollars in damage over SIMPLE PREPARATIONS are. the last two decades. A recent survey by AccuWeather While you can’t control the TO ENSURE WINTER found that the No. 1 weather- weather, predictive tools can help related concern Americans have people better prepare for weather. this winter is being caught by Knowing when inclement weather WEATHER DOESN’T surprise by inclement weather. is going to arrive, and what to People also worry about being expect, can help people avoid CATCH YOU BY stranded while traveling or weather-related damage to their experiencing heat or power outages homes and vehicles, and stay safer at home. What’s more, weather and healthier throughout the SURPRISE damage statistics show they have winter season. 6 • TBY JANUARY 2017 AGE SPOTS | JACKIE DOVER Looking back, According to the United Nations, looking forward extreme weather and natural disasters The year 2016 has finally come to a close, and it was a rough have killed more than 600,000 people year for many. We have seen a very contentious election and and left behind trillions of dollars in the death of several beloved entertainers and many personal losses. The passing of the old year into the new is a great time damage over the last two decades. for reflection and the making of life changes or “resolutions.” The new year gives us a new start and is the perfect time to reflect back on the things we did well and the places we need Winter weather damage you by surprise: to improve. Snow, ice, wind and extreme • Create emergency kits for I am not a good resolution maker. I set my expectations too high cold are common causes of winter your home and car. Your home kit and usually quit before January ends. This year I have set smaller weather damage. Accumulated should include water for drinking goals for myself, ones that I feel are truly attainable. I will let you snow and ice can cause roof and cleaning, at least a three-day know how I progress. collapses, and bring down trees supply of non-perishable food, a A popular resolution for many is to save money. That can be or power lines. Heavy snowfall flashlight with extra batteries, first hard on a fixed income, when it seems everything is rising except can force road closures, leaving aid kit, basic tools like a wrench or the income. Luckily I have some programs that could help. people in rural areas isolated for pliers, a manual can opener and a The Missouri Property Tax Credit or Circuit Breaker program long periods of time. Even a small solar charger for your cell phone. returns a maximum of $750 for renters and $1,100 for owners who amount of ice can cause roads and Your vehicle kit should include a owned and occupied their home. The actual credit is based on walkways to be slick and dangerous warm blanket, ice scraper and/ the amount of real estate taxes or rent paid and total household for vehicles and pedestrians. or liquid de-icer, a shovel, bottled income. Extreme cold also can cause water, non-perishable food, LED To qualify for the Circuit Breaker, you or your spouse must be pipes to burst and make furnaces flashlights, flares, spare clothes, 65 as of Dec. 31 or 100 percent disabled. Also, those who are 60 work harder to warm homes.