NUMEROUS INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENTS PLANNED THROUGHOUT AREA

From concert bands and mud volleyball tournaments to morning races and craft shows, residents of Cape Girardeau, Jackson and the surrounding area will have a deluge of Independence Day events to choose from.

Early risers in the region can begin their Fourth of July celebration with a 5 kilometer run, a 5 kilometer competitive walk, and a one-mile fun run/walk through the Jackson City Park. All proceeds from the events, which are sponsored by the Jackson Jaycees, will go to the Jackson R-2 School District Drug Free program.

The Jackson Jaycees hold a mud volleyball tournament beginning at 8 a.m., a car show that begins at 11 a.m. and runs throughout the day, an all-day craft fair and several food concessions.

Kids games begin at 1 p.m. and the pie-eating and watermelon-eating contests for adults begin at 2 p.m. The Jackson Wal-Mart will hold a raffle that begins at 6 p.m. Evening activities in Jackson Park are highlighted by a 7 p.m. performance by the Jackson Municipal Band and a fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Wanda Lorenz, chairman of the Jackson Independence Day celebration, hopes that this year's festival will be even more spectacular than last year's.

"Our main goal on the Fourth of July is to keep Jackson families in Jackson and off the roads," said Lorenz. "This year we've expanded our events a little with the Southeast Missouri Modelers display of model airplanes, some new fireworks and some great concessions, including watermelon slices, barbecue, hot dogs and lots of other neat stuff."

Cape Girardeau Fourth of July events begin in the evening with the Compton Heights Concert Band in the Arena Park Grandstand. The 50-piece guest group from St. Louis, directed by Dr. Gregory C. Fox, will perform traditional favorites such as "The American Overture for Band" and more contemporary pieces including "Carousel Selection" and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA". The featured soloist will be Bob Ellison, baritone vocalist. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Boatmen's Bank, Target, the Arts Council and other local businesses and individuals.

A fireworks display at Arena Park sponsored by the Joint Veterans Council will be the evening's grand finale.

"We're planning on this year's display being bigger than last year's," said Pete Poe, coordinator for the fireworks display. "We've added a few more things, and we're very grateful to all our contributors for helping us to enhance our program," said Poe.

Poe advises the public to bring blankets and lawn chairs, and to use caution with family fireworks during the display.

Jackson and Cape Girardeau are not the only cities in the region that will have fireworks displays. Fredericktown, Steelville, Ste. Genevieve and Kennett will hold fireworks displays in their city parks. Also, the Sikeston Elks will sponsor a Fishing Derby at the Sikeston Recreation Complex which will be followed with fireworks.

Independence Day events will begin at noon at Kaskaskia Island, Ill. Guest speakers, music by the Chester municipal and Chester High School bands and an appearance of international military officers will be featured. The event is sponsored by the Chester VFW, the Chester American Legion and the Illinois Historical Preservation Group.