MERCHANTS TO SPONSOR PUMPKINS DECORATING EVENT ON SATURDAY

Girl Scout groups from four levels will compete in the Great Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Contest, to be held at the Downtown Cape Pavilion Saturday.

"This is the second year for the contest," said Roger Lang of Lang's Jewelry. "We had about 40 entries last year, and expect that many or more this year."

Lang and Scott Shivelbine of Shivelbine Music are co-chairmen for the event, which is being sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association.

"Some of the girls are really looking forward to this year's event," said Millie Turner, public relations and membership development director for Cape Girardeau. "We're expecting a good turnout.

"We have 80 troops in Cape Girardeau," she added. "We're expecting at least half of them to participate in the contest. We're also expecting some creative designs."

Two prizes will be awarded in each of the four levels of competition.

"We have five levels in Girl Scouting," said Turner, but we have combined the two older levels cadet and seniors into one age bracket for the contest. Other levels for the tournament include daisy, Brownie and junior.

"Each troop will be allowed to submit one entry," said Lang, who emphasized that pumpkins are to be decorated, not carved. "Troops must use materials in the decorating that will not spoil, wilt or smell."

Lang said the entries would be displayed in various downtown stores until Nov. 2. "People wanting their pumpkins may pick them up from the merchants on Nov. 2," said Lang.

Entries must be taken to the downtown pavilion at 10 a.m. Saturday.

"A poster should accompany the decorated pumpkin which described the creation," he said.