GREAT HALLOWEEN PUMPLIN DECORATING CONTEST SATURDAY

Girl Scout groups from four levels will compete in the Great Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Contest at the Downtown Cape Pavilion Saturday.

"This is the fourth year for the contest," said Roger Lang of Lang's Jewelry, chairman of the annual event. It is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Downtown Merchants Association.

"We're expecting a large turnout," said Millie Turner, public relations and membership development director for Cape Girardeau Girls Scouts. "We have 70 troops here, and more than half of them are expected to participate in the contest."

Two prizes will be awarded in each of four levels of competition.

"We have five levels in Girl Scouting," said Turner, but we have combined the two older levels -- cadet and seniors -- into one age bracket for the contest. Other levels for the tournament include Daisy, Brownie and Junior.

"Each troop will be allowed to submit one entry," said Lang, who emphasized that pumpkins are to be decorated, not carved. "Troops must use materials in the decorating that will not spoil, wilt or smell."

Lang said entries will be displayed in downtown stores until the first week of November. "Contestants wanting their pumpkins may pick them up from the merchants," said Lang.

Entries must be taken to the pavilion at 10 a.m. Saturday.

"A poster should accompany the decorated pumpkin that describes the creation," he said.