HALLOWEEN JUNKIE: CAPE MAN ADORES SCARY SEASON

Mail carrier Tony Tarrants walked without fear through the leaf-strewn sidewalk to 560 N. West End Blvd on Wednesday, unmoved by the rickety picket fence or the small graveyard that recently appeared on the front lawn.

Confidently, he strode up to the front door without a second glance at the severed woman's head dangling in front of the picture window or the coffin, complete with occupant, that stood sentry at the door.

Determined to complete his assigned task, Tarrants ignored the "No Trespassing" posters and "Do Not Cross Police Lines" tape that littered the area as he dropped several pieces of mail through the slot in the front door.

"He does this every year," said Tarrants. "If you think it's something now, you should see it at night."

Tarrants has become accustomed to the house of horrors recreated each October by Brad Estes and his family. Estes, whose birthday is today, calls himself a "premature Halloween baby" and enjoys the elaborate decorations that he believes help bring the tradition back to the scariest holiday of the year.

Estes decorates his house for most major holidays, but the lights and cutouts for those observances are a mere pittance compared to his Halloween decor.

"The tradition has gone out of it with all the scares and stuff, and parents don't let their kids trick-or-treat anymore," said Estes. "I do it just to get people to stop and talk."

Estes said he dislikes the practice of trick-or-treating before sunset because "it's kind of hard to scare someone in a zombie suit at 4 in the afternoon." To encourage trick-or-treaters or even interested on-lookers to visit the house at night, Estes has included treatments like colored floodlights and messages written in blacklight paint.

On Halloween night, visitors also can expect Jewell Estes to replace the Frankenstein in the coffin and Estes to be dressed in a scary costume.

"The little kids are very hesitant to come into the yard," he said. "Last year, I actually had to take off my mask and meet them at the end of the sidewalk, and they were still a little scared."

The tombstones in the front yard include epitaphs for neighbors, friends and their pets. One epitaph reads "Hell: Been there, done that" in tribute to a friend whose mobile home caught on fire.

The epitaphs are not taken seriously by the supposed occupants, said Estes. In fact, the demand is outpacing the supply in many cases.

"I've had people come by and say How come I didn't get an epitaph?' They're hurt," he said.

The decorations change annually, thanks to bargains found at post-Halloween sales. The house's interior receives a similar makeover, complete with splattered witches and mirrors that appear broken.

This year, Estes was inspired by a Frankenstein dummy purchased by his wife, Jewell, that featured a picture of a haunted house in the packaging. The house looked like a bunch of old boards nailed together in random fashion, and Estes decided that was the look he wanted for his brick, two-story home.

"A friend of mine had a pallet recycling company, and those are the ones he was going to chip up and burn," he said of the false front applied to the lower half of his house. "It's on there with a lick and a promise, but it only has to be there 30 days."

A flexible work schedule as a salesman enables Estes to work four or five hours nightly in the weeks preceding Halloween making additions to his decorations. He admits to being somewhat obsessed about the whole process.

"Most people don't really have the time or inclination to go as far as I do," Estes said. "I can't stop. I'm like a junkie. I get started and I just keep going."

Despite his enthusiasm, however, Estes knows that the decorations won't last much past All Saints Day, the day following Halloween.

"At first light Nov. 1, we will be taking it down," he said. "My wife is particular about her yard. She'll have that yard cleaned up within 48 hours.".

HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS

Information provided by sponsoring organizations.

A Night Walk in the Past

Oct. 28-31, 7-11 p.m., $3 admission

Cape River Heritage Museum

Various characters from Missouri's past will be on parade at the museum. Enjoy conversations with the historians.

Hotel Yell The Final Chapter

Oct. 27, 28, 30, 31, 7 p.m., no set end time.

Jackson, take Jackson Boulevard west to Old Toll Road

Sponsored by the Jackson Jaycees and Real Rock 99.3.

Judgment House 2000

Oct. 26, 28-30, Nov. 1, 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $2 donation.

Lynwood Baptist Church, 2935 Lynwood Hills Drive

Judgment House is a drama and the stage is a series of rooms. A tour group assembles and walks through nine rooms, following the lives of a nomad American family who meet with tragedy in the untimely deaths of loved ones. The two options for a final destination are vividly portrayed.

Haunted Barn

Oct. 27, 28, 7 p.m.-midnight, $3 admission, children under 6 free

6 miles south of Alto Pass, Ill. Black Diamond Ranch, 2715 Route 127 North

Features something really scary and ghoulish delights from the kitchen. For more information or directions, call (618) 833-7629. Proceeds benefit Diamonds in the Rough Youth Program.

Halloween Party

Oct. 28, 4:30 p.m., free

Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church

Games, fun and fellowship for the young and old. Party will feature a hayride, hot dog dinner, apple bobbing, games and a costume contest for the children and adults.

Fall Festival

Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m., one canned food item donation

North Elementary School

The Fruitland Community Church offers a safe and fun alternative to trick-or-treating. Evening features a space walk, basketball shoot, cake walk, sponge toss, clowns, hot dogs, soda and candy. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No scary costumes, please.

Annual Halloween Night

Oct. 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m., free

Fun Factory Center, 301 S. Broadview

Bethel Assembly of God provides candy, rides, miniature golf, jungle gym, games and laser tag. Costume contest. Ages 0-14 with adult chaperone. For reservations, call (573) 335-5531.

Fall Family Festival

Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m., one canned food item donation

Osage Community Centre

Lynwood Baptist Church offers the sixth annual festival as a safe, fun, Christian alternative to Halloween. Children through sixth grade and their families are invited to enjoy games, refreshments, candy and door prizes. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No scary costumes are allowed.

Westfield Spookytown

Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m., free

Westfield Shoppingtown, Interstate 55 at Route K

Halloween treats and costume contest.

Rocky Holler Haunted Hayrides

Oct. 27, 28, 7-10 p.m., $5

Five miles north of Cape Girardeau, exit 105, then Highway 61 to County Road 303.