HOMECOMERS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 85TH YEAR

Final preparations are under way for the 85th edition of the Jackson Homecomers celebration, which begins Aug. 11. The event is sponsored by the Jackson American Legion.

Homecomers will kick off at 7 p.m. when Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer officially opens the festivities.

This year's entertainers are from the local area, according to Tom Sperling, co-chairman of the Homecomers Committee.

On Aug. 11 and 12, Almost Country will perform on the Homecomers stage, located on the south side of the courthouse in downtown Jackson. On Aug. 13, Coyote Creek, will play bluegrass favorites.

On Aug. 14, Memory Lane returns to Homecomers to entertain, followed by Night Shift on Aug. 15.

The Jackson Homecomers Queen pageant begins Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m., on the Homecomer's stage. This year, approximately 20 candidates between the ages of 16-21 will compete for the crown.

The Master of ceremonies will be Kirk Williams.

This year's Homecomers Queen pageant will have a patriotic theme. Special entertainment during the pageant will be presented by Robin Host and Cheryl Fortner.

The 1992 Homecomers queen will receive a cash prize of $125. The first runner-up will receive $100, and the second runner-up, $25.

The first of the nightly Homecomers talent shows will begin on the first night of the festivities at 7:30 p.m., followed by live music.

Other talent shows will feature dancers from 12-21 years of age. On Aug. 13, talent other than dancing will be presented by performers ages 6-21.

The Aug. 15 talent show will begin at 5 p.m. followed by the finals at 7:30.

First, second, third and fourth place winners in each talent show will receive cash prizes. The top three winners at the Aug. 15 finals will receive plaques as well as cash prizes.

A representative from the Memphis Mid-South Fair will be in the audience that night to talk to contestants about competing in the Mid-South Fair in September.

All food and concession stands, game stands and the United Exposition Shows carnival rides will open at 6 p.m. each evening except Aug. 15, when they will open earlier in the day.

All carnival rides are $1, and coupon books with six ride tickets may be purchased from any American Legion member or at Schaper's IGA. The cost is $4.50.

Each night attendance prizes will be awarded. Registration will be at the courthouse gazebo.

The drawing for the three grand prizes will be held Aug. 15. This year's prizes include a $500 gift certificate from Schaper's IGA, a glider-rocker chair from Cracraft-Miller Furniture and 250 gallons of gasoline from Jackson Oil Co.

Jackson Homecomers originated in 1908 when city officials decided to commemorate the dedication of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse completed that year. The first Homecomers lasted three days and was sponsored by the Jackson Businessmen's Association.

Since then, Homecomers has been held each year except during World War I and II. The Jackson American Legion assumed sponsorship of the event in 1947 and moved it to the month of August to avoid a conflict with the Southeast Missouri District Fair in Cape Girardeau.

After all bills and expenses are paid, money the American Legion makes on Homecomers is used to carry out charity activities. In addition, money raised from Homecomers is used to fund several scholarship awards.

Some of the Legion's funded activities include contributions to child welfare assistance, assistance to stranded families who come through Jackson, rural school projects, Boys 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.