BARBARA BUSH WILL VISIT FAIR TODAY; FIRST LADY TO GIVE AWARDS FIELD QUESTIONS DURING STAYBARBARA BUSH WILL VISIT FAIR TODAY

Over the years, famous visitors to the SEMO District Fair have been limited to entertainers who were scheduled to perform on the grandstand stage.

But that will change today when the First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush, arrives at Arena Park for an hour-long visit to the fair.

Pete Poe, president of the District Fair Board, will serve as the official host for Bush and will escort her around the fairgrounds.

"It's an exciting time for us when a dignitary of that stature attends our fair," said Poe, who has was advised of the possible visit last Wednesday.

"We look forward to having the opportunity to meet her and to show her the SEMO District Fair."

Bush will arrive at the fair around 2:15 p.m. She will visit the R&R Tent first to hold a question-and-answer session with senior citizens. Then, she will tour the fair in a tram and visit the Show Arena (next to the poultry barn) on the other side of the fairgrounds.

At the Show Arena, she will be presenting championship ribbons for livestock to youths involved in FFA and 4-H. She plans to make brief comments.

Ann Wagner, coordinator of the Missouri Bush-Quayle Campaign, pointed out that both events are open to the public.

She added that Bush will be running a little ahead of schedule. Initially, she was scheduled to arrive at the fair about 2:30.

Bush, who will be flying into the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport from Detroit, will be greeted by a group of Cape Girardeau County Republican officials and party leaders.

Also flying in to greet her will be Missouri First Lady Janet Ashcroft.

Ashcroft will accompany the president's wife for the rest of her visit in Missouri. Her husband, Gov. John Ashcroft, is chairman of the Bush-Quayle campaign in Missouri.

After about an hour here, Bush will return to the airport and fly to St. Louis for a 4:30 p.m. event.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard Boyd said his officers have been working with the Secret Service for several days to plan today's visit. "Planning is going real well and we expect this will go very smoothly," said Boyd. "We look forward to the visit."

Boyd said security planning for this visit is not as great as it would be if the president or vice president were coming to town. In 1984, then-Vice President George Bush made a campaign stop here, and in 1988 President Ronald Reagan spoke at a rally at the Show Me Center.

"In comparison, this will be much easier to deal with," said Boyd. "We assist the Secret Service; they provide the direction."

Boyd said the Cape Police Department will be receiving assistance from the Missouri Highway Patrol, Cape Girardeau County and Scott County sheriff's departments, and Department of Public Safety officers from Southeast Missouri State University.

From the fair board's point of view, Poe said preparations have gone well and there has been a good relationship between event organizers and Secret Service personnel.

"They have not tried to make us change the fair into something it is not," observed Poe. "There have been some additional things we have to get accomplished, but her people have been most accommodating and very easy to work with. They have not put any demands on us that are not proper."

Poe added, "The fair will be going on as usual. We are preparing for the day's activities just as we normally would."

Poe believes today will be a big day for the SEMO District Fair, not only from having the First Lady of the United States on hand but also a large crowd that will likely turn out to see her.

Since word of her possible visit came out last Friday, Poe said the fair office has been getting a lot of calls, especially from schools who want to bring children in to see the famous visitor.

"There is no doubt in my mind we'll triple our usual attendance Wednesday afternoon," remarked Poe.