PARADE OF LIGHTS PROCLAIMED A SUCCESS

A Santa and sleigh shooting into the sky, firefighters and a ladder truck garlanded with more than 60 strands of lights, and an array of mechanical elves were the stars of the first annual Christmas Parade of Lights Sunday.

Fifty-seven entries started down Broadway just after dusk, just after Santa Claus flew in a helicopter from downtown to the starting point at Capaha Park. A parade spokesmen reported a big gathering of onlookers downtown, where a number of stores opened for the occasion, and a larger-than-expected crowd along the route.

The Sweepstakes Award was won by Acorn Enterprises' skyward-bound Santa, a concoction of plywood reindeer with big eyelashes and a snowy white material which actually concealed a raised dump truck. Gary Scherer, whose company makes moldings and floors, said members of his family and his Farrar family in-laws worked on the float all week.

"It was a blast," Santa said.

The Best Float Award went to Hutson's Furniture with its moving assemblage of mechanical elves.

The fire truck featured fire chief Robert Ridgeway in its bucket along with Mrs. Claus, department secretary Carol Carter.

One firefighter said they worked from noon until 3:30 in the afternoon stringing the estimated 6,000 lights.

"Next year, more trucks, more elves and more lights," he promised.

The Best Band Award went to St. Vincent's High School of Perryville.

Members of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church, whose historic building burned down over the weekend, received the Christmas Spirit Award.

A number of churches entered floats in the parade, dressing up congregation members in Nativity scenes. "Wise Men Still Seek Him" was the message offered by the First General Baptist Church.

Civic organizations like the Excelsior Optimist Club, the Cape Shrine Club and the Downtown Neighborhood Association were represented, along with the USS Sally Ride, the local Star Trek fan club.

Franklin School and the St. Mark Pre-School were there, as was the Cape County Democratic Club, classic cars and bikers on Harleys.

The Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts used the occasion to promote the upcoming Broadway Community Theatre play "Cheaper by the Dozen."

A number of businesses entered. The natural was Sunny Hill Gardens' Christmas tree float, but others like Metro Business College and Four Seasons Beauty Supply joined in with displays.

One standout was the La-Z-Boy Showcase Shoppe's replica of downtown Cape Girardeau complete with Main Street clock.

The parade marshal was Bob Hendrix, past president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. Bart Simpson was right behind in the KBSI-TV float.

The parade, the first Christmas-time event of its kind in the city since the 1950s and the first ever held at night, was sponsored by KBSI-TV and the Downtown Merchants Association.

Steve Engles, the station's general manager, said he and Dennis "Doc" Cain, the parade's chairman, had never run such an event before. "We learned a lot but we pulled it off with no knowledge," he said.

Engles said a number of merchants who did not participate in Sunday night's parade were impressed and want to get involved next time.

Of the 57 entries, he said, "We'll double that next year."