FIVE-STATE ECONOMIC FORUM SET

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The economic impact of agriculture, the river and tourism in the five-state area are topics for the annual Quinstate Economic Development Forum next week at the Carroll Convention Center at Paducah's Executive Inn Riverfront.

"The Rivers, the Towns, the Farms" is the theme of the April 8 and 9 forum.

The forum is an annual gathering of business and educational leaders from Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.

The states take turns as hosts of the forum. It was held at Metropolis, Ill., last year, and will be in Tennessee next year.

A number of speakers will be on the program, co-sponsored by Cooperative Extension Services of the five states, local chambers of commerce and other area and regional groups.

Representatives from Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois will discuss tourism, agriculture and the river industries.

Rick Sparks, business and industry specialist with University of Missouri Outreach and Extension, at the extension office in Jackson, will moderate the "Economic Impact of Agriculture on the Quintstate Region" in the initial session of the forum. It will feature a four-person panel -- Tom Johnson of Missouri, Roger Beck of Illinois, Thomas Greer of Tennessee and Craig Infanger of Kentucky.

Later April 8, Ken Wheeler of Midland Enterprises and Wayne Meunter of Paducah Riverport Authority will discuss agriculture's impact on the river.

Dr. C. Oran Little, dean of University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, will be featured speaker for the Thursday evening session at Whaler's Catch. Oran will also discuss agriculture and its role in community development.

On April 9, the topics will be community development and tourism. Speakers include Marilyn Cassity, executive director of the Paducah Main Street program; Frank Masko, a redevelopment consultant; Herb Fallert, deputy director of the Missouri Division of Tourism; and Steve Zea of the West Kentucky Corp.

Joe Brent of the Illinois-Kentucky Ohio River Civil War Heritage Trail and spokesmen from the Mississippi River Parkway Commission will be afternoon speakers Friday.

Paducah Mayor Albert Jones will welcome the group to Paducah during the opening session April 8, and Beth Clanahan, Metropolis Mayor, will greet the group during the noon luncheon.

Tours -- bus and walking -- of downtown Paducah and the Seaboard Farms Feedmill Process Plant, will be available April 8, with Mary Hammond, Lee Shervey, Lena Mallory and Bill Green as tour guides.

Additional information and registration forms are available from Sparks, at the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension office in Jackson, (573) 243-3581 or Douglas A. Wilson of the University of Kentucky McCracken County Cooperative Extension Service, Paducah, (502) 554-8283.