RELAXING HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS CULMINATE WITH BANG IN REGION

JACKSON -- Area residents greeted the Fourth of July with lawnchairs and mud at the annual Independence Day celebration at the Jackson City Park.

Lawnchairs were a common sight at the park Saturday as families and friends celebrated the nation's birthday at the Jackson Fourth of July Celebration.

Mud was also prevalent at the celebration, as 32 teams competed in a mud volleyball tournament.

John Lysell of Jackson spent the day getting muddy. "You talk about the Fourth of July, you have to play mud volleyball," said a grinning Lysell, who was caked in mud from head to toe.

Having fun is what the Jackson celebration is all about, he said. "They just come out and have a good time."

The celebration, sponsored by the Jackson Jaycees, featured everything from a Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker contest to a watermelon-eating competition.

This was the fourth year for the celebration at the Jackson park. Rick Shultz, event chairman, said the celebration has continued to grow.

He estimated Saturday afternoon that total attendance for the daylong event would be in the 12,000 to 15,000 range. The festivities culminated with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

For the first time in a number of years, Cape Girardeau also had a fireworks display. In addition to fireworks at Arena Park, a Victorian Independence Day celebration was held at the historic Glenn House.

For many, the truly American holiday was a chance to sit back and relax with their families.

Ken Tucker of Jackson, who has two young children, said he enjoyed having time off to be with his family and just relax.

"Nobody is in a rush to really do anything," he said as he sat on the back end of his shiny white, 1950 Chevy pickup. The vehicle was among numerous vehicles displayed in a car show that was part of the Independence Day festivities at the Jackson City Park.

"I think the Fourth celebrates this country, and, to me, this country is the greatest country in the world," he said.

Tucker said he and his family planned to enjoy the festival's fireworks Saturday night from the front yard of their home near the park.

"It's a good time for the family to get together," said Mitchell Holt of Patton, clad in a T-shirt with an American-flag design.

Clad in a white and red "Perot for president" T-shirt, Robert Turner of Jackson and his wife, Loretta, spent part of the day watching the children's games at the park.

He described July 4 as a "family day."

"It's a day to celebrate `I'm an American,'" said Loretta Turner.

Robert Turner, who served 21 years in the Army, said he believes patriotism is on the upswing.

While it was a holiday for many Americans, it was a "work day" for Shultz. As chairman of the event, Shultz spent the day seeing to it that the celebration was a success.

"I do this because I still feel a lot of pride for being part of the United States, and I feel a lot of community pride," he said.