HOMECOMERS CELEBRATION SET TO BEGIN

JACKSON -- Final preparations have been made for the 86th annual Jackson Homecomers celebration that will be held Tuesday through Saturday.

Homecomers Co-chairmen Bill Poe and Tom Sperling said there are events and activities for the entire family on each of the event's five nights, including carnival rides, games, concessions, live entertainment, talent shows and the Homecomers Queen Pageant.

Tonight, barricades will be set up to block the 100 and 200 blocks of South High Street; West Main, from Hope Street to Missouri Street; and the 100 blocks of Court Street and Barton Square, on the east and west sides of courthouse square.

Homecomers officially opens Tuesday evening with a welcome from Jackson Mayor Paul Sander.

The queen pageant will be held on the south lawn of the courthouse. The carnival rides, games and concessions will be located on High and Court streets.

The queen pageant begins at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, with Kirk Williams serving as master of ceremonies. "City Lights" is this year's pageant theme. Kim Massaro will provide the entertainment.

The first talent show begins at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, followed by live entertainment. On Thursday, talent other than dancing will be presented by performers ages six through 21. On Saturday, the talent show starts at 4:30 p.m., followed by the finals at 7:30 p.m.

"First, second and third place winners in each talent show will receive cash prizes," said Sperling. "The top three winners in the Saturday finals will receive cash prizes and plaques. In addition, a representative from the Memphis Mid-South Fair will be in the audience to meet with the winners about competing in the Mid-South Fair pageant in September."

Poe said local performers will provide live musical entertainment at this year's Homecomers celebration. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Coyote Creek Band will perform. On Thursday and Friday, Classic Country will play the country hits. On Saturday night, Coyote Creek and Night Shift round out the week's entertainment schedule.

United Exposition Shows will provide carnival rides, games and concession stands. The carnival opens each day at 6 p.m., except Saturday, when it will open earlier in the day.

All carnival rides are $1. Coupon books with six tickets may be purchased in advance for $4.50 from any American Legion member or at Schaper's IGA. Carnival bracelet night will be Tuesday and Thursday, from 6-10 p.m.

Poe said attendance prizes will be awarded each night during Homecomers. Registration will be at the gazebo on the courthouse lawn.

Drawing for the four grand prizes will be held on Saturday. This year's grand prizes include a $500 gift certificate at Super Video, Main Street Fitness or Schaper's IGA. Second prize is a large, camel-back trunk, valued at $450, and donated by Wood 'n Trunks. Third prize is a Glide-R-Motion recliner, valued at $419, and donated by Cracraft-Miller Furniture Co. Fourth prize is 250 gallons of gasoline donated by Jackson Oil Co.

Although Jackson Homecomers has been sponsored each year since 1947 by the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158, its roots go back much farther, to 1908, when city officials decided to commemorate the dedication of the newest Cape Girardeau County Courthouse that was completed that year. The first Homecomers lasted three days and was sponsored by the Jackson Businessmen's Association.

Since that time, Homecomers has been held each year, except during World Wars I and II. When the American Legion assumed sponsorship of Homecomers, the event was moved to the month of August to avoid a conflict with the Southeast Missouri District Fair in Cape Girardeau.

Poe said after all bills and expenses are paid, the American Legion use the money from Homecomers to carry out charitable activities. In addition, money raised from Homecomers is also used to fund several scholarships.

He said some of the Legion's funded activities include contributions to child welfare assistance, assistance to stranded families who come through Jackson, rural school projects, Boy's Town, a Christmas party for the children of Jackson, and the Legion's annual Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets for families whose needs have not been met by other organizations.