JACKSON RAILROAD PLANS TO `CLOWN AROUND' FOR CHARITY; CAPE SHIRNE CLUB CLOWNS WILL HELP

Nothing can light up an event like clowns, especially when kids are involved. That's the idea behind the Cape Shrine Club weekend at the St. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad in Jackson on Aug. 29 and 30.

The Shrine Club clowns will be special guests on each train ride throughout the weekend, and entertain kids of all ages.

"They'll be making balloon animals and going along on all the rides," said Taleah Byrne, general manager of the railroad.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Shrine Club for charitable projects. A similar clown weekend last year was a huge success, said Byrne.

The weekend may well be as educational as it is fun, she added, because local fire departments plan to set up a simulated building called a smokehouse. The devise will help teach kids about fire safety.

"It's a good learning tool to teach kids what to do when there's a fire in the home," Byrne said. "They walk through and the firemen instruct them what to do when there is a fire, such as always have a meeting place outside, and that sort of thing."

Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. The train will run throughout the day, and a dinner train will run the night of Aug. 29.

Trains on Aug. 29 will depart at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Trains on Aug. 30 leave at 11 a.m.,1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Byrne said every weekend in August is a busy one at the railroad. This weekend is Kids Weekend. Along with simulated train robberies by Bob Levy and his gang, there will be games, horseback rides, a petting zoo and a duck pond. Kids will ride for half price on all train rides, Byrne said.

On Saturday night, the adults get their turn with a murder mystery train to Delta. The trip lasts five hours.

Aug. 22 and 23 is Hobo Weekend, where the passenger and crew will dress as hobos and enjoy a dinner of hobo stew. The weekend of Aug. 15 and 16 will again include train robberies, and on the night of Aug. 15, Darrin's Magic Express with magician Darrin Davis will provide entertainment.

Byrne said though the railroad plans many activities aimed at kids, overall ridership for kids and adults has been good this year.

"We're have a lot of local ridership," she said. "This year has really been great."

Tickets for all weekend events can be purchased in advance or on the day of the rides and phone registration is available for groups. For more information, call the railroad at 243-1688 or 1-800-455-RAIL.