BIG EVENTS: OUTDOORSMAN EXPO AND SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND

The "Para-Plane" could be a crowd attractor at this weekend's outdoor expo to be held at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau.

"I think paraplaning will become a fascinating new sport," says Buck McNeely, who is conducting the first annual Buck McNeely Outdoorsman Expo & Sporting Clays Tournament.

McNeely describes the para-plane.

"This is kind of a motorized parachute," he said. "A parachute is attached to a light motorized cart, which can be lifted high into the air."

Demonstrations of the para-plane will be conducted throughout the Saturday-Sunday Expo.

"A special demonstration will be held about 8 a.m. Friday morning at the Show Me Center parking lot," said McNeely. "This para-plane will be one of the highlights of the Expo."

Activities at the two-day show officially get under way Saturday.

Various exhibits will be displayed in the Show Me Center, and the sporting clays shooting tournament will be held at the Trails of Tears Sportsmen's Club in Southern Illinois."

"This celebration of our sporting lifestyle showcases the 1993 hunting season," said McNeely, who McNeely, who is featured on the national television show, The Outdoorsman. "Included in the activities will be a projection archery range, NRA pellet gun range, and exhibits featuring sports vehicles, taxidermy, art, and more."

Several seminars will be conducted during the two days.

McNeely, who will be keynote speaker at the Expo at 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, will introduce a new outdoorsman's organization Outdoorsman International.

Among seminars on the schedule are dog training, goose calling, turkey hunting and deer hunting,

Dave Butz, a former National Football League star with the Washington Redskins, will be a guest at the event and will be available for an autograph session at 4 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Also on hand will be Ken Martin, a noted call maker; Tim Grounds, a world champion goose caller and Walt Crawfromd the the World Bird Sanctuary.

Activities get under way at 9 a.m. each day at the Show Me Center. Cost of admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 10.

Sponsors for the event are Southeast Missourian, Nikon, Stihl, Remington, Mossberg, Hornady, Black Jack Knives, Thompson Center Arms, National Rifle Association, KGMO Radio, KAPE Radio; KYRX Radio, and Outdoorsman International.