Champ crier will identify Cape's town crier

Redmond O'Colonies, the current American Champion Crier, is coming to Cape Girardeau to help celebrate the town's 200th birthday.

O'Colonies will oversee a competition to identify the city's town crier. The event will take place Sept. 30 at the Red House Interpretive Center, 128 S. Main St.

Friends of the Red House Interpretive Center are looking for a goodwill ambassador for the city of Cape Girardeau in the form of a town crier.

The winner will not only be the town spokesman, but will also ride in the opening parade, stroll the streets of Cape Girardeau announcing the day's activities and make appearances during Old Town Cape events.

A workshop for those interested in learning the art of crying will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 29 in the Delta Queen Room on the second floor of Dockside Consignment at 4 N. Spanish St.

Those competing will be judged on clarity, content of their cry, sustained volume and their overall image.

"The most important thing is for this person to be excited about their hometown and what is going on in it," said Brenda Schloss, planning technician with the city of Cape Girardeau.

About 30 other municipalities have commissioned a town crier. There are more than 400 brothers and sisters of the bell around the world with unofficial criers still honing their oratorical craft in parts of Africa and South America as part of the media there.

"We were the original media," said O'Colonies. "There's always been more bad news than good news."

Historically, town criers preformed the role of modern newspapers by informing townspeople of bad news such as increased taxes or a public hanging, but they announced other news as well.

On Oct. 1, Cape Girardeau residents can get a first-hand look at the interaction between town criers and the modern newspaper during the Southeast Missourian's centennial celebration.

The winner of the competition will be able to join the American Guild of Town Criers.

"We are eager to welcome and support our new member as they begin this life-changing vocation," O'Colonies said.

Town criers are an eccentric and warmly supportive family worldwide, he said.

O'Colonies has competed in town crier competitions worldwide.

O'Colonies became interested in crying after playing the part in a street fair.

He said he would make a great politician because he can talk about anything.