HEE HAW TICKLES APPLE CREEK

APPLE CREEK--Do you know why the Perryville Fire Department has a dachshund as its mascot? It helps the firefighters find the fire hydrants.

Well, that may not be true, but when the crowd at St. Joseph's of Apple Creek Parish Hall heard that, its laughter seemed to shake the stained wooden rafters that crisscross the ceiling.

The crowd filled the hall to the last four rows Sunday night, and it's laughter reverberated through the hall quite often as members of the congregation performed the 17th annual Hee Haw Show.

Small children stood on the chairs as grey-haired women leaned forward straining to hear every word and fresh-faced young couples grinned from ear to ear.

The Hee Haw Show, an annual fund raiser for the parish school, is nearly three hours of skits alternating with country music. Led by Ray and Evelyn Sauer, a cast of dozens performs skits using the old "Hee Haw" television show format. In each musical interlude, a different Apple Creek resident sang a song backed up by the Triple Play band.

The songs ranged from Sue Baer's rich voice singing the country gospel song "What if Jesus Came back Like That," to Rose Welker dressed in an old woman's nightgown and rollers singing "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Late at Night."

Most of the crowd, like nearly all the performers, were from the Apple Creek area, but 57 members of a senior citizens group filled the first few rows.

Why spend two hours in a bus to Apple Creek instead of staying home and watching television?

"We don't want professionalism, we want fun," said Leona Hoffman of Columbia, Ill.

Her friend Luella Mueller from Columbia said she organized the trip because two members saw it last year "and they talked it up so we had to come."

Mueller was impressed. "This community must be doing something right," she said.

The show continues with performances Saturday and twice on Sunday.