AUCTION TO BENEFIT DOWNTOWN CAPE SET

This year's annual auction in downtown Cape Girardeau will be held May 4.

Derby Day is the theme of the Downtown Merchants Association's fund raising auction and gala, to be held at Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant.

The upstairs doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the auction starting at 8 p.m. A silent auction will continue throughout the evening. A $10-per-person admission includes a hors d'oeuvres buffet. A cash bar will be available.

Funds from the annual event enable the downtown group to continue its restoration projects such as benches and brick crosswalks, the annual Christmas Parade, Christmas lighting, flower planting and maintainance of the area. The association raised a record $18,000 last year.

For additional information or tickets, contact Evelyn Boardman at 335-4026.

Among the 100 items are available: a $3,000, zip-front long-hair beaver jacket with mink inserts and a $2,000 zip-front ranch mink sections jacket, reversible to red leather, both from Hecht's; a $1,400, 18-karet gold Cabachon ruby ring with diamonds from C.P. McGinty Jewelers; a $1,000 furniture gift certificate from Hudson's Fine Furniture; a $500 advertising package from KCGQ-FM and two $400 gift certificates from KEZS-FM/KZIM-AM.

Gift donations come from merchants all over the city and are auctioned through the donated services of Chug's Auction Service.

Sam's Town and Gambling Hall in Tunica, Miss. is providing two "Escape Weekends" for its Tunica facility, each valued at more than $265. A number of other gift certificates will be offered, along with jewelry, savings bonds, furniture, art prints, and more, including an "Album Quilt," by John and Evelyn Boardman, valued at more than $500.