MERCHANTS OFFER 4TH IN ORNAMENT SERIES

The newest downtown Cape Girardeau holiday ornament will have a familiar look. The fourth annual ornament is similar to the first one.

The ornaments are issued by the Downtown Merchants Association.

The hand-painted ornament, which will go on sale in downtown stores Nov. 1, features the "Clock and the Courthouse."

The ornament is the fourth in a series of souvenir gifts of Cape Girardeau, said Judith Anne Lang, owner of Judith Anne's, a gift shop.

The ornaments aren't so much holiday collectibles as they are decorative items, said Lang, who heads the committee to select the ornament's theme.

"Although this year's ornament is a new one, it will have familiar look," said Lang. "We also used the courthouse and clock on the first ornament issued in 1996."

Lang said the familiar look for the 2000 ornament was used for two reasons: The Common Pleas Courthouse and clock are easily identified as being downtown and many peopled missed out on the first ornament, of which none are still available.

"We had less than 1,000 ornaments made the first year," said Lange. "None are available now. Since then we've doubled that order."

The second-year ornament featured the old bridge which crosses the Mississippi River here. The bridge, which was built in 1927, will eventually give way to the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge now under construction.

The third ornament featured Academic Hall at Southeast Missouri State University. The 1998 ornament was presented in conjunction with the university's 125th anniversary. Academic Hall construction started in 1903 and ended in 1905.

A few of the 1997 and 1998 ornaments remain available.

The colorful, round ornament includes greens, blues and grays.

The custom ornaments were suggested a few years ago because so many people look for something about Cape Girardeau, said Lang.

"We'll continue looking for other ideas for the future," said Lang. "We'll consider anything that depicts Cape Girardeau. We want to offer something new and unique every year."

The ornaments are designed by a company in Maine that creates custom ornaments for a number of different cities and regions.

Proceeds from the ornament sales help the Downtown Merchants Association with the annual Downtown Christmas Parade, downtown decorations and other services.

The Christmas of Lights Parade is an annual event sponsored by the merchants. The parade, which has attracted crowds of 5,000 to 8,000 people, was re-established in 1993, the first Christmas parade in Cape Girardeau in more than 30 years.