JACKSON HOMECOMERS STARTS TONIGHT

JACKSON, Mo. -- Homecomers promises to be extra fun for children this year.

The annual Jackson celebration begins at 6:30 tonight and continues through Saturday.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday on the cooler east lawn of the courthouse, two Jackson civic clubs will present games in which children can win prizes. Folk singer Jennifer Noble will sing tunes especially for children from 3-5 p.m. Saturday on the lawn, and children's carnival rides will begin operating at 4 p.m. The civic organizations providing the children's activities are the Noon Optimists and the American Business Women's Association.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander will welcome everyone to this year's Homecomers at 6:30 tonight from the entertainment stage with a concert by the Jackson Municipal Band to follow. The first round of the popular Homecomers Talent Show will begin at 7:30 tonight, with solo and vocal group performances for ages 13 to 21.

About 80 acts have entered this year's contest, including one rock band from Jackson. Marybeth Williams, the Homecomers entertainment chairwoman, said the rock band will perform Thursday.

Lots of new people are entered in the talent contest, Williams says, including dancers from a new studio in the Sikeston area.

"It ought to be fun to see some new people," she said.

The winners and judges' choices will qualify to compete at the Mid-South Fair in Memphis.

Gospel groups from Jackson will entertain from the stage Friday night beginning at 6. The talent show finals will follow.

The Miss Homecomers contest begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Miss Homecomers candidates are:

* Cyndi Ulrich, 16, the daughter of Cathy and Steve Ulrich of Cape Girardeau. She is entering her junior year at Cape Central High School. She is a member of the District Honor Orchestra, the pompom team and the Tiger newspaper staff. She plans to major in broadcasting at the University of Missouri.

* Mary McCormick, 17, daughter of Dory Johnson of Jackson. A senior at Jackson High School, she is a member of Future Business Leaders of America and Quill and Scroll Club.

* Ashley Nicole Booker, 17, daughter of Dee Kesterson-Booker of Jackson. She is a senior at Jackson High School. She is active in speech, debate and drama, a member of the National Honor Society and assistant editor of the Silver Arrow yearbook. She wants to become a pediatric oncologist.

* Megan Thiele, 17, the daughter of Doris and Edwin Thiele of Jackson. She is a senior at Jackson High School. She is on the "A" honor role and a member of the Spanish Club. She plans to study engineering and art in college.

She designed the Indian statue that stands in the front lawn of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

* Holly Bauer, 16, the daughter of Teresa and Bob Bauer, of Cape Girardeau. She is a junior at Notre Dame Regional High School. She is the varsity cheerleading captain and a member of the Student Council and National Honor Society. She wants to become a pediatric dentist.

* Also entered are Paige Pylate and Emily Essner. Information about the two juniors at Jackson High School was unavailable.

For the third year in a row, Homecomers is being held the same week as the start of school. A number of parents have complained about the scheduling, but Homecomers is in the middle of a five-year contract with the carnival company for the third full week in August. The Jackson school system was unable to provide the American Legion with a start date before the organization signed the contract, according to Bill Poe, who chairs the event for the American Legion.

Homecomers has been held since 1908 with the exception of some years when war intervened.

"During the war years they couldn't get sugar for the sodas," Poe said.

The first was held to celebrate the completion of the new county courthouse. Gov. Joseph Wingate Folk spoke. Past and present residents were invited for a reunion, hence the name Homecomers.

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Homecomers schedule

(Carnival rides begin operating at 6 p.m.)

Today

6:30 p.m. -- Opening ceremony with Mayor Paul Sander and Jackson Municipal Band.

7:30 p.m. -- Homecomers Talent Show: vocal solo or group, ages 13 to 21.

Wednesday

7 p.m. -- Homecomers Talent show: vocal solo or group ages 6 to 13.

9 p.m. -- The Country Touch Band

Thursday

7 p.m. -- Homecomers talent show: dance or other talent, ages 6 to 12; dance or other talent, ages 13 to 21.

9 p.m. -- The Country Touch Band