Region briefs 6/25/04

Korean War era planes to race at Cape airport

A group of Navy planes, the style of plane used in the Korean War, will be visiting the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport today. The Airport is expecting close to 20 planes to arrive this evening and will hold a barbecue, free to the public, at 6 p.m. The planes will conduct races at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Poplar Bluff sensory garden opens to public

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- To mark Rotary International's centennial, the Rotary Club of Poplar Bluff dedicated a sensory garden at the public library on Wednesday. Each part of the garden encourages visitors to not just look at plants, but smell, touch and even taste. The plants are grown in waist-high planters with plant identifiers that include braille so that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy the bounty. Many of the plants in the 18-by-18-foot garden were chosen for their scents. The chocolate peppermint scented geranium smells like a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie, lemon basil offers a citrusy scent and a grouped planting of cherry tomatoes and basil provides the taste and smells of a pizza parlor.

Barbecue teams roll into Kennett today

KENNETT, Mo. -- Barbecue teams will roll into the Delta Fairgrounds in Kennett Friday night along with their equipment to compete in the 23rd Annual Kennett Jaycee's Show-Me State Barbecue Championship Cookoff to earn a spot in the national Memphis in May contest. This year's event features more than $7,000 in prizes with the overall grand champion taking home more than $1,400. Local teams will also be able to compete in the sauce, margarita, and anything-but-pork contest, though the food must be cooked on a grill.

-- From staff reports