PLENTY TO DO THIS WEEKEND, RAIN POSSIBLE

The traditional end of summer comes this year with plenty of activities on tap and a chance of rain in the forecast.

The three-day Labor Day holiday officially starts at 6 p.m. tonight and ends at midnight Monday.

There's a chance of showers at the start holiday weekend, but the National Weather Service says clouds will give way to mostly sunny skies Saturday afternoon, as a weak cool front pushes through the area.

Mostly sunny skies, with highs of 85-90 degrees, are forecast for Sunday and Labor Day. Lows will be in the mid-60s to 70s.

The weather should be suitable for Labor Day's traditional camping trips, backyard barbecues and other outdoor activities.

In this area, all federal, state, county and municipal offices, as well as financial institutions, will be closed Monday. Most retail stores will be open with special Labor Day sale promotions.

There will be no solid waste pickups Monday in Scott City, Cape Girardeau or Jackson. However, the regular Monday trash pickup route will be run in Chaffee.

In Cape Girardeau, the Monday trash pickup routes will be run Tuesday. The Tuesday routes will be run Wednesday, and there will be no Wednesday special pickups. Also, the sanitation department has announced that effective Tuesday, solid waste pickups in Cape Girardeau will begin at 6 a.m. Residents should have their trash bags and containers at curbside by that time.

In Jackson, the Monday trash pickup routes will be run with the Tuesday pickup routes. In Scott City, the canceled Monday trash pickup will not be made up on Tuesday.

The Cape Girardeau and Jackson license bureaus will be closed Saturday and Monday, but the Chaffee license bureau will be open Saturday from 9-12 a.m., but closed Monday. All will reopen on Tuesday. No driver examinations will be given in Jackson Monday.

All area post offices will be closed Monday. There will be no home delivery of mail.

The Cape Girardeau post office will be open Saturday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for mail and parcel pickup only. First class mail will be put up in post office boxes on Monday. Mail placed in pickup boxes in the city on Monday will be picked up at the regular 5 p.m. collection time, and dispatched later that evening.

The Southeast Missourian will not publish a Monday edition. Normal publication will resume with Tuesday morning's edition.

Monday classes at Southeast Missouri State University have been canceled. All non-essential university offices and operations will be closed Monday.

Area schools that have already started fall classes will be closed Monday. The Cape Girardeau Public Schools will begin their 1991-92 classes on Tuesday.

Both Capaha and the Central High School swimming pools will be open for their regular hours Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The Capaha pool will close for the season at 7 p.m. on Monday. After Monday, the Central pool will be open until Sept. 13 for evening swimming from 5-8 p.m. The pool will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company's steam-powered tourist passenger train will operate its regular schedule Saturday and Sunday. The train will depart from the Iron Mountain depot in Jackson at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday. The Saturday dinner train to Delta will leave Jackson at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the train will operate between Jackson and Gordonville city park at 1 and 3 p.m.

Other special activities during the Labor Day weekend include the Olive Branch, Ill., Labor Day Festival, starting with a pancake breakfast at 6 a.m., Monday, and a barbecue later in the day. Country-western bands and gospel groups will provide entertainment during the day-long event.

The 23rd annual Benton Neighbor Days kicks off at 5 p.m. today and continues through Saturday night.

Tonight's events will include a dance at the community building. On Saturday, events begin at 10:30 a.m. with the annual Neighbor Days parade. Other Saturday activities include a greased pole climb, talent show, and greased pig race. At 7 p.m., there will be live entertainment and a dance in the community building.

The DuQuoin State Fair continues this weekend, and will run through Monday. In St. Louis, the 114th annual Veiled Prophet Parade will wind through downtown St. Louis, starting at 10 a.m., Saturday. The parade kicks off the three-day V.P. Fair that starts at noon Saturday on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (under the Gateway Arch) and continues through Monday night.

The final summer holiday means many families will be traveling. The Missouri State Highway Patrol urges motorists not to let down their guard against traffic dangers.

Last year, 15 persons were killed in Missouri traffic accidents over the Labor Day weekend. That compares with 11 traffic fatalities in 1989. The greatest number of people killed in Missouri during a Labor Day holiday was 28, in 1971. Six were killed during the 1958 holiday period, marking the lowest number of traffic fatalities in the state over Labor Day.

"The upcoming Labor Day weekend will bring heavy traffic to all our highways," said Col. C.E. Fisher, patrol superintendent. "Everyone must drive defensively, obey all speed limits, refrain from drinking then driving and buckle up their seat belts this holiday weekend. In other words, don't let your guard down when you get behind the wheel. Anticipate the mistakes of others and operate your vehicle in a responsible manner."

Fisher said the highway patrol will take part in Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the holiday. Interstate 70 will be the primary highway with extra troopers on duty to enforce traffic laws and aid motorists in distress. He said other highways, such as Interstate 55, with a high volume of traffic and a high incidence of traffic accidents will be designated as secondary CARE highways.

For those planning a water weekend on area lakes or rivers, the National Safety Council and the Missouri Water Patrol reminds boaters that everyone in the boat must have a personal flotation device.

For those going for the last dip in the creek or river this summer, the safety council says adult supervision can prevent children from drowning. Keep emergency numbers handy in case of an accident. Also, check the water depth before diving.