INTERNATIONAL BEARS IN TREMENDOUS DEMAND

Battle worn from three years of Teenie Beanie Baby sales, Shannon Davis figured area McDonald's were ready for Friday morning's rush for International Bears.

But the crush of customers at area restaurants was the biggest to date, said Davis, who supervises franchise stores in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston and Charleston.

What added to the confusion was a change in rules by the regional McDonald's office late Thursday afternoon.

"McDonald's changed the plans for distribution on a regional basis, and we pretty much have to do what they say," he said.

Originally, the restaurants were to sell two of the styles Friday and two next Wednesday. But after selling out the first two bears by early Friday afternoon, sales began for the other two.

Davis expected to be completely sold out of all four bears by early today. Sales benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Originally, McDonald's set the limit at 10 bears per customer. But late Thursday afternoon, Davis said, the regional office lowered the limit to four bears.

"Supplies were much more limited than the Teenie Beanies, and I think they wanted to lengthen the distribution process," said Davis. "They didn't want the collectors to gobble up the supply."

The limits didn't help much as supplies dwindled late Friday.

Davis said employees who showed up to open the stores at 4:30 a.m. Friday found people already in line. Most restaurants opened between 5:30 and 6, depending on the location.

"I thought we'd ease into it," said Davis, who arrived to long lines of customers at 6 a.m. "This beats all the other teenie rushes."

The International Bears demand created a bit of a traffic jam at area restaurants.

Police were called to the Jackson restaurant several times both Friday morning and afternoon on traffic complaints.

Sgt. Howard Hammers of the Jackson Police Department said most of the complaints dealt with traffic congestion on Jackson Boulevard. "We also had a minor fender-bender in the parking lot Friday morning involving people there to buy Beanie Babies," he said.

Trivia contest

With an expected sellout of the International Bears, area McDonald's stores have sweetened the prize pool for the Teenie Beanie Trivia Contest co-sponsored by the Southeast Missourian.

Six sets of International Bears will be awarded to winners in the contest, which began Friday and runs through June 18.

Each day an official entry form is in the newspaper. People can enter as often as they like and should drop off their completed form at McDonald's restaurants in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.