CANDIDATES VYE FOR HOMECOMERS QUEEN

JACKSON -- The annual Homecomers Queen Contest will be held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on the courthouse stage.

A dozen young women are competing for the title. Each of the contestants represents her hometown.

The queen contest is a traditional part of Jackson's Homecomers event, which starts Monday and continues through Friday in Jackson's downtown area.

Homecomers is sponsored by the American Legion and Auxiliary.

The contestants include:

JACKSON: Melanie K. Speight is a graduate of Jackson High School, where she was president of the student body, a four-year varsity letterman in softball and a member of the speech and debate team, National Honor Society, Just Say No Club and was co-editor-in-chief for the high school yearbook. She is also a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church.

CAPE GIRARDEAU: Cynthia L. Price, a graduate of Scott City High School, will attend Southeast Missouri State University this fall. She has worked at the Royal N'Orleans restaurant and enjoys riding horses and swimming.

POCAHONTAS: Kristy Koeberl will be a senior at Jackson High School. She participates in Alert, SADD, French Club, Drama Club and FHA. She is a member of the band and is an Indian Princess during the marching season. She is also on the A honor roll and has been named to Who's Who Among American High School Students for two consecutive years. She is president of her church youth group and is a Senior Girl Scout.

MORLEY: Cynthia Ann Grooms of Morley attends Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau. She is a member of FBLA, SADD, CYC and is chaplain and head of publications of the Morley VFW Ladies Auxiliary Club. She also works at Shoneys in Cape Girardeau.

STE. GENEVIEVE: April Weiler will be a senior at Valle Catholic High School in Ste. Genevieve. She has been involved in cheerleading, basketball and track. She is also involved in the church youth commission, campus ministry, Pro Life and is a Dare role model. She is Pep Club president and a church lectar. During this summer's flooding, she has volunteered with the Red Cross and has spent time patrolling levees.

SIKESTON: Jennifer Lee McDowell will be a junior at Sikeston High School where she is involved in Sikeston Red Peppers, Students Against Driving Drunk, Teens Against Pollution, the Biology Club, Conservation Club and marching band. She is a member of her church youth group and choir.

PERRYVILLE: Amanda Sue Kutz will be a junior at St. Vincent High School in Perryville. She plays softball and volleyball and the piano. She is also a member of the Pep Club, Spanish Club, Sodality and SADD. She participated in the Missouri Teen Institute.

OAK RIDGE: Cindy Hobeck, a graduate of Oak Ridge High School, was yearbook educator and recipient of the Publications Award. She was also treasurer of the SADD club, member of Science Club, Spanish Club, FHA, Student Council, a junior-senior prom candidate and a played volleyball three years. She is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

OLD APPLETON: Amy Lynn Schnurbusch will be a junior at St. Vincent High School in Perryville. She is involved in SADD, the Ladies Sodality and Pep Club.

ORAN: Tammy Zimmerman will be a senior at Oran High School this fall. She is a member of Future Business Leaders of America and also works at Shoneys in Sikeston.

GORDONVILLE: Elizabeth Ellen Harshaw will be a junior at Jackson High School this fall. She is a member of 4-H, the speech team, Spanish Club, Drama Club, band and Quill and Scroll. She attends Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville and is vice president and treasurer of the youth fellowship. She does volunteer work at Southeast Missouri Hospital

FRUITLAND: Dorcas Lynn Beussink is a graduate of Notre Dame High School. She was active in Pep Club, FBLA, and was captain of the cheerleading squad. She was class secretary and treasurer. She will attend Southeast Missouri State University this fall and works part-time at Drury Industries.

Little Miss Homecomer is Ashley Rachel Wilkinson of Jackson. She will attend kindergarten at Jackson R-2 this fall. She takes tap and ballet lessons at Dance Extensions. Ashley is the daughter of Eric and Lanny Wilkinson.

Little Mr. Homecomer is Elijah James Landgraf of Jackson. He is a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Sunday School, a member of the Fruitland 4-H Club and Clover Kids and played T-ball. He also helps his family show cattle at fall cattle shows. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Landgraf Jr.

Hostesses are Sara Scheper and Nicole "Nikki" Friedrich.

Scheper participates in Future Teachers of America, J-Club, Spanish Club, Photography Club, Hi-Step, Students Against Driving Drunk, National Honor Society, Prom Committee, Pep Club, Girl Scouts, A Honor Roll, Who's Who Among American High School Students and American Legion Auxiliary junior member. She is also a member of the Doxology Mob at First Baptist Church in Jackson and attented Missouri Teen Institute and Missouri Girls State.

Friedrich plays varsity basketball at Notre Dame High School and participated in Students Against Driving Drunk and the A honor roll.

Escorts are Shawn Neumeyer and Josh Gast.

Neumeyer will be a senior at Jackson High School. He is a member of Zion United Methodist Youth group and enjoys hunting, fishing and volleyball. Gast will be a senior at Jackson High School. He is on the wrestling team and went to state three years. He attends First Baptist Church.