CREWS BEGIN SETTING UP FAIR

About 110 volunteers got the 141st SEMO District Fair off to a running start over the weekend, putting preparations for the fair about a half-day ahead of schedule.

Pete Poe, SEMO District Fair vice president, said the volunteer crews have two more days of work to do, including raising the tents today, before the fair essentially will be ready to open. Some last-minute work will be completed Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's opening-day events.

The fair, which attracted about 92,000 people last year, will feature a circus this year as a part of its package of attractions, Poe said. George Coronis' circus out of Mylakka, Fla., will offer a trapeze act, African baboons, acrobats, a dog show, horse show, clowns, various performers and pot-bellied pigs, all under a state-of-the-art European-style "Big Top" tent.

The tent has seating for 1,200 people. The 30 performers will put on 10 shows during fair week.

Coronis, a fourth-generation circus manager, said the schedule is not unusual for his troupe.

"It's about the same kind of schedule we do when we do the Shrine Circus," he said. "We do two shows a day, and sometimes three shows on weekends. We've got a good show. We've got a circus tent that's not like anybody else's. It's more like a theater; one ring, European style, color lighting."

Poe said the $2 admission to the fair includes free admission to the circus. Parking is $2 all week.

The circus is the biggest daily addition to this year's event, but the live entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights also has fair organizers excited.

Williams & Ree, also known as "The Indian and the White Guy," take their comedy act to the SEMO grandstand 8 p.m. Thursday. Their act is described as "a lively, fast-paced mixture of comedy bits, social and political commentary, all sprinkled with original songs."

Friday features singers Rhett Akins and Bryan White, the latter named 1996 Academy of Country Music top new vocalist of the year, starting at 8 p.m.

Akins is known for the songs "Heart to Heart," "What They're Talkin' About," "She Said Yes," "I Brake for Brunettes" and "That Ain't My Truck." White's songs include: "Eugene You Genius," "Rebecca Lynn," "This Town," "Me and the Moon" and "Look at Me Now."

Country music star Tracy Lawrence takes the grandstand stage 8 p.m. Saturday. Lawrence, who has two platinum albums and one double-platinum, has been named top new male vocalist, best new country artist and best new touring artist by the Academy of Country Music and Billboard Magazine.

His songs include: "Alibis," "Texas Tornado," "Any Fool Can See," "Sticks and Stones" and "Time Marches On."

Poe, who has been actively involved with the SEMO District Fair for 13 years, said it is important to keep the fair fresh by upgrading the entertainment and bringing in new attractions.

"Our fair is 141 years old. To do things the same old way year in and year out, it wouldn't have lasted 141 years," he said. "We have to be constantly looking for new and different things to improve and upgrade the fair; give the people the most for their money."

The fair, Poe said, is a meeting of cultures in Cape Girardeau.

"It brings together the city and the rural areas into one common location," he said. "The metropolitan people get to see the livestock exhibits. The rural people get to come to town for some excitement, bright lights and carnival atmosphere. It meshes the best of both worlds."

Those that get the most excited about the fair are usually the ones involved in making it happen. Poe said he has volunteers who have been setting up the fair for 50, 40 and 30 years, plus their sons and grandsons. This year's large turnout of volunteers is due to the newest generation getting involved.

"A lot of the youngsters are nephews, sons of the folks that have been around for a number of years," Poe said. "Once the young generation gets old enough to get involved -- why here they come. They're following in the footsteps and tradition. It's a fun place to be."

Edwin Peetz and Bob James have a combined 22 years experience in setting up the SEMO fair. Peetz has been working the event for 12 years and James has been setting it up for 10. Both men said they do it because it's fun.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't like it," Peetz said.

James said he likes meeting up with old friends at the fairgrounds.

"I get to see people I haven't seen since last year," he said. "Plus there's always new faces."

The weather can make set-up difficult. "It's been awfully warm the last few years," James said.

If the set-up is correct then the fair runs itself, Peetz said.

"We can float the rest," he said, adding that volunteer work is one of the most important aspects of the SEMO District Fair. "You ain't going to get no fair without volunteers."

FAIR SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 8

Free admission to park grounds all day Sunday

1 p.m. -- Pet parade, grandstand.

1:30 p.m. -- Horseshow, grandstand. Free admission

Carnival bracelet day from noon to 6 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 9

5:30 p.m. -- Parade from Capaha Park to fairgrounds

7:30 p.m. -- Demolition Derby, grandstand

Tuesday, Sept. 10

5 p.m. -- Baby Contest, girls, at R&R Tent

6 p.m. -- Livestock arrival

7 p.m. -- Tractor Pull, grandstand

Carnival bracelet day from 5-11 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 11

5 p.m. -- Baby Contest, boys, at R&R Tent

7:30 p.m. -- Truck Pull, grandstand

Carnival bracelet day from 5-11 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12

Noon -- 4-H/FAA Tractor Rodeo

4:30 p.m. -- 4-H/FFA Livestock sale

7:30 p.m. -- SEMO Fair Pageant, R&R Tent

8 p.m. -- Williams and Ree, grandstand

Friday, Sept. 13

Carnival Tiny Tots bracelet day from 1-5 p.m.

8 p.m. -- Rhett Akins and Bryan White, grandstand

Saturday, Sept. 14

8 a.m. -- Antique tractor pull

8:30 a.m. -- 4-H/FFA Public Speaking contest

10:30 a.m. -- Parade of Champions

10:30 a.m. -- Smile contest, R&R Tent

2 p.m. -- 4-H Horse Show

2 p.m. -- Fiddler's contest, R&R Tent

4 p.m. -- Pedal Tractor Pull

8 p.m. -- Tracy Lawrence, grandstand