PRAYER BREAKFAST SLATED FOR MARCH 1

Two communities getting together and thanking God for their blessings is the reason for the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, says its chairman, Dr. Bill Terry.

Reservations are being accepted for the ninth annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast sponsored by the Christian Business Men's Committee of Cape Girardeau. The event will be held March 1 at the Show Me Center, and the mayors of Cape Girardeau and Jackson are extending invitations to their respective communities.

"There will be a period of fellowship beginning about 6:30 a.m.," Terry said. "We hope to get started promptly at 7 a.m."

This year's speaker will be Rear Admiral William L. Schachte Jr., who retired two years ago as judge advocate general of the Navy.

Schachte held a variety of positions with the Department of Defense, Naval Legal Service Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He became the top uniformed attorney for the Navy and Marine Corps in October 1992, and retained the position until his retirement in 1993.

"He's one of the most humble guys I've ever met," Terry said. "I've really been impressed with him in my conversations over the last year."

Last year about 1,300 people -- a sellout crowd -- attended the breakfast. That many people are expected again this year, Terry said.

"The breakfast sponsored by the Christian Business Men's Committee in St. Louis has about 2,000 people on the average," Terry said. "Our breakfast is probably next in line for the average number of people that attend. We're not boisterous about that; it's just fact."

The breakfast is a great way to gather two communities that normally rival each other, set aside their differences and thank God for what they have, Terry said.

Cost of the breakfast is $9.75 per person or $78 for a table that seats eight. Checks should be written to the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Committee and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the committee can return the tickets. About half of the available seats already have been reserved.

To submit payment and request tickets by Feb. 23, write to Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Headquarters, P.O. Box 716, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0716.

For information about the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, call Terry at (573) 334-4635 or (573) 334-7019 or Don Rasche at (573) 335-6962 or (573) 334-1100.

Terry said: "We applaud the people for their response for what we feel is an event worthy of their time."