BENEFIT FOR SOUTHEAST HOSPICE PRESENTS LOCAL SINGERS

Chris Scherer usually spends part of his day giving music therapy at Southeast Hospital. This Saturday he'll be trying to make a different crowd happy.

Scherer is one of a number of performers slated for Saturday's "Wailing in the Woods" festival. Saturday's day of music, crafts and other activities will take place at the Black Forest Villages north of Cape Girardeau.

Scherer began his singing "career" at age 10. His uncle, Doran Vancil, was administrator of a nursing home in Poplar Bluff.

"I would go with my aunt and uncle to the nursing home in the summer," he said. "I got my music gear and sing-along tapes and started singing for the residents."

It was singing at nursing homes that led Scherer into his profession. He says he likes being around elderly people and works well with them. "I wanted to do something to make people happy."

Scherer has been at Southeast Hospital for the last year and a half as the activities specialist in the Skilled Nursing Unit.

He spent a year at Ratliff Care Center before coming to Southeast.

Prior to that, he worked in various nursing facilities before settling is as the activities director at the Chaffee Nursing Center.

It was there he met his wife of six years, the former Susan Landewee. She is the food service supervisor at the Chaffee Center.

Chris and Susan are the parents of a 7-week-old daughter, Hannah, and a 3 1/2-year-old son, Aaron.

Aaron likes to sing along as his father practices. "His favorite song is `Hey, Good Lookin.' He sings it all the time," his father said.

Scherer will perform his mixture of country and gospel at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The 1998 "Wailing in the Woods" festival has been expanded with a Friday night performance. Dr. Richard Moore and a group of his talented friends will present an "Evening of Jazz" in Academic Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University beginning at 7:30 p.m.

A full day of music, crafts and activities will take place Saturday.

A 10 a.m. fun walk will begin the day's events. Festival-goers will then be treated to the gospel sounds of the Reichman Family Singers, Rivers of Joy and Justified.

Entertainment will continue through the day with:

-- Jack Smoot, dulcimer player, 2 p.m.

-- Jeffrey Jackson, contemporary singer, 3 p.m.

-- Chris Scherer, country and folk singer, 3:30 p.m.

-- Chris Belle, blues performer, 4 p.m.

-- Shade Tree Company, folk trio, 5 p.m.

-- Brian and Jeanette Driskill and Kelly Sims, blues, country, bluegrass and folk performers, 7 p.m.

Other entertainment throughout the day will be provided by Bob Francis, autoharp; Linda Holt, dulcimer; John and Chris Simmons, fiddle and bass; and David Wolf Eagle, Native American flute.

An exhibition of dance and music will be provided by the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory.

Basketweaver Viola Lankford, arrowhead maker Fred Bollinger, leathersmith Charles Mungle and maker of folk instruments and dulcimers Art Bender will display their talents.

Admission to the jazz concert and "Wailing in the Woods" is $5 per event or $7 for both. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. All proceeds go to Southeast Hospice.

Cape Girardeau artist Don Greenwood designed the mascot for "Wailing in the Woods." His creation, a musically-inclined whale, will receive a name selected from entries by community residents. The winner will receive a bicycle donated by Wal-Mart.