MAY TAKES OVER AS MARKETING DIRECTOR

It's hard not to be enthusiastic about Cape Girardeau's downtown when you are around Jerra May.

"I really love being downtown," said May, who works and lives in Cape Girardeau's historic business district.

May is general manager of the Riverview Banquet Center, a downtown business. She has been active in the Downtown Merchants Association and recently took over the job of promoting the downtown area as the association's new marketing director.

May said she enjoys working with the other downtown business owners and operators. "What I enjoy more than anything is the camaraderie of the people. You can't beat being down by the river," she said.

"There are just so many exciting things going on down here now, with the (floodwall) mural going up and the new pavilion coming."

May will have her hands full this week with Riverfest, the annual celebration of the community's river heritage, which takes place Friday and Saturday in the historic downtown area.

"I have a lot of ideas (for promoting the downtown). There's so much excitement down here," she said.

"We require a lot as far as volunteer work is concerned. Everyone down here has their own little contribution they can make," she said.

While she's taking over as marketing director, her predecessor, Evelyn Boardman, will continue to operate the visitors information center from Boardman's gift store, Madder Rose Limited, at 31-A N. Main.

The downtown visitors center has been in operation for about a year, said Boardman.

The visitors center has brochures on local and even regional attractions. "I try to help the tourists out," said Boardman, who has become somewhat of an unofficial ambassador for both the downtown area and Cape Girardeau in general.

"A lot of people just stop in for a little history of the area," she said. "Sometimes I close my shop and take them on a little walking tour."

Boardman said about 15 to 20 tourists a day, Monday through Saturday, visit the visitors center. In all, about 500 tourists a month visit the downtown area, she estimated. The visitors center is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Fridays, it is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Many of them come from California. Many of the tourists are also passengers on the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen riverboats that make several stops here each year, Boardman said.

"All of them are such nice people," she said. "They are a lot of fun."

Boardman said she tries to point out all the historic attractions to tourists. "They are fascinated by the river, the (Common Pleas) courthouse, the (Southeast) Missourian tiles, and the Royal N'Orleans Restaurant."

She said she also sends them to the historic Glenn House and the Cape River Heritage Museum. "I try to cover all the bases. They are always looking for things to do." Boardman said she often makes reservations for tourists who come into the shop.

"You just can't believe the international tourists that come through here," said Boardman. Among the international visitors have been tourists from Taiwan, New Zealand, Scotland, Australia and India.

For visitors, the biggest attraction is still the Mississippi River. "Everybody is really pleased when they see the river," said Boardman.