Organizers still collecting 'Caps for Brockmeyer'

A local community service project continues to honor a fallen Chester police officer and volunteer firefighter with "Caps for Brockmeyer."

The initiative seeks to gather enough plastic caps and lids to create two benches in honor of James Brockmeyer, who was fatally injured in the line of duty during an Oct. 28 police chase on Palestine Road north of Chester.

Both Chester and Steeleville Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Venture Crew are participating in the project.

"They're trying for 800 pounds, which is two benches," said project co-coordinator Sherri Rahn. "In addition to the 800 pounds, they have to come up with $225 per bench.

"Gilster-Mary Lee is allowing us to use their scale to weigh and there's a three-week process time for the benches to be made."

Rahn said she was not sure how many caps have been collected thus far, but noted that 400 pounds of plastic caps would fill 10 55-gallon yard waste trash bags.

The goal is to have the benches by next spring or summer.

"If we get two benches, one will go to the (Chester) firehouse and the other will go to the police department," Rahn said. "Whether they put it at city hall or give it to the family, that's to be determined, but we know at least one will go to the fire department."

Green Tree Plastics, through an ABC Promise partnership, will recycle the caps into benches.

"We are preferring donations to have been rinsed off to help with processing," Rahn said. "We have to process a lot of caps, that's why we're not certain the total."

Those wishing to donate caps or lids can drop them off at the Randolph County Herald Tribune/Steeleville Ledger office in Chester (1205 Swanwick St.) and the Chester Scouting Center.

More locations will be announced later. For more information, call Rahn at 618-521-2542 or co-coordinator Tiffany Bryant at 618-795-2117,

"If it is an older person who cannot come drop the caps off, call us," Rahn said.

Acceptable Caps

Medicine bottle caps

Milk jug caps

Detergent caps

Hairspray caps

Toothpaste tube caps

Deodorant caps

Drink bottle caps

Flip-top caps (ketchup, mustard)

Spout caps (mustard)

Spray paint caps

Ointment tube caps

Caps with recycle numbers of 2, 4 and 5

Acceptable lids

Cottage cheese container lids

Mayonnaise jar lids

Yogurt lids

Peanut butter jar lids

Ice cream bucket lids (under 8 inches)

Cool Whip container lids

Coffee can lids

Cream cheese container lids

Butter container lids

Prescription bottles (labels removed)