CAPE HOSTS BUSY WEEKEND WITH GUARD CONVENTION, PRESS MEETING, SCENIC TOUR

Gov. Mel Carnahan will address members of the Missouri National Guard Association Inc. during its annual conference at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape Girardeau this weekend.

Theme of the conference is observance of the 50th anniversary of World War II. Local veterans of WW-II will post the colors for the opening ceremonies of the conference Saturday morning. Carnahan will speak at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Cape Girardeau will be a busy city this weekend.

The "City of Roses" is one of three entry points for the annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive, a 131-mile tour that covers an area from the north entry at Biehle on Interstate 55 to Cape Girardeau and to the west entry at junction 51-34 at Marble Hill. Thousands of visitors are expected to participate in portions of the tour.

Other weekend events include the 101st annual convention of the Southeast Missourian Press Association, to be conducted Friday and Saturday at the Southeast Missourian newspaper; an open house at the new Missouri Department of Conservation's regional headquarters building Saturday and Sunday at North County Park; a two-day Civil War Encampment to be held south of Jackson behind the Little Ole Opry building; Black Forest crafts demonstrations and activities Saturday and Sunday; and a display of Civil War items at Ford D.

Besides these events, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureaus is expecting as many as six overnight bus tours and the Cape Girardeau Capahas baseball auction will be held at the Show Me Center Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

The National Guard meeting is expected to attract more than 1,000 people, including members and their guests.

"We'll kick things off Friday with a benefit golf tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course at Jackson," said Maj. James Rabgnold. Other events during the three-day conference will be a benefit auction Saturday, with proceeds going to Camp Wonderland, and an address by humorist Keith Barrett during the Saturday night banquet.

The business session of the National Guard conference will be held at 8 a.m. The purpose of the Missouri National Guard Association is to promote and encourage support of strong, national security and defense.

The SEMO Press Association will attract as many as 50 editors and publishers from the Southeast Missouri area. A scramble golf tournament will be held Friday at Kimbeland Country Club at Jackson, with registration for the Saturday meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Concord Theater.

Ken Newton, editor of the Southeast Missourian and president of the association, will preside at a 9:30 a.m. meeting.

Joe Driskill, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, will be guest speaker during the 12:30 luncheon at Port Cape Girardeau, and state Rep. Chris Kelly, chairman of the House Budget Committee, will be banquet speaker at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Several workshop and group discussions will be held during the day Saturday, and a walking tour of downtown Cape Girardeau will be conducted following the luncheon.

A large crowd is expected for the third annual Black Forest Spring Craftsfest featuring craft demonstrations during the weekend. Thirty to 40 crafts demonstrations will be conducted throughout Saturday and Sunday. Black Forest features two, 1870s vintage villages that were constructed during the 1950s.

More than 250 participants are expected for the Civil War Encampment, which will feature Confederate and Union camps.

The camps will be open to the public at 8 a.m. Saturday, and will feature demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday. A special church service Sunday morning will be open to the public.

"More than 250 people will visit the area during the weekend via overnight bus tours," said Cathy Crites of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "In addition, we know of two or three other bus tours that will visit Black Forest on one-day visits," she said.