CITIES MARK FOURTH WITH PIE-EATING, PARADE; COMMUHITY PICNIC HIGHLIGHTS CAPE PARTY

After a patriotic parade from Capaha Park to Arena Park, the Fourth of July Community Picnic at Arena Park got a slow start under cloudy skies.

The first annual Community Picnic sponsored by the VFW Post 3838 got under way with a small crowd in early afternoon.

By mid-afternoon more than 300 people turned out, in the Arena Park Grandstand area, to hear rock and roll by local band Papa Aborigine and the Kansas City based band House of One.

Eating funnel cakes and drinking lemonade, Johnny and Linda Gast of Whitewater, said they came just to hear Papa Aborigine and enjoy the activities at the park.

"Our grandson Ethen has been riding the rides," said Linda Gast. "We absolutely would like to come again next year."

During a concert by the Compton Heights Band Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson addressed a crowd of more than 400 at the arena grandstand.

Emerson said there are many heroes.

"Heroes are not only our veterans, but also the heroes here at home in our communities," she said. "They are the single moms who try to keep a job and save money."

She said that community volunteers are heroes when they help build up their communities. Such as those who help with flood conditions and those who try to bring jobs to the area to retain their young people from relocating.

Emerson said everyone should be proud to live in a free country and she wants legislation to protect the American flag.

The Community Picnic ended with a fireworks display in the park.

The Fourth of July Community Picnic committee will meet again in one month to start planning next year's picnic.

"We plan to make it grow," said Rodger Brown, coordinator of the event.

July 4th festivities were kicked off Thursday with the 19th annual Great Steamboat Race, from New Orleans to St. Louis, between the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen steamboats.

The race represents the famous riverboat duel of 1870 between the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez steamboats.

More than 800 passengers and crew from both boats arrived in Cape Girardeau.

During the race passengers and crew members competed in a series of events which earned each boat points toward the "Commodore's Cup" which was won by the Delta Queen last year.

The events concluded with "Cap'n Foghorns Floating Follies" a talent presented by crew and passengers from both boats.

The follies, held at the Courthouse Park gazebo, was judged by Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling, Police Chief Rick Hetzel, and Mary Miller, of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Tourism Bureau. The boats tied for the cup this year.

The Delta Queen, the oldest of the two steamboats, won the "Golden Antlers" award on Friday in St. Louis as the winner of the race.

Darlene Wilson, entertainment manager of the Delta, said her boat has not won for a couple of years.

"But," she said, "It just goes to show older is better."