DISTRICT FAIR BEGINS TODAY WITH HORSE SHOW, MIDWAY

Sunshine from the Cayman Islands and a thorough understanding of people have done wonders for Sonny Lewis' once-broken heart.

The 34-year-old veteran of the carnival's guessing game booth doesn't mind telling anyone who will listen just how therapeutic and successful the combination has become.

"When you do this story, make the `S' (in Sonny) with a dollar sign," said the Bethesda, Md., native, who gave up a career as a design engineer with Boeing Corp., to get over a lost love in 1959.

"You could say I ended a love affair with women and fell in love with the circus all in the same year," said Lewis, 60, who will operate a Beat The Guesser booth at the SEMO District Fair.

The annual fair gets under way today and runs through Sept. 17. Lewis' booth will open at 5 p.m. today, but the fairgrounds actually will be open as early as noon when a 4-H and youth horse show begins in the grandstand.

Marilyn Schott, secretary of the fair, said there will be limited activity today. Sunday will be the traditional Sneak Peek day and Monday will mark the official opening of the extravaganza with a parade. This will mark only the second year in which carnival rides have been allowed to operate as early as the Saturday before the parade.

For $2 Lewis will guess your age within two years. For $2 more he will guess your month of birth within two months or weight within a few pounds.

Lewis takes pride in being able to read people. "It's my specialty," he said. "What you're really trying to do is beat me and not any device. The only thing I can win from you is $2. But you can take a doll or stuffed animal that's worth a lot more than that from me. We all have a lot of fun no matter how it turns out."

Lewis produced concession prizes he said he likes to give kids even if he is able to guess their age, weight or month of birth.

On Friday Lewis held a small note pad behind the back of a curious onlooker and managed to guess his age within one year. He missed on the month of birth considerably, however. "Care to let me guess the correct weight?" queried Lewis with a mischievous grin.

This will be Lewis' first visit to the SEMO District Fair. But he has had a lengthy association with Steve Theubult, who is involved in the fair as part of Blomsness-Theubult Enterprises. The fair is being run by Astro Amusement.

"Steve wouldn't let something into his operation unless it was clean," said Lewis. "One of the reasons I've stayed in this for so long is being associated with people like him."

Lewis and his partner worked a carnival in Canfield, Ohio, last week. "We traveled 10 hours from Canfield to Knoxville, Tenn., and just arrived here last night," said Lewis. "Can't wait to get started with this carnival."

Lewis works 20 carnivals during a six-month stretch that concludes at the end of the summer. He spends the winter months basking in the Cayman Islands. "They love our booth in the Caymans," said Lewis. "That's something I don't have to guess at."

Steve Maggi, who has been in the carnival business for five years, was making a final inspection of the ride Ring of Fire. Maggi said he spends about three hours checking the ride to make sure it is safe.

David Casanova, who has been in the carnival business for 13 years, was applying soap to one of the horses on the Merry-go-Round. "I'm glad to be in a town where people are friendly," said Casanova. "We just got back from Chicago, where people can get rude. I'm from San Antonio, where you get a feeling of Southern hospitality. I hate it when people aren't friendly."