COUNTRY IN THE COUNTY

Proud Heart, the house band at the Country Music Hall, played as people stepped onto the floor to dance. The hall is open Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The band starts at 7 p.m.

Foot stomping, toe tapping, knee bouncing entertainment can be found outside the city limits of Cape Girardeau.

There's country in the county.

People make plans every weekend to go to clubs like the Country Music Hall, Little Ole Opry Company and Stroder Country, avoiding town for the country music and fellowship of clubs outside the city limits.

County club owners say they found a gap in entertainment that clubs within the city limits weren't filling.

Lilina Stroder founded and runs Stroder Country with the help of her family. "We do everything ourselves. That's the German in us," she said in her confident, German accent.

"Everyone should come in and check us out once," she said. "They will come back and spread the word."

Saturday night is the big night for Stroder Country. But lessons for couples and line dancers conducted by clubs and outside organizations also are available during the week.

An older crowd can be found at her place on Saturdays, Stroder said. But anyone would be welcome.

Stroder Country is at 1820 Old Toll Road, just off Highway 72 near the edge of the Jackson city limits.

The Country Music Hall, 3757 Highway 25, also has country entertainment on the weekend. The club is 2 1/2 , miles south of Jackson.

The doors open Friday and Saturday night at 6 p.m.. The entertainment begins at 7 and lasts until 11 p.m.

The hall's owner, Larry Kuntze, said many people from around the area come to dance. Dancing lessons also are offered, he said.

Little Ole Opry Company has the same schedule: Friday and Saturday nights, 7-11 p.m. It's located at 4036 Highway 34, 4 miles west of the intersection of Highways 72 and 34;

Terry Hopkins and his wife Janet are the owner/operators of the Opry.

"We're in the country and this is country," said Terry Hopkins. "The people who come range from teen-agers up to 80 years old. We draw from a pretty big area around here too."

On Friday nights, the Opry offers dancing. The next night, audiences are entertained with live country music.

Groups from St. Louis, Illinois and Kentucky are lured to the Opry to perform for patrons, Hopkins said.

In addition to the regular shows, the Opry also schedules special shows year-round for parties. And during the summer months, recreational-vehicle travelers are able to set up at a campsite behind the Opry and have special shows. "They're organized with Winnebago or Holiday Travelers," Hopkins said.

Anyone would feel welcome at the Opry, Hopkins said. "We have pretty much a mixed crowd here," he said.

For more information about a specific night's entertainment or dance lessons, contact the Country Music Hall at 243-5755, Little Ole Opry Company at 243-5215 or Stroder Country at 243-6445.