AMERICAN LEGION IN SEARCH OF TALENT FOR JACKSON'S HOMECOMERS CELEBRATION

JACKSON -- Singers, dancers, gymnasts and musicians should start fine tuning their skills now to compete in the Jackson American Legion Homecomers Talent Show.

The annual Homecomers celebration is Aug. 15 through 19. For four nights on a stage in front of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, possible future stars will have the chance to shine.

After witnessing a knife-juggling act over a decade ago, talent chairman Jim Nelson encouraged participants to stick with one of the four listed categories.

"We had judges sitting on the stage, and they looked about ready to bail out," Nelson said.

Now the most dangerous act is tap dancing, but the legion keeps people on both sides of the stage to catch dancers who get too into their acts.

On Tuesday, Aug. 15, children ages 6 to 12 will compete in dancing. Wednesday, Aug. 16, will be devoted to competitors ages 6 to 12 and ages 13 to 21 who perform any talent besides dancing.

Thursday, Aug. 17, will again be devoted to dancing, with people ages 6 to 12 and 13 to 21 competing.

First, second, third and fourth-place winners each night will win $20, $15, $10 and $5 respectively. On Friday, Aug. 18, winners will compete against each other for cash and plaques.

In addition, a representative from the Mid-South Fair in Memphis, Tenn., will attend Friday to invite winners, or possibly others, to participate in the fair's talent competition.

Talent committee member E.P. Kurre said he couldn't remember any Jackson winners who made it big at Mid-South, but perhaps this would be the first year.

The Jackson Homecomers Talent Show usually attracts quite a few competitors and a large audience, which sits on lawn chairs in front of the courthouse stage.