CVB SCHEDULES SHUTTLE BUSES FOR HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS TOUR

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau will arrange for shuttle buses for the Holiday of Lights Tour to be held in Cape Girardeau Dec. 12-14 and 19-21.

"We'll have four buses available each night of the tour," said Beverly Estes," a member of the CVB Advisory Committee, which held its November meeting Wednesday. "Two buses will depart from Plaza Galleria and two will leave from West Park Mall."

Tickets for the shuttle buses, $1 each, may be purchased in advance, or at each of the sites just prior to departure time.

"The tours start at 7 p.m. each day, and will return about 8:30 p.m.," said Estes, who explained that the charge is to recoup the cost of the buses.

The Holiday of Lights Tour, the second Mississippi River Scenic River Drive, a brief discussion of the committee's meeting with the Cape Girardeau City Council members Monday, and the staff report were among items discussed Wednesday.

The Mississippi River drive will be held April 25-26.

This year's drive consisted of 131 miles of historic and scenic sites in Southeast Missouri. A 56-page tour guide was provided.

Planning is already under way for the 1992 tour and information for the tour must be submitted by Feb. 1 to be included in the 1992 program guide. The tour is sponsored by the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University.

Members of the CVB Advisory Committee said they were pleased with Monday's meeting with council members.

"I think we had a positive session," said Bob Hoppmann, a member of the committee. "The committee supports the CVB and what it is doing. We also support the idea of looking at new options and entertaining all new ideas."

More than 20 ideas and proposals have been submitted to the council requesting funding from the convention and tourism tax fund. Money from that fund is used to operate the CVB. The proposed budget will be among items discussed by the council Dec. 2.

Lyn Muzzy, CVB director, and Laurel Adkisson of the CVB staff are attending the Governor's Conference on Tourism, which is being held in Jefferson City this week.

The CVB staff-written report noted that Muzzy had attended two tour industry meetings during the past month, including the National Tour Association (NTA) meeting in Cleveland and the Motorcoach Association meeting in Toronto.

"We have already received some calls for confirmations from the NTA," said Cathy Crites of the CVB staff.

The terms of three advisory board members Hoppmann, David Ross and Narvol Randol Jr. will expire Dec. 31.

"Anyone wanting to be considered for the board should request an application at the city manager's office," said Randol, who is chairman of the board. Hoppmann and Ross have indicated they will seek reappointment.