BEANIE `RETIREMENTS' TODAY AND NEW TEENIES SPUR INTEREST IN SUNDAY SHOW

Get ready. May should send the Beanie Baby craze into high gear once again.

Today, Ty Warner, president of Ty Inc., is expected to "retire" a number of Beanie Babies. The Chicago-based company is also expected to offset the retirements with some new releases, which are also expected to be announced today.

In addition, McDonalds is gearing up for its second Teenie Beanie promotion in late May. Last year, the company ran out of millions of Teenie Beanies in a matter of days. The promotion was scheduled to last five weeks.

The timing couldn't be more perfect for the second Beanie Baby Collectible Market scheduled Sunday at the Bavarian Halle, said show organizer Fred Eggley of Cape Girardeau.

Two months ago, the first exclusive Beanie show in Cape Girardeau attracted about 1,000 people. This time, Eggley is not sure what to expect.

Bavarian Halle marks a new location for the show, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located just off the Fruitland Exit on Interstate 55. The new location provides more space for exhibitors, said Eggley. Beanie traders and sellers from five states have rented 35 tables at the show.

Admission is $1. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.

Exhibitors will bring a mix of current and retired Beanies, along with accessories, storage boxes along with Beanie clothing and jewelry. Ty plush and membership kits will also be available.

One of the most rare and expensive Beanies will be brought to the show by Paul Zeedyk of Carterville, Ill. He is hoping to sell a Peanut the Royal Blue elephant in mint condition for $5,200.

The elephant will be on display along with many other hard-to-find Beanies such as Peking the Polar Bear, Slither the Snake and Bumble the Bee.

The dark blue elephant was a manufacturing mistake that came out in June 1995. It was supposed to be light blue, which is the color of the current Beanie. It was distributed only one month -- about 2,000 were made.

Zeedyk is a real estate investor who started collecting in October for his daughters. He feels Beanie collecting is a good investment, and he thinks the prices will continue to rise.

The show will also feature two charity fund raisers.

The United Methodist Church in Sedgewickville is raffling a Princess Bear to benefit Robin White, 31, of Jackson. In January, she was diagnosed with a progressive illness related to muscular dystrophy. A month later, White learned she also had multiple sclerosis.

The family has amassed a number of medical costs not covered by insurance until October because her illnesses were a pre-existing condition.

Yvonne Carter, who is working with the fund raiser, praised Judy Wilferth of Children's Bazaar for donating the sought-after purple Beanie. The raffle will continue through the end of June. Tickets are also available at Sweetheart Florist in Jackson.

In addition, Sam's Club will be selling chances on two of the most sought-after Beanie Babies -- Erin and Princess -- on Sunday. The winners will be announced Monday morning.

Proceeds will aid the Children's Miracle Network, a charity that Wal-Mart Foundation supports. Specifically, money will support St. Louis Children's Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.

The store purchased one of the Beanie Babies and the other was donated by an employee, said Darlene Barnhart of Sam's Club.

"We'll also be selling other Beanie Babies donated by area merchants at the show," she said.

The annual goal at Sam's is $10,000 for the Miracle Network. Barnhart said the fund currently is about $8,000.