PLANNING GEARS UP FOR BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

~Correction: MELVIN GATELY is the former chairman of the Bicentennial Commission, having resigned that post when he was elected to City Council; MARTHA BENDER is now the chairman of the commission.

The celebration that will recognize Cape Girardeau's 200th birthday will kick off in October, and plans are under way for a year of bicentennial activities.

Members of committees planning the Cape Girardeau Area Bicentennial Celebration met Tuesday to discuss the planned activities.

They include a series of lectures on Cape Girardeau's history, historic tours, a Neighbor Day event, Civil War encampment, an appearance by Indian dancers and a Bicentennial Queen Contest.

"We have 200 years of history to talk about and to learn about," said Martha Bender, vice chairman of the Bicentennial Commission. "We're going to have a lot of fun."

The kick-off of the Bicentennial Celebration will be Oct. 3, during Southeast Missouri State University's Homecoming parade. The lecture series, which includes subjects like "Indians of the Cape Girardeau Area" and "Spanish Legends of the Mississippi River," will begin Nov. 13. All lectures will be held at the university.

Walt Wildman, chairman of the finance committee, said the commission has received $20,000 from the city as seed money to plan the events.

Activities that commemorate the bicentennial are planned during virtually all community events during the year, including the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport air show, the SEMO District Fair and Riverfest.

Wildman said several of the activities planned also will raise money.

"We're trying to be conservative," he said. "If we spend a dollar, we're going to try to get back a dollar."

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Tourism Bureau also is eying the Bicentennial Celebration as a way to attract tourism. Laurel Adkisson of the Convention and Visitors Bureau said a schedule of commemorative events will be distributed statewide to help attract visitors.

Pat Patterson, also a member of the planning committees, said efforts have begun to get a congressional proclamation of the year-long celebration.

Melody Hutson, Mrs. Missouri of 1991 and coordinator of the Bicentennial Queen contest, said three age groups will be included in the televised contest, planned at Cape Central High School Oct. 3.

The Bicentennial commemorates the 200th anniversary of the year Cape Girardeau was founded as a trading post.

"We're hoping it will make people aware of their culture, and make the people of Cape Girardeau prouder of their history," Bender said.

"I think it's vital that we celebrate our history. The more people we can get involved in this, the better."

Two community-wide worship services also are planned, along with concerts, art and craft shows, and, as the last activity, placement of a time capsule on the lawn of the Cape Girardeau Common Pleas Courthouse in October 1993.

Melvin Gately, chairman of the Bicentennial Commission, said planning for the year-long observance now will begin to "pick up steam."

Bender said the committee will plan events for all age groups. Some are scheduled to take place in local public and private schools, and a calendar of events will be published soon, she said.