DMA to hold fund-raising auction

Charlie Hutson was a downtown dreamer. A second-generation owner of Hutson Furniture -- a downtown Cape Girardeau establishment since 1945 -- Hutson worked diligently as a member of the Downtown Merchants Association to improve the downtown area until his death in December. To honor that commitment, the DMA has renamed its primary fund-raising event after the late visionary.

As a result, when the DMA holds its 17th annual auction this Saturday in the Yacht Club at Port Cape, it will be the inaugural commencement of the Charlie Hutson Downtown Merchants Auction.

"Charlie always loved the auction," said DMA president Bill Dunn. "He always had a grand time and always made sure everyone else had a grand time."

Though the event will surely miss the presence of its new namesake, the DMA has packed the auction bill with items that will appeal to a wide range of bidders.

Items include a fur held back by the now-closed Hecht's, furniture, savings bonds and vacation packages donated by other downtown and upper Broadway merchants. Simpler luxuries up for bid include a La-Z-Boy recliner, one pizza a month from the California Juice Bar for a year and a monthly case of beer for one year from both Kohlfeld and River Eagle distributors.

All proceeds go to fund downtown beautification projects. This year's money will fund current projects, such as the ongoing flood wall mural project. The DMA is also looking into buying new Christmas decorations and improving the downtown walkways and lighting.

trehagen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137