CAPE CENTRAL PLACES SECOND AT SPEECH CONTEST HERE

Cape Girardeau Central High School placed second in the sweepstakes competition behind Poplar Bluff High School at the annual speech contest held at Southeast Missouri State University Friday and Saturday.

Twenty-three schools and 150 students participate in the tournament. Top finishers at the district competition qualify to compete at the state speech tournament to be held next month.

The following local students have qualified for state competition.

From Cape Girardeau Central High School, Cross Examination Debate teams of Paul Cairns and David Kinder and Chris Robertson and Gabe Hinkebein qualified for state contest.

Mala Ahuja placed first in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Stephen Owen placed fourth for prose reading.

Amanda Allman of Jackson High School placed first in original oratory.