RAIN DOESN'T STOP JUNETEENTH

Severe overnight thunderstorms and drizzling rain throughout Saturday slowed down but didn't stop the first annual Juneteenth celebration in Cape Girardeau from happening.

The Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri State University chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People hosted festivities in celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates a day in 1865 when slaves in Texas first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln.

The knowledge of their freedom came more than two years after the issuance of the proclamation on January 1, 1863. Today, African American families and friends across the nation celebrate the occasion with parades, picnics, concerts and speeches on civic duties, rights and freedoms.

NAACP vice-president Dr. Bernice Coar-Cobb said organizers chose to continue with plans for a parade and family picnic despite reservations about the weather. Some 15 vehicles appeared in the parade procession, carrying representatives from Harmony Lodge #40, The Justice League, East Missouri Action Agency, NAACP, and U.S. Congressional hopefuls Andrew Ostrowski and Richard Kline.

"Earlier this morning we were worried but thought it (rain) would go away," said Coar-Cobb during the wet parade procession. "The rain kept coming so that decisions had to be made, but Mrs. (Juanita) Spicer -- who has been instrumental in organizing these activities -- was just adamant that she wanted this to go on, and we decided to go ahead with our plans."

The rain had all but stopped when the Juneteenth family picnic began around noon at Arena Park. Although community participation wasn't as large as expected, participants said they were still able to enjoy the good food and various games offered during the event.

Juneteenth festivities ended with a community commitment service held at the Show Me Center Saturday night for Coar-Cobb. Bishop Travis H. Smith Sr. with the Full Gospel Methodist Fellowship in California consecrated Coar-Cobb as a bishop for the Fifth Jurisdiction. Smith said Full Gospel Methodism is a "Pentecostal Methodist" ministry based upon the teachings of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. The two-year old organization is found in 10 states and is committed to building progressive churches where every member is allowed an opportunity to minister.

Cobb, an ordained minister since 1984, was charged with getting people to commit to improving their community and lives. She is the first female consecrated as a bishop in the ministry and will serve as an administrator over her jurisdiction, which includes Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

"We're looking forward to a tremendous ministry out of her here in this area," said Smith. "We're concentrating on working at a grassroots level to build ministries throughout the nation, and we believe she will be very effective in helping to achieve that."