CITY LIGHTS UP FOR HOLIDAY TOUR

Cape Girardeau is lighting up for the sixth annual Holiday of Lights tour and contest.

Holiday of Lights is a combined effort of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The committee holds an annual decorating contest. The bureau plans the driving route and bus tours. Judging was completed last week and the tours begin Friday.

Bus tours will be held Friday and Saturday and again Dec. 20 and 21.

The tour includes the light display at Cape Girardeau County Park along with several winners of the chamber's contest and other decorated neighborhoods. Several homes on the route were on display last year. Others have been added.

Mary Stucker, bureau group-sales director, explained that the tour can't visit every winning business and residence. "It would go on for an eternity," she said. "We try to include as many as we can."

The bus tour will be a little shorter than in the past. "The tour had been running about an hour and a half," Stucker said. "That was too long, especially for children. This year it will be closer to an hour."

The bureau will provide shuttle guides -- people who will tell little-known facts about some of the homes on the tour. "It's a commentary -- things we know that you don't, and that makes it fun," Stucker said.

The tours leave West Park Mall entrance B at 7 each night. Tickets are $1 per person and can be purchased at the West Park Mall customer service desk, both Schnucks stores and the Convention and Visitors Bureau office. Tickets also will be available at the mall just prior to the tour departure. Up to five buses per night will be available, depending on the demand.

A hospitality room with Christmas music, hot chocolate and cookies, compliments of West Park Mall, will be open prior to the tours, and Santa might make an appearance.

Winners of the Chamber beautification committee's contest, by sections of the city:

Section 1

-- Ken Voepel Insurance, 2256 Kingsway.

-- Bill, Sandy and Debbi Sisco, 206 N. Henderson.

-- John Hill, 1408 Bessie.

Section 2

-- Boatmen's Bank, 2001 William.

-- Raymond and Patty Pulliam, 1831 College.

-- Tom and Dena Nelson, 1810 Montgomery.

Section 3

-- St. Francis Medical Center, 211 St. Francis Dr.

-- Richard and Mary Jo Dirnberger, 3602 Julie.

-- Johnn and Kim Cunningham, 3719 Hopper Rd.

Section 4

-- Fountainbleau Lodge, 2001 N. Kingshighway.

-- Bill W. Wilkins, 3906 Eagle Ridge.

-- Danny and Debbie Essner, 910 Pheasant Cove.

Section 5

-- Patrick Furniture Mart, 1140 N. Kingshighway.

-- Nelda and Kevin Harris, 2508 Horseshoe Ridge.

-- Ed, Marsha and Chris Thompson, 2425 N. Cape Rock Dr.

Section 6

-- Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1820 Perryville Rd.

-- Charles and Mary Ann Daniel, 2920 Bella Vista.

-- Fred and Tammy Elias, 2137 Yorktown.

Section 7

-- Hutson Furniture Co., 43 S. Main.

-- Rick Werner, 534 Washington Ave.

-- Doris and Allen Weibrecht, 412 Fitzgerald.