KINSA FINALISTS TO RECEIVE GOOD NEWS

The eight finalists in the local Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards will be notified today.

Everyone else will learn of the judges' final decision Sunday when the KINSA keepsake edition is published in the Southeast Missourian. The special section will highlight the eight finalists along with 100 other photographs.

The finalists -- chosen from 24 semifinalists -- will advance to the international judging.

KINSA is the largest annual amateur-snapshot contest. In 1997, judges considered 1,116 photographs from 258 newspapers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Photographers competed for $52,500 in prizes.

Last year, two finalists from the local contest earned international recognition. Dr. Robert Cox of Cape Girardeau and Mary Cobb of Scott City both received Special Merit Awards and $50 checks.

The public will have a chance to get in on the voting when the display of more than 1,100 local KINSA entries opens at West Park Mall Sept. 1. Visitors will be encouraged to vote on a "People's Choice" award.

Ballots will be available throughout the exhibit and at the customer service desk near the JCPenney court. The exhibit will remain on display through Sept. 8, during regular mall hours.

The "People's Choice" winner will receive an overnight stay in St. Louis.

Joyce Hunter, coordinator of this year's KINSA contest, thinks the mall exhibit provides wonderful regional exposure for all entrants.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase the talents of these amateur photographers," she said. "The subjects of these photographs really spanned the spectrum. Each week, the judges commented how difficult it was to make their selection because of the quality and caliber of entries."

Sponsors of this year's contest include Schnucks, Target, Delmonico's, Western Sizzlin' and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

All 24 semifinalists will receive an enlargement of their photo, gift certificates from area merchants and a Southeast Missourian comic umbrella.

Additionally, the eight finalists will receive a prize certificate from Kodak and a framed copy of their prize-winning photograph.

This marked the second year the Southeast Missourian has participated in the KINSA contest. The Cape Girardeau paper was the only one to participate in the state of Missouri. Local entries were limited to residents of the newspaper's trade zone.