PARTICIPANTS APPLAUD REUNION

Tonia Lane felt an aura of good fortune long before her raffle ticket number was called at Arena Park Sunday afternoon.

"I feel like I've been a winner the entire weekend," said Lane, who participated in the first River Heritage Regional Black Family Reunion from start to finish. "This is just an excellent way to bring people and their culture a little closer. I loved every bit of this event. I'm looking forward to participating in next year's reunion."

The three-day reunion in Cape Girardeau, which began on Friday with a prayer breakfast and speech by former executive director of the NAACP, Rev. Benjamin Hooks, also featured basketball, theme workshops, a Black expo, an appearance by one of the Power Rangers, gospel concerts and a carnival.

When Lane realized she won a package of Pampers from her winning raffle ticket, she accepted her prize and displayed a broad grin. "I could have used these a few years ago," she said, looking in the direction of her teenage daughter.

Lane grew up in Virginia and moved to Cape Girardeau just over four years ago. She said the Black Family Reunion brought her in touch with people she will get together with in the future.

"I made friends this weekend with people I probably wouldn't have met during the day-to-day events of my life," she said.

Tonia's brother-in-law, David, was equally impressed with the event. "I'm single, so the family I'm having a good time with today is everybody who is here," said David Lane. "I think it's a great idea to organize something like this. The speech by Benjamin Hooks on Friday set the tone for this event. He gave a very inspirational speech."

David Lane drew from Hook's message that young people should respect their elders and realize they don't have to have a negative attitude all the time. You can get things done by being positive.

"I just wish more young people were in the audience to hear the speech," said Lane. "Maybe next year, when people have more of a chance to look forward to the event, they will want to hear someone of his caliber."

Floyd Harris, who has lived in Cape Girardeau, "off and on" for the past decade, was taking in the sights and sounds of the Black Family Reunion as a curious onlooker.

"I like the idea of just having an event like this just to be around people," said Harris. "All of my family is gone, so this gives me something I normally don't have."

Gene Shavers was taking in the event for the first time on Sunday. "I had to work all week, so this is the first chance I got to see what this was all about," said Shavers. "I think it's a really good thing to have. It gives everybody a chance to meet new people and feel good about the city they live in and their surroundings."