HOMECOMERS: PROGRAM OF TALENT, BEAUTY

JACKSON, Mo. -- Miss Missouri, a record number of talent show competitors, the Miss Homecomers Pageant, entertainment, carnival rides, good food and cold beverages can only add up to one thing: Homecomers.

Miss Missouri, Arron Wendel of Ray County, will make an appearance at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when Mayor Paul Sander opens this year's Homecomers on the square. The Jackson Municipal Band will perform, and the Mike Dumey production "Music, Music Music," featuring talented area teen-agers and children, will be presented the same night.

More than 100 children and young adults have signed up for the talent contest beginning Wednesday. The usual number of contestants is 50-75, says Marybeth Williams, who coordinates the entertainment for Homecomers.

This year the competitors include a comedy act.

The winner is eligible to compete at the Mid-South Fair in Memphis, Tenn. A representative from the fair will be in attendance and has the option of inviting other performers to the fair as well.

The band Country Touch also will perform during Homecomers.

Dumey will join with Jackson singer Robyn Hosp to present their popular show Saturday night after Miss Homecomers is chosen.

The United Expositions carnival will begin operating at 6 nightly. Though in the past Homecomers often has been held just before the beginning of school, this is the second year in a row it will coincide with the start of classes. Some complaints have been heard.

"I don't like it any more than the school does," said Bill Poe, chairman of the event for the sponsoring American Legion.

Poe said the American Legion is in the second year of a five-year contract with the carnival company to play the third full week in August.

At the time the contract had to be signed, he checked with the school administration but it didn't know when classes would start the following year.

The Miss Homecomers Pageant features high school students from Fredericktown, Oran, Kennett, Perryville, Ste. Genevieve, Oak Ridge, Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Eight area girls will vie Saturday evening for the title of Miss Homecomers.

Joleta Ludwig, the daughter of Lynn and Susan Ludwig of Jackson, is a senior at Oak Ridge High School. She plans to attend Southeast. She is active in her church youth group and enjoys hunting and target practice.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Oak Ridge High School Student Council and the All-District Choir.

Ashtia Jewell attends Scott City High School, where she has been involved in the Model U.N., band, concert choir and debate. She also is active in her church youth group and studies piano and music theory at the Southeast Music Academy.

A junior, she plans to study musical theater at Southwest Missouri State University. She is the daughter of Diana Jewell of Scott City.

Rachel Ward attends Kennett High School where she is a member of the Future Homemakers of America, the Future Business Leaders of America and the yearbook staff. She is listed in the Who's Who Among American High School Students. She is a junior.

She plans to become an elementary school teacher.

Ashley Booker, the daughter of Dee Kesterson-Booker of Jackson, is a Jackson High School junior who is involved with the yearbook, debate, drama and Future Business Leaders of America.

Last month, she and two other Jackson students attended a performing arts institute at Southwest Missouri State University.

Mackenzie Elizabeth Price, a senior at Cape Central High School, is the captain of the cheerleading squad and is involved in the Student Senate, Chamber Choir, school musicals and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She is one of six teen-agers featured in Mike Dumey's "Music, Music, Music" production.

She plans to major in public relations and business at Southwest Missouri State University. She the daughter of John and Linda Price.

Leslie Dean Sikes is a senior at Fredericktown High School. There she has been captain and co-captain of the Flag Corps, co-captain of the Gold Duster Squad and has been involved in choir, band, drama and speech. She has received five I ratings at the state music festival.

She plans to study musical theater in college. Her parents are Eddie and Terry Sikes of Fredericktown.

Kara Nikole Kyle, a senior at Oran High School, has been involved in varsity volleyball and cheerleading, FBLA, FHA and her church youth group among other activities. She plans to attend Southeast.

Her parents are Kelly and Pam Kyle of Oran.

The other two candidates are Karly Grither, 17, the daughter of Karl and Kate Grither of Ste. Genevieve, and Monica Weith, 17, of Perryville. No further information about them was available.

Homecomers Schedule

(Carnival rides begin operating at 6 p.m., stage entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m.)

Tuesday

Opening ceremony, Jackson Municipal Band, "Music, Music, Music"

Wednesday

Talent show with singers ages 13-21, Country Touch band

Thursday

Talent show with singers ages 6-12, Country Touch band

Friday

Talent show with dancers ages 6-12 and 13-21 and variety acts, followed by talent show finals

Saturday

Miss Homecomers Contest at 7 p.m. followed by the Mike and Robyn Show