LAST OF STANDERS IN CAPE TAKES FALL

Closing her eyes for a few seconds, Kim Talley lost her balance and fell, ending her bid Wednesday afternoon to win a standathon and a new mobile home.

Tally's fall at 3:10 p.m. came 140 hours and 10 minutes after the contest began at 7 p.m. Friday at Schnuck's. She was the last participant at the contest's Cape Girardeau location after Rodrick Boyce became ill and dropped out Wednesday.

She was also the last woman in the contest sponsored by 1st Stop Inc. Mobile Home Centers. Contestants at three other places -- Alton Square in Alton, Ill., Gannon Plaza in Festus and Warrenton Outlet Center in Warrenton -- continue to vie for the $60,000 mobile home or $25,000 in cash that will be awarded the last person standing.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday six contestants, two at each location, remained standing.

Ironically, Talley's fall from the contest came just before she received a "good luck" balloon bouquet from employees of Special Effects, the hair-styling salon Talley owns.

"I feel like I disappointed people," Talley said as she sat surrounded by well-wishers Wednesday afternoon.

"But you beat all the other women and most of the men," said Dan Smithson, owner of 1st Stop Inc.

"But I wanted to beat the men, too," Talley replied.

Talley was also disappointed because she had promised to stand tonight for three people confined to wheelchairs because of spinal cord injuries. Talley met the three Wednesday morning when they were brought to the contest by St. Francis Medical Center.

The standathon raises money for Gateway to a Cure, an organization that funds research and services for those with spinal cord injuries.

Talley felt better after learning that the contestants at the Alton location would stand for the trio.

Besides slightly swollen feet, Talley said she had suffered no ill effects from the contest.

Smithson said swollen feet were the main problems suffered by contestants in this the second year of the contest. Some also had problems with sleep deprivation.

Contestants can take four 15-minutes breaks in each 24-hour period of the contest. But Talley never chose to sleep on break.

She said the lack of sleep caught up with her late Tuesday night when she become delusional. Fortunately few were around to see or hear her.

"It was pretty interesting, if you want to know the truth," Talley said.

Unity Sleep Medicine and Research Center in Chesterfield interviewed some contestants this week as part of a study on sleep deprivation.

"Humans can go a long time without sleep and have no permanent negative effects," said Dr. James Walsh, executive director and senior scientist with the center. He said the longest stretch without sleep on record is 11 days.

While this contest probably won't go that long, Smithson said it might go on through Sunday.

"The people at the other locations are still going strong," he said. "Of course if Kim hadn't fallen, I think she would still be in the contest."

Once out of the running in the standathon, Talley was asked what she was going to do.

"What do you think?" she replied.

"Have your hair done?" one supporter asked.

"Shave your legs?" another offered.

"Do laundry?" another chimed in.

"Good guesses," Talley said. "But I think maybe I'll go to sleep first."