BEACH PARTY TO BE THEME OF ANNUAL DOWNTOWN AUCTION

Don't be too surprised to see some lawn chairs, blankets and huge beach umbrellas inside the vacant store building at 45 N. Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau any time now.

The 10,000-square-foot building will be converted into a beach instead of a store for the annual Downtown Merchants Association Auction.

The 12th annual auction will be held July 31, with a 6:30 p.m. start for hors d'oeuvres. The auction will begin at 8 p.m.

Plans for the annual event were discussed during a DMA meeting. During the Tuesday meeting, Jim Weatherholt was selected as new president for the association.

Other new officers named this week were first vice president Gerald Jones, and second vice president, Judith Lang.

Tickets for the event go on sale July 1.

For the first time since the auction began, it will be in a location other than the Port Cape Girardeau Yacht Club.

The building on Main Street allows more room for the beach party theme, said auction planners.

As many as 200 people generally attend the annual auction, which has provided more than $$135,000 for downtown improvements and projects during the past decade.

The auction, which features more than 100 items including clothes, jewelry, furniture, collectibles, art prints and gift certificates -- has averaged $13,000 a year. A number of items will also be available during a silent auction prior to the regular event.

Headlining this year's auction will be clothing from Hecht's, furniture items from Hutson's Furniture, a number of jewelry items from downtown jewelers.

The items are auctioned through the donations of Chug's Auction Service.

The money raised by the auction has helped fund a number of projects and special events. They are:

-- The annual Christmas of Lights Parade.

-- A 72-by-20-foot open-air turn-of-the-century-style pavilion in the parking lot along South Main Street.

-- Two floodwall murals, including the "Wall of Fame."

-- Christmas lighting and new lighting along the floodwall.

-- Main Street speakers for background music for shoppers.

-- Riverfest promotions.