POSTERS URGE SMOKE-FREE LIFE

The artwork of third-grade students who have pledged to draw away from smoking will be on display during the weekend's Riverfest activities.

Posters created by the Smoke-Free Class of 2000 will be exhibited at the Riverfront Banquet Center, Broadway and Main Street, Friday through Sunday.

The poster contest was sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center and Vision 2000. The theme of the competition was "It's a Smoke-Free, Drug-Free Life for Me."

About 500 third graders participated.

The grand prize winner was Katie McLain, of Alma Schrader Elementary School. One first place and one second place winner were chosen from each third grade classroom in Cape Girardeau.

The first place winners were:

Stesha Haman and Ryan Bollwerk of Alma Schrader; Josh Smart of Cape Christian School; Katie Rose, Victoria Ligonis and Derek Engelmann of Charles Clippard School; Dusty Wren and Amanda Brown of Franklin School; James Ainsworth and Eric Dennis Wessel of Jefferson School; Shalanda Johnson and Corey Lewis of May Greene School; Dina Palmer of Nell Holcomb; John Keene of St. Mary's School; Luke Drury and Jamie Davis of St. Vincent de Paul School; Ramsey Stevens of Trinity School; and Tiffany Thomas and Sabrina Pledger of Washington School.

The second place winners were:

Jessica Burns, Laura Canupp and Jessica Newberry of Alma Schrader; Kerrie Gordon of Cape Christian School; Hayley Autumn Bridges, Janet Cupples and Leslie Wagoner of Charles Clippard School; Julie Roth and Margaret Clark of Franklin School; Tabatha Stovall and Shawn Stevens of Jefferson School; John Maglone and Danielle Carter of May Greene School; Chassidy Headricks of Nell Holcomb; Susann Whitworth of St. Mary's School; Jill Edwards and Todd Metheny of St. Vincent de Paul School; Josh Herter of Trinity School; and Kristen Kent and Vontrice Blackmon of Washington School.

The Smoke-Free Class of 2000 is a program coordinated by the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.