DEDICATION OF CACHE RIVER BASIN SLATED

ULLIN, Ill. -- A deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be one of the guest speakers Saturday at a "Commemorate the Cache" dedication ceremony at Shawnee Community College.

Also slated to speak is Delmar Blasco of Gland, Switzerland. Blasco is secretary General of the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance.

The Cache River will be designated as a "Wetland of International Importance" during the ceremony, which is being held during the college's two-day Frontier Festival. The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m.

Also to be on hand will be Bob Casteel of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Invitations have been issued to Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt.

"We hopeful that both Gore and/or Babbitt may still be able to attend," said Tom Riechman, of Shawnee Community College.

Several state legislators also plan to attend.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands of International Importance, a treaty that provides for the conservation of wetland habitat.

The Cache River Basin, about 60,000 acres, is the 15th wetlands area in the U.S. to be recognized for the special designation.

The Cache River in this area has been described as "an ecological jewell," including 1,500-year-old cypress trees, and a number of endangered animals and insects.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited, and the Nature Conservancy teamed up to form the Cache River Wetlands in a project that dates back to the late 1960s, when the first parcel of land was obtained.

The public will have an opportunity to view the area. A number of tours -- van tours, guided canoe tours and guided hikes will be available Saturday.

Activities during the two-day festival include arts and crafts displays and demonstrations, wildlife exhibits, food booths, live music and activities for children.

Entertainment will included music from bluegrass to gospel to rock 'n' roll, along with a performance of a choral concert by 150 high school students.

A 150-member high school choir will present a one-hour concert on the outdoors stage at 7 p.m. Friday. Following the performance, the Andy Gurley Jazz Fusion Band will provide a two-hour concert. The Shawnee Community College band will play Saturday at 9 a.m.